Political Apathy of VSAs

There is a rising political apathy within some Vietnamese Student Associations because of an attempt to promote a welcoming environment for all students, including international Vietnamese students. There is a conflict between whether the original Vietnamese yellow flag with three red stripes be representative of the group or to be political neutral by avoiding all debate touching on controversial topics. From personal experiences with the VSAs in the New England area, a social community is evolving out of outings and fashion shows to replace the political consciousness that is needed to engage in debates that challenges one’s paradigm. — ThucMinh 2007/05/12
- It’s a fear that arguing scares away members, because with traditional leadership philosophies, it’s a winner-take-all situation, so you have people vying for power, which could get ugly. I believe there is a need to teach Nonviolence, Tolerance and Pluralism. Also, there’s a difference, I believe, between Apathy and Neutrality. In the case of the flag, apathy and avoidance would be not bringing up the topic. A neutral stance is one that has stated reasons, so a VSA should have an official statement on the matter. — Bao Thien Ngo 2007/05/14 17:57

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