The tumult and the shouting have died and “Little Saigon” is now a political battle, not an alternate name to an important area of small businesses. Or is it? A recall is in the offing if cooler and more focused minds do not prevail. I hope they do. It would be bad for the city, District 7, and the Vietnamese community. While it is difficult to understand why Madison Nguyen was so blind-sided by the somewhat predictable events of the last few weeks (and the strong feelings behind them), the council supported her down the line. One day we may see it more clearly.
As I watched the saga unfold, I was reminded of another traumatizing symbol of that war that figured in a wrenching event in the Vietnamese community: the visit of antiwar activist Tom Hayden to the San Jose City College graduation ceremony in 1987 as the commencement speaker. There are some things in common with both events. First, it showed the powerful emotions in the immigrant community involving their old homeland that they were forced to flee. Hayden had a following in the most “progressive” elements of San Jose’s Democratic establishment, a full-time staff, and a cadre of supporters here for his “Campaign for Economic Democracy.” Hayden was the devil incarnate to the Vietnamese community for his antiwar harangues and support—in their minds—for the Hanoi Government. Also, the fact that his wife was Jane Fonda exacerbated a very bad scene. Then reason prevailed. I spoke to the group that invited him then I called him and he agreed not to address the students. A tragic situation was avoided—almost.
On graduation night, I received a phone call from the police that Hayden had reneged on the agreement and was in the wings of the old Civic Auditorium before three thousand graduates and their families. Just as I arrived, Hayden was introduced, came center stage and pandemonium broke out. Students fled in tears, threatening shouts from adults were uttered and police moved into position. I had a front-row seat for all of this. I met Hayden as he came off stage and told him what an unmitigated ass he was, and how despicable his actions were, destroying a precious moment in these young, aspiring students’ lives to satisfy his own ego. I was angry and had been fooled. I learned again what I knew from my own and others’ immigrant traditions in America, and that is that words, names and symbols are very powerful, particularly when the wounds are new. Irish-Americans and Jewish Americans are two notable examples of how the power of past grievances and horrible sins can remain long after the crime and motivate new Americans, and well they should.
Nguyen was perhaps naïve; I was too. “Saigon” and “Hayden” are as powerful in recent-immigrant circles as “Holocaust” and “partition” were in past ones—and still are. History is something that is a powerful tool—for good and ill—and is underestimated at your own peril. San Jose is a beacon for immigrants. It always has been and I hope that will always be the case. Yet, although you can’t go home again, you can never forget the tug of that home. Here in San Jose, it is never too late to relearn old lessons.
So, are you saying the area should be named Little Saigon?
Call me crazy, I think he may have spoken to satisfy those people who invited him to speak.
WW – Seems like that name would have been one solution before tempers erupted and old wounds reopened. One name I would eliminate is “Tom Hayden Village Center .” TMcE
I am just amazed that this is even an issue, Wasn’t that area doing just fine without a name ?
And then someone has to do the PC thing to make people feel better about themselfs. If it was Madison Nguyen then this will teach her to keep her mouth shut and her ears open and address the real problems that are in that area.
Like the city has nothing better to do with it’s time, somebody please stop this nonsense I’m sick of hearing about it…..
Thanks, Tom, for the insructive history lesson. The road toward a community and a politics not based on ethnic and racial identities will be a long one, but we should all persevere.
One question ,though.What does this mean:
Irish-Americans and Jewish Americans are two notable examples of how the power of past grievances and horrible sins can remain long after the crime and motivate new Americans, and well they should.
I’m not sure how to read that. Are you saying that *all* new Americans should be very sensitive to the sins of the past or that historically discriminated-against ethnic groups should continue to be motivated by fear of future discrimination?
merci.
Naming that district is extremely topical culturally.
For whatever reason, the Vietnamese population has taken some time to culturally integrate into the Bay Area. Now we all eat at Vietnamese restaurants, granted; we have friends, coworkers, and hear the language.
But adding a City Council member, airing business district issues, and participating in politics (both in winning and losing situations) gives me great hope for community integration.
Everyone familiar with politics knows the formula: the way to get your constituents into City Hall and get them involved is not to pat them on the back and give them what they want. You have to REALLY piss them off.
These things take time, as we all know. Any nguoi Viet on ‘San Jose Insider’ yet?
Tom:
I’d like to know how many people that spoke at city hall in favor of the “Little Saigon” name were/are San Jose residents. I saw a few speakers on CH 26 volunteer that they did not live in San Jose, “but…” And. the Mercury News interviewed an activist from So Cal who “jumped on a plane” to be weigh in on the debate. Question: How many from the “community” are from the “city,” and to what degree should San Jose allow non-residents to influence policy decisions?
Pete Campbell
Ms. Nguyen was blind-sided because she was foolish enough to believe she was elected to decide the Vietnamese community’s internecine squabbles. She wasn’t: she was elected because that community wanted access to government power and saw her as the best conduit.
