Below is the text of an open letter by a group in San Jose calling itself “Our Voice” and carrying 354 signatures.
Basically supporting San Jose City Councilwoman Madison Nguyen in the dispute over a group of protesters’ demand that a stretch of Story Road be named “Little Saigon.”
The letter is dated February 12, 2008, so why is the Bolsavik posting it now?
Good question. This letter is here as background information to better understand the next entry to be posted in a few hours.
Read more about the whole Little Saigon-in-San Jose issue here. And about why Ly Tong is in the hospital here, and here.
The open letter’s full text follows:
DECLARATION OF OUR VOICE – AN OPEN LETTER
We, a large number of the Vietnamese Americans living in San Jose and the vicinity, in light of the dispute regarding the naming of the one-mile stretch of businesses on Story Road in the City of San Jose, find it necessary to voice our opinion, hereby declare,
WHEREAS:
1. It is now the time to restore the true image of Vietnamese Americans among other communities in our city;
2. The group that supports the name “Little Saigon”, no matter how vocal, does not constitute the majority and is not representative of the Vietnamese Americans living in San Jose and the vicinity;
3. The acts of verbally abusing our City officials and others with opposing view points, the weekly demonstrations before the City Hall, the spreading of misinformation, use of intimidation and acts of slander and name calling, all to fight for the name “Little Saigon”, has been harmful, disruptive and counterprod uctive for our city and its residents;
4. The name “Little Saigon” may appeal to some, it is by no means the identity of the Vietnamese American people;
5. We find Councilmember Madison Nguyen’s decision to not support the “Little Saigon” name inadequate reason for a recall;
6. As it is the most democratic process to gather true representation, we support a resolution to place the business district naming issue on the ballot for the people of San Jose to vote.
With all due respect for people having different opinions, we assert these points to be true and fair. We hereby execute this declaration.
We unanimously request:
I. The San Jose City Council schedule a Citywide vote to have all the people, Vietnamese and non-Vietnamese, decide if they want to name the one-mile stretch of businesses on Story Road “Little Saigon” or not. ! < /div>
II. All parties act to restore the common peace for all and promote a fair dialogue and understanding of facts.
III. All pa rties bring to an end the hostile attitude towards City officials and towards people of differing opinions.
IV. All parties cease and desist from unconstructive behavior so that we can build a better and healthier community in the City of San Jose.
To the viewers and readers of this Open Letter, we welcome your sign-on words of support via the following email addresses:
