Phan Thi Kim Phuc quotes

There's such a connection between Vietnam and America, but it should be one of friendship. Not bitterness. Not enemies.

Dear friends: faith and forgiveness is much more powerful than napalm could ever be.

That little girl became me now. I have accepted it and I'm thankful that my picture worked for good.

I hated myself. I hated people who made war. I hated people who were normal. I envied them. I wish I would be normal.

I have my foundation, I help the children who are victims of war, and I talk about kids and I help people to understand how horrible war is and how beautiful the world can be if we can live with love, hope, and forgiveness.

Through my experiences, I was living with anger and hatred, which was a really bad thing for me. Then I learned how to forgive, and it freed me from hatred and helped me a lot.

For years I bore the crippling weight of anger, bitterness and resentment toward those who caused my suffering. Yet as I look back over a spiritual journey that has spanned more than three decades, I realize the same bombs that caused so much pain and suffering also brought me to a place of great healing. Those bombs led me to Jesus Christ.

When I felt real forgiveness, my heart was set free.

Having known war I know the value of peace. Having lived under government control I know the value of freedom. Having lived with hatred, terror and corruption I know the value of faith and forgiveness.

I hated myself. I hated people who made war. I hated people who were normal. I envied them. I wish I would be normal.

I wished I died in that attack with my cousin, with my south Vietnamese soldiers. I wish I died at that time so I won't suffer like that anymore... it was so hard for me to carry all that burden with that hatred, with that anger and bitterness.

People ask me a lot, 'How can you smile all the time?' I tell them, 'I was never angry. God created me this way. He created me laughing and smiling.'