officially remembered by the government, but all Americans can be proud of this stamp."
Reactions to the stamp have been swift, and although some groups across the country like the Postal Service's proposed stamp, others have taken slight offense. By Friday noon, the Postal Service had recorded more than thirteen phone calls, which is more than the service had received during all of last year. Supporters of the stamp, including radio personality G. Gordon Liddy and Senator Jesse Helms, say they couldn't be more pleased with the Postal Service's depiction of the war, and have both placed advance orders. Veterans' groups have condemned the stamp, though, and amid the ensuing debate the White House has taken an unusually proactive role in settling the matter. Reading from a prepared statement, White House Press Secretary Dee Dee Meyers discussed President Clinton's opinion of the stamp.
"The President believes very strongly in supporting the veterans of all wars, but also that the U.S. should do everything it can to be nice to our small Asian friends," Meyers said. "For this reason, he has decided that a stamp commemorating the My Lai massacre is not appropriate and that the U.S. Postal Service should find an alternative way to depict the Viet Nam War." Meyers then outlined other ideas for the stamp that Clinton himself suggested. "We believe that perhaps a picture of a U.S. soldier setting fire to a thatch hut, or maybe North Vietnamese tanks rolling through downtown Saigon, would better portray the Viet Nam War," Meyers continued. "But a scene with American soldiers involved in the act of shooting someone is not acceptable."
Although the Postal Service was not available for comment after the announcement from the White House, there is rampant speculation that the stamp is destined to be re-drawn. Until then, however, stamp collectors around the world can only wait and see.
