Socialist Republic of Vietnam

OPPOSING SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 17 IN THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE

Passed August 6, 2005

WHEREAS the war in Vietnam ended in April 1975;

WHEREAS from 1975 to the present, the United States Government has accepted over a million of refugees and immigrants from Vietnam, and now with their children, the Vietnamese-American community is approaching two million people, the majority of whom are now citizens;

WHEREAS the United States Government formally recognized and normalized diplomatic relations with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1995, ending post-war acrimony and opening up legal channels for family visits and support, student and academic exchanges, commercial and business ventures, tourism and philanthropic activities, the search for the missing remains of combatants and civilians from both sides, and all other normal relations between friendly nations;

WHEREAS the majority of the Vietnamese-Americans have made peace with themselves and with their former homeland, and have moved on with their lives as American citizens;

WHEREAS the majority of Vietnam war veterans support normalized diplomatic relations with Vietnam;

WHEREAS a small number of Vietnamese-Americans, generally older and in most cases involved with the defeated former regime of South Vietnam, is still trying to resurrect their pre-1975 war and to impose their agenda on the entirety of the Vietnamese-American community, in part by asking various legislative bodies to recognize the flag of the defeated South Vietnam as the symbol of the Vietnamese-American community;

WHEREAS in California, this faction has succeeded in getting the State Senate to approve Senate Concurrent Resolution 17 (SCR 17) for that purpose, and the resolution is now pending in the State Assembly;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THAT Veterans For Peace, opposes California SCR 17, and urges the California Assembly to reject SCR 17 and encourages other organizations and citizens in California and around the country to voice their opposition to this misguided action.

THAT Veterans For Peace urges the California Legislature to follow established diplomatic protocol and continue to recognize only the flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as representing Vietnam in all of their public and civic functions.

THAT Veterans For Peace urges all chapters to be alert to such misguided attempts in their localities and take action to oppose them.

Sponsored by Chapter 69, San Francisco
Approved in Dallas, TX, August 6, 2005