A man with a loud voice and British accent entered my office today. He was upset about the Vietnamese flag we are flying in front of our international school. I gave him the long story about how we thought we were doing a great thing by ordering the 13 different flags from the 13 different countries representing the countries of the students attending our school. I didn't bother elaborating about how great it makes me feel when I pull into the parking lot and see them all waving inthe wind. I didn't mention how proud I was of the American Flag in the center atop a slight taller pole. No, didn't want to rub it in his face. I simply - or as simply as possible - explained how we ordered them off a flag site on the internet. Well, how was I supposed to know that the British flag was one he didn't llke either???
I was well aware of the controversy around the Vietnamese Flag. Are you? It seems that the Vietnamese who escaped from South Vietnam don't honor the current Vietnamese Flag. I read about it when we ordered the flags, so we ordered BOTH flags. When our student arrived, we asked him which flag he would like us to raise on the pole. Of course, he picked the current flag. At his age, he wouldn't know any other flag. That was fine for about six months. I was called to the parking lot by a concerned employee to address a large group of angry Vietnamese Americans who were demanding that I take down the Vietnamese flag, or they would be calling the press and staging demonstrations in front of the school. No problem, I said.
Why did I cave so fast, you are wondering? I have a motto: "Any day that I'm not First on Fox is a good day, indeed." I speak from experience.
Back to the Brit.....So he didn't seemed to impressed with my international flag site explanation or not being first on Fox. He said he is a former economics professor and he is appalled that I wouldn't know my history or flags.
"What?" I said, now with a raised eyebrow.
"You are flying the wrong English flag." He spouted.
"Well, our English student doesn't seem to have a problem with it," I retorted.
"It's because he's English," the arrogant so called Economics professor said.
"Furthermore, you've forgotten that you lost the Vietnam War. ....stupid......"
I don't remember exactly what he said after that. I remember saying something about having a few Masters Degrees, living through the Vietnam War and he could go back to Britian if he didn't like it here. I finished with, "Thank you for stopping and have a nice day. Oh. and if you want me to fly a different flag, you are welcome to buy it."
Do people carry grudges for over 200 years? I can't imagine how tired they must be. That was the Snarky part of my day. There was other snarkiness, but one incident described is enough for you, I'm sure.
Sunshine? Still waiting for that. I think it will happen when I arrive home, take off these uncomfortable clothes and exchange them for my comfy fleece pants from The Rack and my flannel jacket and bend down to pet my ever faithful Lab, who is waiting patiently for my attention. I don't think I can say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, buy the wrong flag, over work him or do anything else that will reduce his adoration of me. Now that's a sunny moment.
Sunshine Snarky over and out.
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