S. Vietnamese flag will fly in Milpitas

Mercury News ^ | 5/8/03 | Sandra Gonzalez

[NormsRevenge]

In a symbolic gesture that Vietnamese-Americans called historic, the Milpitas City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution that recognizes the former Republic of Vietnam flag and sanctions its display at City Hall during ceremonies.

Pham Huu Son, president of the San Jose-based Vietnamese-American Community of Northern California, said the South Vietnamese flag has been officially displayed in such cities as Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Westminster in Southern California. San Jose has a proclamation that recognizes the flag, according to community leaders.

[NormsRevenge]

``This is to recognize the Vietnamese flag which existed before the communists, as the authentic flag of Vietnam. We're victims of communism and we can't salute that flag.''

Another city takes a stand for FReedom.

[VOA]

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[Toidylop]

Bump

[Jaded]

``I have a problem with flying any flags except those three right there,'' said Jesse Caulkins, 69-year-old longtime Milpitas resident, referring to the U.S., California and Milpitas flags. He noted that the community has numerous ethnic groups. ``What about those oppressed people?''

I have to agree. This would be AMERICA not South Viet Nam. Will we then officially raise flags for every other nation on earth? Nations that have ceased to exist since, say 1916? Then we will really look like the UN.

[pgyanke]

I agree with you.

[faithincowboys]

I don't this is as much for the Vietnamese-Americans as it is for the men who fought and died in that war. Their's was a noble cause, and the people they fought for know it. They are loyal Americans who have a pain most of us don't know, the love for a captive homeland that they can't return to.
I have a soft spot for people who refuse to accept terrorist regimes. I am proud of these people, I have a lump in my throat. It is not unlike the Miami Cubans- victims of Communism who are unpopular with the Left.

God bless them! May their country be free one day!

[onedoug]

[TruthNtegrity]

``The issue plain and simple is recognizing the former Republic of Vietnam as the flag of free Vietnamese-Americans in California,'' said Councilman Armando Gomez, who along with Mayor Jose Esteves proposed the issue.

Officials with the Vietnamese Consulate in San Francisco could not be reached for comment.

I disagree with any of this. This is America. We fly the flag of the United State of America, the state flag and any local municipality flag. BUT to fly the flag of a foreign nation? Nope. I don't think we should do that. Next thing you know, every group - Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Salvadorans, and on and on, will want THEIR flag to be flown and then it just gets ridiculous.

[Billthedrill]

For those who might not be aware of it, Milpitas is on the north end of Silicon Valley and the incredible computer-based economic boom of the 80s was helped tremendously by the influx of a highly-educated Vietnamese population that had fled the South half a decade earlier. Some of the ones I knew were ex-soldiers and ex-academics, the toughest, brightest, and funniest people you'd ever care to meet.

[NormsRevenge]

Oh, let's not confuse the issue here with facts. ;-)

Most naysayers here have never had to leave their country they were born in. The choice was to live under a repressive regime,leave or protest and die when the Reds took it over.

I have worked and lived in this area for years and have met a lot of fine folks that would love to be back home if they could.

To deny them this symbolic gesture would not hurt them too bad as they have suffered far worse.

To deny that they lost their country because of others who weren't willing to come to their aid is the saddening part.

Now after all the sacrifices they have made, some would kick them again without a second thought.

The price we pay to live here is high indeed, and so are some of the posters on this forum, I'm afraid.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEVER FORGET


Free Vietnam Flags' Flying in USA =

1- Westminster, California
2- Garden Grove, California
3- San Jose, California
4- Milpitias, California
5- But NOT California itself, Demos Vote Free Vietnam Flag Bill ACR 68 dowin unaminously in State Assembly Rules Committee during the last week.


Signed:..Speaker-Garden Grove City Council for the Free Vietnam Flag / Vet-U.S. 7th Cavalry's Opening Days of the Vietnam War 1965-66

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm
(Photos)


NEVER FORGET

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEVER FORGET


..Garden Grove votes Free South Vietnam Flag -IN-, who's next..?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/863430/posts


...Demo's kill Vietnam Flag usage by Calif Viet-American Veterans

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/904152/posts


...HEALING = 1st Amer & Viet War Memorial

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1010


NEVER FORGET

[ALOHA RONNIE]

The BUSH DOCTRINE =

'Bringing DEMOCRACY and FREEDOM to everyone everywhere is Everyone's Answer'

WORKS!!!!!

...In his personal letter read to cheering Freedom-Loving Vietnamese-Americans at our recent BUSH 'Freedom for Iraq' Victory Rally in Fountain Valley, California in a new Century of FREEDOM...

...BUSH promised FREEDOM's Return to Communist Vietnam, Communist North Korea and Communist Cuba.

...They all cheered back to BUSH:

"WE ARE SOLDIERS" - "WE ARE SOLDIERS"

Unforgettable.

[Billthedrill]

I have an ex-ARVN neighbor who has been watching the news with considerable interest, especially the stories about Iraqi ex-pats and refugees who are now returning to their country of origin. "Thirty-four years," he said, "it took them thiry-four years." I think he was counting in his head.

It ain't over.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

...What Beauty we are all witnessing before our very eyes...
...for the LOVE of FREEDOM..?

...I really appreciate your sharing the story about your ARVN Friend. I also really appreciate my having lived this long since FREEDOM's Fall in a once Free South Vietnam to hear it.

Tears in the Eye, my Friend.

[Joy Angela]

VIVA Freedom

[pgyanke]

I seek to deny them none of the freedoms of liberty. However, I don't agree with flying the national flag of their country of origin over public buildings and institutions. Designate a day to honor them, fine. Honor them as a community, fine. Encourage every member of the city to fly a flag in support of the Vietnamese community, fine. But this is America and we should fly American flags over our public institutions.

With the shoe on the other foot, why on earth would we EXPECT our flag to be flown on foreign soil?

[NormsRevenge]

Honor them as a community, fine.

That is what this community's leaders have chosen to do, exactly that, honor them.

You have your right to your opinion.

This action is also an acknowledgement of the many who have fallen in the cause of freedom around the world.

Frankly , we should allow the flags of our allies to be flown besides ours if communities so decide, certainly our countrymen have died side by side.