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| John Schumann at his performance in Vung Tau in August 2006. |
VietNamNet Bridge – John Schumann, who has been recognised as one of the most talented and artists in Australia for the last 20 years, performed in Vung Tau on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Long Tan battle in late August. Here he spent some time to talk to the press.
We know that you wrote the anti-war song I was only 19, a remarkable song in Australian music, when you were 30. Before that did you ever see any film about Vietnam?
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In the battle of Long Tan, 40 years ago, 18 Australian soldiers were killed. A large number of Australian soldiers were also injured, according to Australian figures. The battle saw the largest number of Australian soldiers fighting in the Vietnam War. |
No, I did not watch any. I knew there was a film about the Long Tan battle, that it was a very good film, but I did not have the chance to see it. (The film was produced by an Australian film company with witnesses who were Vietnamese guerrillas and Australian soldiers talking about the time they fought in Vietnam in the 1960s. The film was to find an answer to why Australia failed in the war in Vietnam - Journalist)
I respect Vietnamese people who fought to protect their homeland. When I came to Long Tan and visited the War Remnant Museum in HCM City, if I could have, I would have put the leaders of the former Saigon Regime, former American leaders and former Australian leaders at that time into a room to beat their heads against each other and scream: “What the hell were you thinking about when what you did hurt so many people?”
If an Australian veteran came to you and asked something like, “For me now Vung Tau is beautiful and peaceful and no longer about war. I would like you to write a song about the new Vung Tau and new feelings about it.” What would you say then?
I am definitely willing to. It is such a good idea. When writing I was only 19 I made a promise to myself that I would never write any song about the war in Vietnam. But this is different. It is really a good idea.
You are doing so many jobs like working in politics, writing articles, songs, singing etc. What motivates you?
I don’t know. I think I have many things to say and to share with people. I need to do so otherwise I will waste what I have. Life is so short and I feel angry with injustice in life. In other words, I can not stand it. But sometimes I am quite lazy and it is the time I need to rest. I have got so many things from this life, therefore I also have to give or share it with others. I am not a rich person.
You have been very successful. Now at the age of 53 what do you feel most happy about?
My children, for sure. I have a 22 year-old son. He is working for a charity organisation. My 18-year-old daughter is now studying in a tertiary course of medical study. They are wonderful. Life is harder for my children in comparison to their friends as they are children of a well-known person. But luckily they know how to avoid frivolous things and do good things. Maybe they are not as well known as their father but they make me feel really proud of them and happy.
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John Schumann used to be a member of the Australian band, Redgum. The band sang folksongs with political messages and was famous for its anti-war songs.
I was only 19 is the song John wrote for his elder brother who fought in the Long Tan battle. The song describe the side effects of Agent Orange. The song created wide public discussion on the issue at that time and partly pushed up the investigation on side effects of Agent Orange and other toxins used during the Vietnam war.
People say John Schumann can work twice as much as an ordinary person can. He used to be a teacher of the English language, a singer, musician, public servant and the political competitor of Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer when the two men ran for the election campaigns in Mayo, Adelaide in 1998.
From 1998 to 2001 John Schumann worked in personnel management and was an assistant to the leader of the Democratic Party, senator Meg Lees. He also worked as an advisor to the Australian Minister of Art, Diana Laidlaw, when Diana was in charge of promoting contemporary music in the Southern Territory of Australia. John has been awarded many prizes for his contributions to music and art in Australia. |
(Source: Tuoi Tre) | 
