Disagreement noted.To some, Ho Chi Minh was indeed a hero. Let us say that 80% of the indigenous Vietnamese truly believe this. How many of that 80% of the population ended up being boat people? How many of them would you think immigrated into the United States? To some people, Mr. Hitler was rather popular as well, held as a man who worked toward the 'self-determination' of the German people. To the people at that 'rally', Ho Chi Minh was the leader of a group intent on 'the wholesale extermination of certain groups of people and the enslavement of others', namely the 'borgeouis class' of Vietnamese, those that 'collaborated' with the Americans by resisting 'liberation', etc. Some of those 'exterminated' had identical familial name to those in the crowd.
What price, to be a true 'American'? Tolerance, yes - of course. But let us have common sense here, please. Mr. Truong Van Tran was fully aware of the expected reaction of the locals to his 'display of patriotism'. In response, the police removed an instigating influence from what was likely to become a deliberately provoked riot. The man likely had his life saved, and credit is due to the prompt action of the police in this matter.
If the neo-Nazis wish to march through Spokane, let them get a permit to do so, and give the local police adequate time to prepare for the resulting spectacle. If the local socialist club wishes to burn an American flag at a memorial service for WW II veterans, in protest over the harboring of ex-Nazis in this country, they should not be surprised at the reaction. I doubt that Mr Truong was overly shocked at the behavior of his neighbors; he was attempting to make a 'point', and he was apparently rather successful.
Now, of course, the American justice system will most likely kick in. Was property damage done? Does Mr. Truong have a claim against the 'rioters'? He apparently has not paid rent for his store space; perhaps he might be able to stay on a bit longer, claiming any eviction is a 'violation of his freedom of speech'. The game, as it were.
We must use some discretion in this little 'sport' of ours, you know. If the debate is allowed to become too provocative, if we use our rights to infuriate others, inevitably violence will follow. I cannot absolve in good conscience the instigators of this sort of thing.
What price? Perhaps we might add to tolerance a bit of responsibility. Charity would not hurt our credit, and a bit of sensibility might actually put us in the black. If we end up too far in debit, as it would seem we will if present trends continue, we might be able to afford no better than 'Singaporean'.
None.
