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| "Our Great Viet is a country where prosperity abounds, Where civilization reigns supreme. Its customs are distinct, in North and South. Trieu, Dinh, Ly, and Tran Created our Nation, Whilst Han, T'ang, Sung, and Yuan Ruled over Theirs. Over the Centuries We have been sometimes wrong, and sometimes weak, But never yet have we been lacking in heroes. Of that let our history be proof." The Proclomation of Independence by Emperor Le Loi "The Communists will defeat us, not by virtue of their strength, but because of our weakness. They will win by default." President Ngo Dinh Diem of South Vietnam "I respect those who have fallen bravely, but they have reaped what they have sown...They attack the Vietnamese, violate their rights, then call them murderers for defending themselves." a friend of the French adventurer Riviere, killed near Hongay "I want to rail against the wind and the tide, kill the whales in the sea, sweep the whole country to save the people from slavery, and I refuse to be abused." Trieu Au, called the Vietnamese Joan of Arc, she led a revolt against China "Every man on earth, ought to accomplish some great enterprise so that he leaves the sweet scent of his name to later generations. How, then, could he willingly be the slave of foreigners?" Emperor Le Loi "I do not wish a foreign army to spill the blood of my people." Emperor Bao Dai when informed that the Allies had placed the Japanese garrison at his disposal to defend the Forbbiden City from the Vietminh |