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Date: Sat, 2 Sep 2006 09:30:32 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Tai VanTa" <taivanta@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Vsg] Call for Conference Papers: "Beyond Teleologies: Alternative Voices and Histories in Colonial Viet Nam"
Dear organizers of the proposed first conference
(March 2007) "Beyond teteologies: alternative voices
and histories in colonial Vietnam" and all friends in
VSG:
The general description of the focuses of this
proposed conference shows the praiseworthy desire of
the organizers to look in depth into the complexities
of Vietnamese society in Vietnam prior to the
unification in 1975.
However, because the historical period indicated in
the description includes the Republic of Vietnam which
ended in 1975 (especially topics such as "the third
force groups on the margins or in opposition to the
Republic of Vietnam", and "the heterogeneity of
Vietnam's South" ), I suggest that the title of the
conference should be changed to "Beyond teteologies :
alternative voices and histories in Vietnam prior to
unification in 1975", because The Republic of Vietnam
in the South prior to 1975 was not a colony, although
it might be under the influence of the big powers, as
the North was.
For example, I applaud the insight of the organizers
about alternative social forces in Vietnam because I
know of thorough researches on the Buddhist movement
that led to the rise of Buddhism in society since
1930's, culminating in the political influence of the
Buddhists in 1963 and many years after that.
However, people who can contribute to this Conference
about this indigenous, national phenomenon--that
streched from the really colonial period prior to 1945
to the nationalist period of the South prior to 1975,
when some monks,as the Time Magazine put on its cover,
"shook up America"--will be reluctant to participate
if you consider them as writing about the "colonial
period" in South Vietnam.
Tai Van Ta
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