OurVoice08@yahoo.com or ChungToiLenTieng@yahoo.com
San Jose, California, February 12, 2008
(Partial List)
1.- San Nhat Le, 2.- Han Huu Nguyen, 3.- Suu Dinh Truong, 4.- Tung Thanh Bui, 5.- Dr. Ngai Nguyen, 6.- Prof. Dinh Co Hoang, 7.- Y Yen My Tan Phan, 8.- Du Vo, 9.- Henry Le, 10.- Luc Huu Nguyen, 11.- Ph?t T? Tâm Nguy?n Ái, 12.- Ph?t T? Phuoc Hoang, 13.- Nhà th? Song Nh?, , 14.- Nhà v?n Sông Lô, 15.- Que Le, 16.- Long Pham, 17.- Anh Ngoc Tran, 18.- Hai Le, 19.- Cao S?n, 20.- T??ng Pham, 21.- Chi Kim Pham, 22.- Linh Tuan Nguyen, 23.- Hung Do, 24.- Duyen Hoang Nguyen, 25.- Âu Dang, 26.- Tùng Thanh Bui 27.- Nhut Minh Tran, 28.- Phúc Trí, 29.- Dân Hoang, 30.- Ng?c Hoang Ngo 31.- Anh Nguyen, 32.- Ha Nguyen, 33.- Hien Nguyen, 34.- Cuoc Thanh Nguyen, 35.- Dz?ng Hong Nguyen, 36.- De Nguyen, 37.- Duc Xuan Ngo, 38.- Khoi Ho, 39.- Duong Minh Nguyen, 40.- Ton Ngo, 41.- Liem Huu Nguyen 42.- Luc Nguyen,43.- Loan Thi Nguyen, 44.- Loi Tran, 45.- Minh Tran, 46.- Tam Bang Tran, 47.- Van Huynh, 48.- Billy Nguy?n, 49.- Van Hong Tran, 50.- Ann Vân Liêm, 51.- Lanie Vân Liêm, 52.- Long Nguyen,53.- Thanh Thi Nguyen, 54.- Chi Thi Nguyen, 55.- Tien Xuan Nguyen 56.- Dao Van Tran, 57.- Hoa Van Tran, 58.- Luong Van Tran, 59.- Binh Van Tran, 60.- Nguyen Khang Le Ho, 61.- Jeemy Le Ho, 62.- Thang Tien Uong, 63.- Nhóm Th?ng Ti?n, 64.- Vi Huu Bui, 65.- Anh Ngoc Thi Le, 66.- Thi Ng?c Hoang, 67.- Nghia Thanh Nguyen, 68.- On Van Pham, 69.- Duyen Huu Tran, 70.- Quyen Thi Trinh, 71.- Du Thi Huynh,72.- Chau Diem Bui, 73.- Xuyen Kim Tuyet 74.- Hung Quoc Pham, 75.- Chi Bo VNQDD? Cô Giang, 76.- Mai Ly Ng?c Nguyen, 77.- Hue Thanh Nguyen, 78.- Ba Thi Tran, 79.- Minh Ngoc Thi Luu, 80.- Hoa Thi Ho, 81.- Hoa Nhu Phan, 82.- Thanh Tuyet Pham, 83.- Thuong Hoang, 84.- Andy Nguyen, 85.- Christian Nguy?n, 86.- Mai Kim, 87.- Donna Nguy?n, 88.- Loi Thanh Tran, 89.- Trai Nguy?n, 90.- Thanh Nguy?n, 91.- Binh Nguy?n, 92.- Tân Nguy?n, 93.- Thi Nguy?n, 94.- Thai Nguy?n, 95.- Vinh Ho, 96.- Lam My Nguyên, 97.- Nghia Van Tran, 98.- Gioi Thi Le, 99.- Van Thi Truong, 100.- Van Thi Truong, 101.- Huong Thi Truong, 102.- Lan Thi Nguyen, 103.- Khiet Van Nguyen, 104.- Thanh Van Nguyen, 105.- Ha Thi Nguyen, 106.- My Le Thi Ho, 107.- Le Ha Thi Ho, 108.- Danh Thanh Phan, 109.- Duc Thanh Phan, 110.- Chi Tran, 111.- Van Tran, 112.- Phong Phuong, 113.- Thao Pham, 114.- Man Nguyen, 115.- Nhung Pham, 116.- Nguy?n Phi Tr?n, 117.- Sara Ph?m,118.- Hue Van Nguyen, 119.- Di Thi Pham, 120.- Luan Dinh Ngo, 121.- Mon Thi Truong, 122.- Thu Sinh Tan Tai Pham, 123.- Xuân Thi Nguyen, 124.- Tuan Truong, 125.- Trong Huynh, 126.- Thien Thu Tran, 127.- Trung Lâm, 128.- Thiem Chanh Le, 129.- Lien Nguyen, 130.- Jackie Le, 131.- Thi Le, 132.- Tuan Van Tran, 133.- Nhóm Thân H?u Tam Bang Tran g?m m?t s? ??ng h??ng c? ng? t?i các ? San Jose, Fremont và Hayward, 134.- Judie Huynh, 135.- Joanna Huynh, 136.