Language (hieroglyphs)
and
reading and writing
Aid to Viet Cong.
We were fighting against the Viet Cong, not aiding them.
The North and South were arguing over slavery. The South wanted slaves but the North didn't.
Maybe the old man is talking about reincarnation and when he returns it’ll be a different time therefore requiring change. Change in science, writing, and overall human advancement.
I think it is the second one about how he wanted it to be a haven.
