Colorado honors Vietnam vets - and politicians bicker

Last Friday, I covered the state house and senate honoring Vietnam War vets on the 35th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon.

As far as I could tell, I was the only media who covered it, but that's why AsiaXpress exists – to tell stories about the Asian-American communities that the mainstream media ignores.

For 90 minutes, state senators and representatives shared personal thoughts on the significance of the day. It was certainly interesting listening to those who grew up during the '60s and '70s and hearing their stories of how the veterans were poorly treated when they came back. Some broke down into tears when they said today was long overdue.

But a couple of state senators – from both parties – decided to inject their own personal politics into their off-the-cuff speeches.

I was saddened by that. That day wasn't supposed to be about your political points of view; it was about honoring these veterans who came home to jeers and verbal assault. This day was supposed to be about them, not you.

Thankfully, one senator came in and gave a voice of reason.

And one – let's call him "Hed Tarvey" – just rambled on about something that wasn't relevant. I wasn't sure where he was going when he began boasting about his life and neither did many of the other folks who stood in the back with me. I'm sure he had a point meant well.