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Flag issue: Is it worth hanging on an out-of-date symbol?
Flag issue: Is it worth hanging on an out-of-date symbol?
3/2/16
It’s now 40 years after the
fall of the South Vietnamese regime in Ho Chi Minh city (also named Saigon),
the display of the flag of South Vietnam - a yellow flag with three
red horizontal stripes is still a controversial issue, especially in overseas
Vietnamese community. Let take a look at this issue from two sides’ view.
The flag of South Vietnam (or Quẻ ly flag) was originally inspired by Emperor Thanh
Thai in 1890, and was revived by and
re-adopted by Emperor Bao Đai in
1948. It was the flag of the
former State
of Vietnam (the
French-controlled areas in both Northern and Southern Vietnam) from 1949 to
1955 and later of the Republic
of Vietnam (South Vietnam)
from 1955 until April 30, 1975 when the South unconditionally surrendered to the north, to which it was
officially joined in a unified Vietnam a year later. The flag consists of a
yellow field and three horizontal red stripes and can be explained as either
symbolizing the unifying blood running through northern, central, and southern
Vietnam, or as representing the symbol for "south" (as in, south from
China (Viet Nam itself) and also nam meaning south).
It is still used by
many Vietnamese immigrants to other countries, most of whom fled
Vietnam in the late 1970s and 1980s as Boat
People and consider the current
Vietnamese flag representative
of the Communist regime they fled. To whom, people who fled the
country after the fall in 1975, the Quẻ ly flag is a symbol of freedom,
democracy, and independence, represents that hard journey made by Vietnam
refugees in their search for new good life from a war-torn country. Afterwards, it has been adopted by many in anti-Party
and State of Vietnam elements to symbolically distance themselves from the
Communist government and continues to be used either as an alternative symbol
for ethnic unity or as a protest tool against the current government.
From June 2002 onward,
in the United States, at least 13 state governments, seven counties and 85
cities in 20 states have adopted resolutions recognizing the yellow flag as the
Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag. Displaying
today's Vietnamese flag, or any icon associated with the Communist regime that
overthrew South Vietnam, is a near-traitorous act in the patriotic community.
However, after all, the South Vietnamese
government was definitely a corrupt puppet government, more or less, and along
with American forces engaged in atrocity after atrocity during the course of
the war. And after the war ended, the South Vietnamese regime collapsed, the South Vietnamese flag now represents a country that
no longer exists. Even it still hangs high on flag poles and stores in Little
Saigon. But this symbol has less meaning for the younger generation of
Vietnamese Americans who were born in America or came to California as
children.
It is a pity that somewhere, even in some countries,
people still try to remain the flag as a legacy. Why do these people have to
insist that? Why don’t let the past, a sorrow past with lots of loss, pains and
blood fade away and sleep for good. We, Vietnamese people, now can forgive the
US and France for what they had done to our country in the wars, but these
people, with their hostile attitude, are stubbornly hanging an anti-communist
view. Is it democracy that Vietnamese people have rights to choose the country’s
political system? Is it universal value that the world now supports and promotes
for? We should let go the past and start a new beginning for common goods.
In Vietnam, there’s no
display of this flag or at least not in public places. According to the 1992 constitution: "The National Flag of the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam is rectangular in shape, its width is equal to
two thirds of its length, in the middle of fresh red background is a bright
five-pointed golden star". The flag of Vietnam, "red flag with a
gold star" (or Cờ đỏ sao vàng),
was designed in 1940 and used during an uprising against French rule in
southern Vietnam that year. The background was inspired by the red flag, used by the international communist
movement since the Paris
Commune of 1871. The red flag
of North Vietnam was adopted as the flag of the new unified Socialist Republic
of Vietnam in 1976. Red
symbolizes revolution and blood. The star represents the five main classes in
Vietnamese society—intellectuals, farmers, workers, businessmen and military
personnel.
Yes, these people,
they have rights to display the flag of the South Vietnamese regime, but it’s
inappropriate for all of us, Vietnam, US, Canada, France, Australia, etc, to
hold on something that’s outdated and reminds us of losses.
To those hostile in
America, all of you are free to attach your own meanings to the flag. It is
your right in a democracy. But, we believe that it is a mistake for the US to
endorse the flag of the former South Vietnam, a flag that is highly
controversial and painful to many. When it comes to democracy, the former South
Vietnamese government was also a dictatorship. The U.S. war and occupation of
Vietnam was totally undemocratic and was fought to suppress the right of the
Vietnamese people to determine their own fate.
There should be restrictions on displays of the flag. First, the South
Vietnamese regime no longer exists. Second, according to the spirit of
agreements that established full diplomatic relations between Vietnam and other
countries, all sides need to respect each other's flag. So, it’s time to put an
end for this crap./.
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All comments [ 17 ]
Totally, It's not worth at all. It's just a grief in our past that we all would want to forget.
I agree. After the war ended, the South Vietnamese regime collapsed, the South Vietnamese flag now represents a country that no longer exists.
It is a pity that somewhere, even in some countries, people still try to remain the flag as a legacy. Why do these people have to insist that? Why don’t let the past, a sorrow past with lots of loss, pains and blood fade away and sleep for good.
Yes, let by gone be by gone!
Vietnamese people now can forgive the US and France for what they had done to our country in the wars, but these people, with their hostile attitude, are stubbornly hanging an anti-communist view.
We should let go the past and start a new beginning for common goods.
When it comes to democracy, the former South Vietnamese government was also a dictatorship.
If it is democracy, overseas people who want to hang the Vietnamese today flag have rights to do that without any condemnation.
They have rights to display the flag of the South Vietnamese regime, but it’s inappropriate to hold on something that no longer exists.
This symbol has less meaning for the younger generation of Vietnamese abroad who were born after wars. So, let it go, please!
im sorry have any of you guys lost your country? We younger generation viets love that flag dearly. We just can't express it like our parents do
You must not know about the coup in 63 when the south Vietnamese military over threw the dictatorship government
So you rather us to recognize the flag that invaded a peaceful south Vietnam, locked up anyone who was associated with the former regime? Do you see what Vietnam is like past the YouTube videos that make Vietnam such a Paradise? If not, human rights are being violated, no freedom of speech, corrupt government and police officers.
US and France didn't take away freedom of the Vietnamese people or change their flag
In hopes that one day the modern day Vietnam, now that is corrupt and poor will have to split and the people of south Vietnam will get their homeland back
Dude look at every Vietnamese community all around the world. They all fly the Vietnamese freedom and heritage flag (south Vietnam flag)
I agree with you!! While we're there lets forgive the nazis for trying to take over the world and killing 6 millions Jews 😒
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