As the young politician is quickly discovering, when it comes to identity politics in America (the us-against-them divisiveness fostered by leftists in academia and the media) group cohesiveness begins and ends with “them.” Remove from an issue those outside the group, the “them,” and the Vietnamese community and will be just as divided, and no less unreasonable about an issue, than would be expected of any other identifiable group. Absent a “them” to unite and rally against, what was wanted by those on each side of the dispute was for Ms. Nguyen to pay them back for their support; in other words, to do as she was told.
Apparently she’d been under the impression that she’d been elected for her wisdom and leadership. Gee, how naive can you be? Small wonder the word “recall” was heard before the angry crowd exited City Hall. These people may be new to the country, but they certainly comprehendo quid pro quo.
Personally I enjoyed seeing her take a beating. This is a young woman who never hesitated to frame a controversial police shooting in racial terms when she saw a chance to raise her political profile. Her contribution to the shooting aftermath, though roundly covered and cheered by the media, did nothing to bring clarity to the issue and unfairly tainted a young police officer, and the department he worked for, as callous racists.
Nice to see her experience what it’s like to be on the unpleasant side of mob politics.
Dear RG Dad
Both the Irish and Jewish immigrants fled from horrors, both economic and political – the Holocaust and the Irish version, namely, the Great Famine of the 1840’s, were the dramatic, tragic events. Both groups carried these tragedies as part of their DNA, and appropriately so. Partition, the unification issue, was big in Irish-American politics until 1995 and the advent of the EU. We know clearly the impact of Israel, its survival, on American politics until this moment. The Vietnamese-American are a continuation of this politic reality. TMcE
Undoubtedly you understand the Story Road issue from a grander historical perspective, my little brain just wonders when the Vietnamese community will petition City Hall to rename part of Santa Clara Street now that a precedent has been set. If we look to San Francisco, as we seem to frequently, have parts of Geary St. ever been renamed according to the current cultural inhabitant?
‘As the young politician is quickly discovering, when it comes to identity politics in America (the us-against-them divisiveness fostered by leftists in academia and the media) group cohesiveness begins and ends with “them.”’
The country is lucky to have the shrill, angry voices of right-wing radio boneheads and news confrontation television encourage healing of this rift in American society! Down with all who partake in anything but the most banal aspects of American life! Unite around the lowest common denominator!
(What an amazing privilege it is to be able to be taken seriously when one proclaims his way of life as the only correct way of life and to demand that all around him live as he does.)
#10- WW- I’m wondering too, but I don’t think Santa Clara will allow themselves to be pulled into this type of political mess. So far they have refused to name anything after the Vietnamese community. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Tom,
I read your column and I must say I don’t agree with everything you’ve said. I agree in that I too think it is very important to be respectful of history, and people’s pain. I was at that Council Meeting and I saw the emotion and passion of these citizens wanting the name Little Saigon. I even saw a few people crying it was so important to them. But what struck me the most was the total unfeeling way the council behaved towards these people and this issue. May be they were overwhelmed, or taken a back, I ‘m not sure. Most of them just seemed very unfeeling and very determined to ignore the people’s wish to name the business district Little Saigon. Their minds were clearly made up. Very sad indeed.
I was deeply saddened by the politics I saw there. I felt bad for Madison because she was in a no win situation, and she is carrying a burden of an entire Vietnamese culture that isn’t fair to her. I felt bad for the other business owners who were not Vietnamese, but tried to compromise by putting Saigon in the name. It was a very sad experience for me straight down the line. So my question is, where exactly do we draw the line between our American society and allowing other cultures into ours?
Your example of the Hayden incident got me to thinking. I was a little girl when my Father returned from Vietnam. I remember protestors spitting on him and calling him a “Baby Killer,” as he was getting off the plane. He had been gone for 2 and half years. I was really angry, and I do remember Fonda and Hayden doing their best to spit on the troops and the US. But I also remember them both apologizing for their behavior, especially Jane Fonda.
I guess I’d like to know when does the hating stop, and the healing begin? If we don’t allow for healing, and we only hang on to the history of the past, and the negative feelings, when will we find the time to create the now and the tomorrows so we don’t repeat the mistakes, and hurts of history past?
#11 $$$$$$$$$
Overall I sort of agree with your posts, but I do wonder if you are related to $$$, and $$$$, and $$$$$, and $$$$$$, and $$$$$$$, and $$$$$$$$?
#12 – Kathleen—Santa Clara Street, San Jose District 3; drive down it going East from 3rd Street or so.
We should always “watch reruns”, they replay your memories!
This is nothing more than a moniker. It’s not as if the street name is being changed.
It’s the Viet community issue, and if the Viet community wants it to be called Little Saigon. Then let’s call it that so that we can all move on.
It’s a no brainer.
Shame on Madison for being stupid and shame on the other 7 Councilmembers for following suit!