Tragedy seldom unifies Americans today. Every year, horrific crises induce tremendous suffering. Most are privately tragic, affecting only those directly harmed and their immediate relations. A small number, though, become politically notorious and, therefore, publicly tragic.
Earlier this year, Vietnamese literary circles were shocked by allegations of sexual assault and harassment against the poet Lương Ngọc An, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Báo Văn Nghệ.