- Janet Huynh, 137.- Binh Le, 138.- Dung Nguyen, 139.- Loc Le, 140.- Hanh T?, 141.- Hai Tran, 142.- Giác Ch?n H?ng Quang Do, 143.- Nga Thi Pham, 144.- Hung Tran, 145.- Kiet Tran, 146.- Hien Tran, 147.- Tim Tran, 148.- Dung Tran, 149.- Nguyet Tran, 150.- Dông Van Tran, 151.- San Thi Ngo, 152.- Ngo Tran, 153.- Nhân Ngo, 154.- Vinh Thi Tran, 155.- Canh Tran, 156.- Nga Thi Tran, 157.- David Tran, 158.- My Tran, 159.- John Tran, 160.- Cindy Tran, 161.- Sang Phan, 162.- Phuong Lam, 163.- Dau Van Nguyen, 164.- Cu Van Nguyen, 165.- Thao Thi Truong, 166.- Bich Nhung Thi Nguyen, 167.- Ha Nguyen, 168.- Chim Thi Nguyen, 169.- Julie Nguyen, 170.- Tony Nguyen, 171.- Jim Nguyen, 172.- Cang Van Tran, 173.- Randy Nguyen, 174.- Tuy?t Minh Thi Tran, 175.- Thang Quang Tran, 176.- Vicky Tran, 177.- Liên Hu?nh Lê, 178.- Nhon Thien Le, 179.- Anh Le, 180.- Chi Le, 181.- Trang Nguy?n, 182.- Miles Parson, 183.- Cuc Thi Le, 184.- Xuân Pham, 185.- Julie Pham, 186.- Kim Pham, 187.- Lauren Tran, 189.- Jessica Tran, 190.- John Tran, 191.- Xia Pham, 192.- Kim Chi Huynh, 193.- Hien Vo, 194.- Huy Vo 195.- Chi Bích Cao, 196.- Nhi Vo, 197.- Alison Nguy?n, 198.- Greg Pate, Campbell, 199.- Chuc Le, 200.- Tr?ng Bình Tr?n, 201.- Tam Tran, 202.- Jenny Pham, 203.- Hien Tai Pham, 204.- Phong Nguyen, 205.- Phung ?ao, 206.- Anh Hoang Truong, 207.- Pho Hoang Truong, 208.- Xuan Thi Nguyen, 209.- Quyen Dinh Quyen, 210.- Bich Hà Thi Nguyen, 211.- Billy Tr??ng, 212.- Chau Huynh, 213.- Vi Minh Tran, 214.- Vi Hung Tran, 215.- Mai Nguyen, 216.- Julie Ph?m, 217.- Phong Nguy?n, 218.- Thông Quang Pham, 219.- Bach Pham, 230.- Van Pham,231.- Truong Xuan Nguyen, 232.- Hai Chau, 233.- Hue Thi Nguyen, 234.- David Pham, 235.- Chan Tran, 236.- Lan Nguyen, 237.- Ha Viet Tinh, 238.- Cung Diem, 239.- Dien Nghi, 240.- Dieu Hanh, 241.- Tung Xuan Nguyen, 242.- Jonathan Tran Nguyen, 243.- Vincent Nguyen 244.- Stanley Pham, 245.- Tho?i Pham, 246.- Douglass Phong Tran, 247.- Mai Hong Tran, 248.- Kim Oanh Nguyen, 249.- Tho Mai Vo, 250.- Thanh Duy Vo, 251.- Jennyfer Do, 252.- Helen Mai Pham, 253.- Jimmy Pham, 254.- Oanh Thuc Tran, 255.- Mimi Nguyen, 256.- Tom Le, 257.- Nga Thi Nguyen, 258.- Huu Van Tran, 259.- Michael HaiDang, 260.- Nga Huynh, 261.- John ?ang, 262.- My ?ang, 263.- Ngan Nguyen, 264.- Giap Nguyen, 265.- Hai Vu, 266.- Phuc Doan, 267.- Vinh Nguyen, 268.- Chinh Nguyen, 269.- Duy Nguyen, 270.- Victor B?ch, 271.- Hung Vu Nguyen, 272.- Katy Trinh, 273.- Long Trinh, 274.- Ph??ng Lan, 275.- Lua Tran, 276.- Nga Tran, 277.- Hai Nguyen, 278.- Truong Thien Nguyen, 279.- Richard H. Lu, 280.- Thu Tran, 281.- Tran Ngoc Luyen, 282.- Dinh Nguyen, 283.- Dao Hoang, 284.- Gai Nguyen, 285.- Minh Van Hoang, 286.- Sang Thi Tran, 287.- Hanh Truong, 288.- Hoa Nguyen, 289.- Vu Nguyen, 289.- Mai Nguyen, 290.- Tue Van Hoang, 291.- Chien Pham, 292.- Mien Thi Tran, 293.- Chien Nguyen, 294.- Hien Thi Tran, 295.- Sinh Van Hoang, 296.