Communist Flag, Protest Tell Us a Lot

Re “Jubilant Protesters Declare Victory,” March 12:

Truong Van Tran has left the building. And now the mob can go back to whatever they were doing before engaging in their ham-fisted snit.

What we have learned from the monthlong demonstration is that we have the freedom to shout down free speech and free thought if one just says the buzzword “communism.”

We have learned that the police have the freedom to confiscate private property if one just assumes copyright infringement.

And finally we have learned that [racist] mentality is alive and well and riding the airwaves of police radios.

Thank God Tran has moved on. But before he left, he held up a mirror to our many imperfections. Perhaps the one good thing that will come from this is our chance to see our own ugliness.

JIM SCHNEIDERMAN

Mission Viejo

* Re Dana Parsons’ March 5 column, “Westminster: Noting Irony Isn’t Enough”:

I did not protest to keep Truong Van Tran away from his store. What I said to Parsons was, “I would be here as long as possible until he takes down that bloody communist flag and the picture of Ho Chi Minh.”

By publicly worshiping Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnam Communist flag, Tran was propagandizing for the oppressing Communist regime in Vietnam. This could affect the fight for freedom in Vietnam.

By publicly worshiping Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnam Communist flag, Tran has revealed the fact that he admires communism. He has betrayed his refugee status, which is also my status. His betrayal has insulted me and the Vietnamese community as well.

By publicly worshiping Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnam Communist flag, Tran is admiring the one man and the bloody regime which indirectly killed my father and caused the separation in my family.

FRANCIS TRAN

Garden Grove