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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The display of the flag of the Socialist Republic of |
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Vietnam on the central campus of the University of Houston, as well |
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as on other campuses of higher learning, has caused great distress |
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to many members of the Vietnamese American community; and |
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WHEREAS, This flag, which features a yellow star on a red |
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background, was first adopted by the Indochinese Communist Party in |
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the mid-20th century; it represents a source of anguish to |
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countless people who fled to the United States as a welcoming haven |
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of liberty and tolerance; to these esteemed citizens, the display |
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of this flag is interpreted as a lack of respect for their historic |
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struggles; and |
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WHEREAS, In contrast, the Freedom and Heritage Flag |
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symbolizes both the Vietnamese cultural heritage and a deeply |
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rooted resilience and yearning for democracy; this flag, which |
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bears three red stripes on a background of golden yellow, was flown |
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for the first time at a ceremony marking the official recognition by |
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France of Vietnamese unity and independence; and |
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WHEREAS, The University of Houston and other institutions of |
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higher learning can express their respect for Vietnamese American |
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culture and their support for the ideals of liberty and democracy by |
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replacing the flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam with the |
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Freedom and Heritage Flag; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby urge the University of Houston and other institutions of |
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higher education to cease displaying the red flag of the Socialist |
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Republic of Vietnam and to instead fly the golden yellow Freedom and |
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Heritage Flag that has been embraced by the Vietnamese American |
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community; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official |
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copy of this resolution to the commissioner of higher education as |
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an expression of the sentiment of the house of representatives and |
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senate. |