Ho Chi Min - Uncle Ho's an American Admirer

Sam Tapia 06/28/2011

Uncle Ho's an American Admirer

Ho Chi Minh declaration of Independence is an example of how the publishing of injustices and simple incontestable rights can inspire a broken people. Possibly the most amazing thing about this speech is that it draws so much from principles that all human beings especially in the West hold so very sacred. Though there are many critics to Ho Chi Minh's policies themselves his ability to inspire and captivate it is very hard to deny, as evident in this speech and his movement itself.

The events following his speech are evidence to his ability draw out masses , seen in the first Indochina war and the second which Americans called the Vietnam War. The events prior to his speech are also evidence to his charisma and leadership skills .This back story is important to explain. In 1941, Ho Chi Minh returned to Vietnam after nearly thirty years of absence from his own country .During this time he led guerilla forces against the occupying Japanese and defeated French force prior to this the Japanese force was largely unopposed .He led forces with aid of China ,French rebels and later the United States against the Japanese force . However , in August 1945 the last of Japanese forces had surrendered in Vietnam and the French proclaimed that Vietnam was still a French province. This did not rest well Ho and his supporters, Ho declared the Vietnam should be from Japanese, French, Chinese , and any other foreign power -this action led to the first Indochina war between Vietnamese forces and French . On September 2nd 1945 in Ba Dinh Square Ho delivered his famous declaration of Independence speech.

This speech borrows many elements from the United States and French constitution and in some parts word for word. The first sentences state "All men are created equal. They are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. ", a direct quoted from the US constitution. Ho than quotes from the French constitution "All men are born free and with equal rights, and must always remain free and have equal rights." Following this he then states "these are undeniable truths ". Ho than goes on to list the injustices and inhumanities that his people suffered under the Japanese and French rule. Those statements demonstrate clear examples of pathos and logos that many people understood and related too. Ho criticizes the French's for forgetting the role he and his men played during the Japanese war effort. His account of these events demonstrates clear ethos about events that really happen. Another one of the most interesting things about this speech is that it would seem the Ho believes that other nations particularly, the United States would support him in his endeavors. Ho said "We are convinced that the Allied nations, which at Teheran and San Francisco have acknowledged the principles of self-determination and equality of nations, will not refuse to acknowledge the independence of Viet-Nam." His almost poetic speech is incredible .Not many in the West would believe that this plea which Ho broadcasted to be from a communist or socialist advocate. Ho truly believed that the United States and possibly other nations would come to his aid against the French, however they did not. On one several occasions Ho had privately attempted to contact the United States government however documents released from the Truman administration relieved that the president simply ignored theses requests.

The speech itself ignoring anything politically associated about the man who wrote it could convince any reasonable person in Vietnam to stand up and take arms. That fact is hardly