- Quy Thi Nguyen, 297.- Ton Nguyen, 298.- Cuoc Le, 299.- Mui Nguyen, 300.- Buu Nguyen, 301.- Hien Thi Vo, 302.- An Tran, 303.- Dien Thi Mai, 304.- Trong Van Truong, 305.- Lieu Thi Hoang, 306.- Toan Nguyen, 307.- Que Thi Nguyen, 308.- Linh Ngoc Nguyen, 309.- Buu Son Nguyen, 310.- Van Anh Vo, 311.- Thanh Cong Vo, 312.- Khuong Le, 313.- Dung Vo, 314.- Lam Thi Mai Ha, 315.- Vien Xuan Trinh, 316.- Hai Quoc Vo, 317.- Lam To, 316.- Chi Dang, 317.- Duong Pham, 318.- Ky Vo, 319.- Ky Do, 320.- Hung Trieu Lam, 321.- Thanh Mai Duong, 312.- Doan Le, 313.- Tuyet Thi Nguyen, 314.- Nhan Van Mai, 315.- My Thi Nguyen, 316.- Dong Tran, 317.- Hung Tran, 318.- Tien Tran, 319.- Hau Thi Linh, 320.- Gai Thi Nguyen, 321.- Vay Tran Van, 322.- Sam Huynh, 323.- An Son Do, 232.- William Pham, 323.- Lyncy Tran, 324.- Long Tran, 325.- Tai Van Kim, 36.- Loan Kim Le, 327.- Thong Dang, 328.- Nam Thanh Phan, 329.- Bac Hoang Kim, 330.- Thanh Hai Duong, 331.- David La, 332.- Van Hai Huynh, 334.- Tam Vo, 335.- Ngoc Ha Ho, 336.- Diep Van Pham, 337.- Dac Le, 338.- Alice Mai, 339.- Ryan To, 339.- Huu Nguyen, 340.- Thai Van Doan, 341.- Chon Thi Ngoc Ha, 342.- Phuong Thi Ngoc Ha, 343.- Bao Thanh Tran, 344.- Long Thanh Tran, 345.- Duyen Thi Vuong, 346.- Dao Van Ly, 347.- Binh Ly, 348.- Nhan Thi Tieu, 349.- Diep Thi Vo, 350.- Truyen Thi Dang, 351.- Ba Le, 352.- Tai Van Thanh, 353.- Tiffany Diep, 354.- Da Do.
So what are your views on this issue?
I find this letter a bit disingenuous, even though I agree with most of its points. As you said, this group supports Madison, right? So why not come out and say it, instead of pretending to be neutral?
Of the Whereas points above:
1) Agree.
2) Disagree. It’s obvious that Little Saigon is the choice of the majority (or at least plurality). But that doesn’t make it the automatic choice.
3) Agree.
4) Agree.
5) Agree.
6) Not sure about this. This may be a ploy, as an end run around the Little Saigon name.
What do you think about the news (or just rumor?) that Madison wanted the name Saigon Business District because of her business connections?
Also, a quick glance of the signers shows the name Hoang Co Dinh of Viet Tan. No problem with that. But just today I read a “B?N LÊN TI?NG PH?N Ð?I BÁO NG??I VI?T NH?C M? LÁ C? QU?C GIA”, with one of the signers being Hoang Co Long of Viet Tan. What the hell? Why the hell did Viet Tan sign that? Isn’t what the Nguoi Viet protestors are doing the same (or even worse) than what the San Jose protestors were doing?
Dear VietPundit:
To answer your very last point: Well, Hoang Co Dinh and Hoang Co Long are two different individuals, so they’re certainly entitled to draw different conclusions….
I know, but Hoang Co Long didn’t sign as an invidual, but as “Hoàng C? Long, thay m?t ?y Ban Ch? ??o, Vi?t Nam Canh Tân Cách M?ng ??ng (??ng cách m?ng Vi?t Tân)”. My question is, why is Viet Tan doing that? I’m certainly disappointed.