Little Saigon - San Jose Foundation: Letter of Concerns

LITTLE SAIGON SAN JOSE FOUNDATION

2396 Senter Road, Suite #45,San Jose, CA 95112

Email: barrydo@gmail.com

Phone: 408-679-8902

Letter of Concerns

San Jose,

November 9, 2015

To: PBS Ombudsman, Frontline and ProPublica Producers and Editors

Dear all:

We welcome and appreciate PBS and Frontline Producers and Correspondents for the finding justice of the murdered victims, especially the ones who expressed their freedom of speech illustrated in the film. However, due to the ill-advised and/or lack of understanding the Vietnamese unique political and cultural history during the 80s time frame from the Frontline staffs; this documentary film “Terror in Little Saigon” that aired on November 3, 2015 has triggered an outrage to Vietnamese-American community members throughout the United States. The wrong title of the film, although created the sensational name to appeal the audience, but completely misaligned with the honorable intent content of the film. The Vietnamese-American community members feel violated the pride and respectable image of a vibrant and upstanding community.

The Viet émigré Community in the United States have always pursued the freedom and democracy for Vietnam since the fall of Saigon in 1975. Nevertheless, we are also the law binding U.S. citizens who oppose any violence and unlawful tactics against any individuals who have different opinions since this is a free and democratic country. We have supported and cooperated with authority to expose any individuals and/or organizations that violate the law. We support the justice for any murdered victims as the film advocated, however, by using the inaccurate and dramatic title for the film, theProducers and reporters had done an injustice and attack the Viet community abroad. Here are some erroneous facts in the film:

• The name “Little Saigon” was not even existed of the homicides took place during the 80’s time frame as shown in the film.

• The wearing of military uniforms with decorated weaponry from the former South Vietnam’s armed servicemen intended only for the ceremonial denotation during the reunion, New Year Day Parade, South Vietnam Armed Forces Day. The exercises are mainly for memorial purpose and reminding the younger generation the pride of the South Vietnam Armed Forces during the Vietnam War.

Thus, by using the name “Little Saigon” with the misrepresenting the ceremonial uniforms through the narrating of “creating another war” had misguided the audience. Here in U.S, wearing uniforms and recreated the Civil War every year during the Memorial and Veterans Days do not mean the United States wanted to go back fighting that war.In addition, the name “Little Saigon” in every populous Viet émigré cities started to emerge and recognized by the elected officials just from the 90s’ time frame is the symbol of Vietnamese-American growth community with robust economic, social, cultural and political forces in the United States.

Frontline's Producers would not name “Terror in America” when there are unsolved murders in every case happened in U.S. By using the title “Terror in Little Saigon," the Frontline producers had violated the dignity of the Viet community, and by showing the ceremonial rituals of the past South Vietnam Armed Forces as the act of creating another war had insulted the U.S.’s former ally who used shoulder to shoulder with U.S GIs to fight the Communists during the Vietnam war to protect our freedom cause.

To build the support and trust from the Viet community to PBS, we would request PBS and Frontline Producers to issue an official apology to Vietnamese-American community and the former South Vietnam Armed Forces Servicemen. The film should be included the editorial comments at the start to distinguish the early days of 1980’s when those murders took place andLittle Saigon name was not even born yet. Furthermore, the ceremonial military rituals only serve as the memorial events during the New Year Day Parade, Reunion Day, Old South Vietnam Armed Forces Day, Black April Day, etc...., not a military drill to “create another war” in Vietnam.

We would appreciate your swift action and response on this very sensitive matter. Please direct any questions to the undersigned,

Barry Hung Do, Ph.D.

President of Little Saigon San Jose Foundation

First President of Vietnamese American Community in Northern California (1994-1996)

Cc: Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren

Congressman Mike Honda

Mayor & Vice Mayor and Councilmembers-City of San Jose

Reporter A.C. Thompson

San Jose Mercury News

Register-Orange County Newspaper