Vietnam angered by US flag 'insult'

BBC ^ | 9 February, 2003 | Clare Arthurs

[Tailgunner Joe]

The ruling authorities in communist Vietnam have criticised a United States legislature for what Hanoi's Foreign Ministry has described as an insulting decision to replace the official Vietnamese flag at public ceremonies.

The yellow star of the communists flies over Vietnam, marking the victory of the communist northern forces over those of the south in the Vietnam War.

Vietnamese people who fled the Communist victory and now live in the state of Virginia in the USA want their children to go to school under a yellow banner marked with three red stripes, the flag of the defeated South.

Vietnamese Americans say they want a flag which symbolises democracy and freedom and that the communist flag - a yellow star on a red background - represents oppression and persecution.

A week ago, the lower house of the Virginia state parliament passed a bill which will require the flag of the defeated South to be hoisted in the state.

The bill is sponsored by a Democrat, Robert Hull, whose electorate contains a large number of people from southern Vietnam.

The passage of the bill which will require the flag to be hoisted on flag poles at schools and official functions, still has to be debated in the state Senate.

Angry reaction

But it has angered the authorities in Vietnam.

A week after the legislation passed the lower house, editorials in Vietnam's state-controlled newspapers have criticised it.

The army newspaper, Quan Doi Nhan Dan, says that attempts to counter the positive trends of history, including improved ties with the US, will fail in the same way that history buried the former Saigon administration.

Ha Noi Moi, the voice of the capital's People's Committee, says the bill should be condemned by all nations loving independence and freedom.

But the US politicians will be conscious that tens of thousands of their Vietnamese constituents dislike the golden-starred red flag of the Communist regime, and what they believe it represents.

The debate will do little for warming relations between Washington and Hanoi.

The US has had diplomatic relations with Vietnam since 1995 and Washington recognises the yellow starred flag.

Despite co-operation on bi-lateral trade and the search for soldiers still missing from the Vietnam War, there are some open wounds.

Hanoi is frequently moved to anger by allegations of unfair trade practices, and by the regularity with which campaigners in the United States fly another flag, criticising Vietnam over human rights.

[dasboot]

OUTFREAKIN'STANDING! We keep pissin' off ALL the right people. HOOOYAH! Pound sand, Kong!

I can't take all this good news in one night! Thanx Joe.

[Husker24]

Why would we need to hoist any Vietnamese flag at any public school?

[Bogey78O]

<img src="http://www.crfvn.org/images/vn-s1954.gif"

I work in a part of New Orleans where the 8th largest group of Vietnamese in America live. I see this flag hung from many of the houses, the local churches and some businesses. The local school even has one on it's ground IIRC.

[Bogey78O]

[SouthernFreebird]

Thats what I'm saying...only one flag should be flying on our soil........

[Ken522]

Vietnamese people who fled the Communist victory and now live in the state of Virginia in the USA want their children to go to school under a yellow banner marked with three red stripes, the flag of the defeated South.

I thought kids that attended schools in Virginia USA flew the AMERICAN flag?

[Vigilanteman]

For years, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia flew their flags over their consulates in Chicago, even though the countries ceased to exist. To get even with us, I'd suggest Hanoi might want to fly the Confederate flag over places where Americans congregate in their country.

[Windcatcher]

a yellow banner marked with three red stripes, the flag of the defeated South

I must admit my first thought was, "Strange. I've never heard of the Confederacy flying a flag like that..."

[Windcatcher]

That's getting even with us? If anything, it's the leftists who would be most offended by the Confederate flag. It reminds them that there are people that do NOT agree with putting all the power in Washington.

[Letitring]

Uh, last time I looked, I thought Virginia was in AMERICA. What is wrong with a good old American flag? Shessh, give us strength.

[clamper1797]

Keep BOTH DAMN Vietnamese flag off our public places

Vietnam Vet 72-73

[Windcatcher]

I sympathize. Sounds like a self-loathing liberal scheme...

(amid hand-wringing) "Oh, let's make sure not to offend those poor Vietnamese people by our rabid nationalism..."

Note to hyper-sensitive lefties: these people fled Communism to come to America. Old Glory is the last thing that might make them uncomfortable.

[Ligeia]

From what I've read in the WP and Virginia newspapers, this bill is being sponsored by Democrat legislators with large Vietnamese refugee populations in their districts. The WP describes the use of the flag as follows

And as unlikely as that might seem, consider this: Within 15 minutes of the Rules Committee adopting a bill requiring schools and universities to use the flag of the defeated South Vietnamese, not the current flag of Vietnam, in lessons related to that country, Howell's office got an angry call.

It was from the State Department. WP

So, the flag is for use in lesson plans, not to fly over anyone's schoolhouse.

[clamper1797]

Note to hyper-sensitive lefties: these people fled Communism to come to America. Old Glory is the last thing that might make them uncomfortable Old Glory SHOULD be the last thing that might make them uncomfortable ....

unless, of course they came here for reasons OTHER than escaping communism

[Ligeia]

Vietnamese flag measure advances

The House passed on to the Senate yesterday a bill that would require the yellow flag of the former Republic of Vietnam to be displayed at some public events in Virginia, not the banner of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The bill passed 68-27 on the 35th anniversary of the Tet offensive, launched by the North Vietnamese army against U.S. and South Vietnamese troops in 1968.

Del. Robert D. Hull, D-Fairfax, who has a sizable Vietnamese immigrant population in his suburban Washington district, said most of them fled South Vietnam when it fell to Communist forces in 1975. To those expatriates, the sight of the current flag - a single five-pointed yellow star set on a field of crimson - is a hurtful insult, Hull said.

The U.S. State Department had said the bill was the only one of its kind in any state and sought to have it killed, saying it could damage diplomatic relations the United States has today with its former adversary.

The State Department also told the House Rules Committee earlier that the legislation amounted to Virginia conducting foreign policy, a prerogative the U.S. Constitution reserves solely for the president. RTD

[Windcatcher]

Hmmm...it sounds like that, if a public event were to be held where a Vietnamese flag of any kind were appropriate, the VA state house is selecting a preference for the southern one. It sounds to me to be well within their rights as per the Ninth Amendment. If the SC legislature can vote to fly the Confederate flag on the house dome, it seems to me that the VA house can certainly choose a preference for one of two possible Vietnamese flags.

[Ligeia]

My thoughts went to the Confederate flag debates, too. It seems like if they're not fussing over one flag, it's another. Goes to show the importance of symbolism in our culture.

[Caesar Soze]

Normally, I would repudiate any effort to fly a flag other than the national ensign, the state flag, or perhaps a POW/MIA flag over a public school. I might make an exception here, if only to tick off the Viet Coms.

[CARepubGal]

Ping!