State tells Vietnam it opposes bill on flag

Washington Times ^ | February 15, 2003

[sarcasm]

RICHMOND

[wretchard]

Political power, Mao Tse Tung once said, blossoms out of the barrel of a gun. Here is the proof. The commissars in Hanoi, now beyond reckoning for all their crimes, by virtue of that precious blossom require all Vietnamese-Americans living in the State of Virginia to hate all that they are; all that their fathers were; and all that their grandfathers died for. If you want proof of the existence of God, I give you proof of the existence of the devil. Love and light must surely exist to hold such evil at bay.

[angkor]

The latest census figures show that about 34,000 people of Vietnamese descent live in Virginia

Living in the midst of these 34,000 Vietnamese, I have to agree that displaying the Hanoi flag is indecent, insulting, and something like a sick and cruel joke.

However, it's also understandable that this law is a problem in international relations.

It should have been an informal state policy to use the RSVN flag, rather than raise the issue in this manner. No one would complain if the Hanoi flag never appeared anywhere, and there are no monitors here who would report it back to Hanoi.

[laconic]

Thank you, Mr. Hull! He's one Democrat I'll vote for anyday.

[Arkinsaw]

However, it's also understandable that this law is a problem in international relations.

Someone needs to explain to North Vietnam that we are a Federal Republic and that Washington cannot tell a sovereign State what to do on local matters. They also need to be aware that only the US government has anything to do with foreign policy. Local matter.....foreign policy....local matter......foreign policy. Completely different subjects, completely different jurisdictions.

[Mark17]

Screw the state dept. I hope those people dare them to come and take the flag down.

[Arkinsaw]

Screw the state dept. I hope those people dare them to come and take the flag down.

I completely understand the North Vietnamese confusion about how a Federal Republic works since they are a communist dictatorship.

[Mark17]

I completely understand the North Vietnamese confusion about how a Federal Republic works since they are a communist dictatorship.

I was in Nam myself, in 1970 and 1971, though I wish I had never gone there, but I work with 3 Vietnamese people. You talk about hatred for the communists. These people utterly despise the communists in Vietnam.

[texson66]

[Ligeia]

Background thread: Vietnam angered by US flag 'insult'