Congressman Joseph Cao, elected to replace "Ice Box" Jefferson in Louisiana, faces an uphill battle to keep the seat. Cao is unafraid of speaking up for what he believes.
Recently, the Vietnamese government asked him to arrange meeting with the US Vietnamese community for Hanoi to present its case. As Cao replies, Hanoi has no case.
In his reply letter, Congressman Cao says the premise for the request is misguided. The Vietnamese left their homeland because they rejected tyranny. Until the government of Vietnam demonstrates real changes, respecting human rights and freedom, it will not be taken seriously by the Vietnamese-American community: release political prisoners, stop oppressing democracy activists and religious freedom, respect the rule of law.
That's just a quick summary. Read Cao's entire letter for much more. It is eloquent, heartfelt, and quite an education for those not familiar with the conditions in Vietnam.
http://josephcao.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Letter_to_Deputy_Minister_Nguyen_Thanh_Son.pdf
All our congressmen and women should read it, as well. You might forward it to yours.
(Congressman Cao, in a district 2/3rds Black, voted for the initial House ObamaCare bill, but against the Democrats' reconciliation ram-through. It would be a shame to lose the only Vietnamese-American congressman, struggling to get through the next election. I wrote about Cao and Vietnam in one of my early posts at Maggie's Farm.)
The Vietnam War Memorial in Westminster, CA is the only one in the US to honor American and Vietnamese fighting forces. Read the inscription:
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