The last refugees

[huy.duong@ctsu.ox.ac.uk]

Dear anh Toan,

It is sad that these people have left everything only to spend
a decade behind wire fences and in tin sheds and now come back to
nothing. It is sad for the kids who know nothing else, only a concrete
and metal world.
 
>But those who left to find better job prospects are often perceived at home as
>opportunists who deserted Vietnam in its darkest hour. 

I wonder what `often' means. Perceived by whom?

Opportunists? The people in the article had to scarifice everything, 
got on an overburdened boat that wasn't exactly opportune for the 
journey (it broke up), spent six months begging their way to their
destination. Others didn't exactly get opportune help from the 
Thai and Malay fishermen, coast guards and navies. Some opportunity.

I wish journalists would be more careful with what they write. 

Huy