lol, Saigonita!

Vietnamese Group Supports District Name "Saigonita"
By Optimistic Oxymoron

SAN JOSE - In a recent turn of events regarding the naming of the business district along Story Road, a new petition has been distributed and has gained small momentum, calling themselves Vietnamese for a Free World. Their aim is to support the name "Saigonita" to go in line with the rich Hispanic heritage of the area.

"We feel it's time to build relations with other communities," says Niem Tin Nguyen, one of the organizers for the group, "Vietnamese people aren't the only ones living in this city, and if there are people who do not appreciate the naming debate, it is because of our [Vietnamese] community's inability to reach out to others with open arms and a soft heart."

The group is already getting a sizable number of Hispanic individual supporters, although there has been no key endorsements by leaders within the Hispanic community. "We are still looking into this name to see if this is something our constituents wants," says Roberto P. Gonzales, spokesperson for the San José Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, "It is a compelling name, but we want to make sure our Vietnamese friends are also okay with it."

Saigonita is a Spanish translation of the name "Little Saigon", a name that has solicited thousands of Vietnamese to demonstrate in front of San José City Hall when the City Council adopted the name 'Saigon Business District' on November 20, 2007. The resolution has since then been rescinded on March 4th, 2008 amid weekly protests.

"I came up with the idea while we were talking about the -ito/-ita suffixes in Spanish class," says Don Q. Le, a student of De Anza College, "It basically means 'little', and I figured it would be interesting to apply it to the popular name that the Vietnamese community is pushing for."

Le feels that the name can create history, "Everyone's saying how 'Little Saigon' preserves a legacy of our history. I don't understand why can't we set new precedents instead."

But not everyone is amused with the idea. "Little Saigon has been around longer," says Bob Do, an organizer within San Jose Citizens for Democracy, "In fact, 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of the first recognized Little Saigon in Orange County. The people want Little Saigon, and the mayor and Councilwoman Madison have been obstructing justice for our people."

Other individuals have mixed feelings on the proposed name, "I like the gesture that the name [Saigonita] gives," says businessowner Ly Do, "but I'm a little concerned that people would think there are Vietnamese in Mexico or other Latin American countries. There might be, say in Tijuana or Cancun, but the population would be changing on a nightly basis."

"Vietnamese for a Free World actually came in and asked me how I felt about the district naming," says Jose Chavez, owner of Abuelo's Taquería located along Story Road, "Most of the time people come in and ask me to sign a petition or to fill out a form without actually wanting to hear why I don't like the name 'Little Saigon.' I was really happy that they actually came to me this time to ask how I felt. This name really is a compromise that can appeal to the Vietnamese and Mexican communities."

"The name 'Saigonita' has special meaning to us," Nguyen says, "It's not only to recognize the 'Little Saigon' legacy, but takes it a step further by saying that the Hispanic communities are our neighbors, and their concerns are our concerns too."

Members of Vietnamese for a Free World have been organizing weekly celebrations with a Vietnamese-Latino fusion theme, including mixing foods such as banh xeo, a kind of Vietnamese crepe, with cholula hot sauce, or fish tacos with fish sauce. The Vietnamese Student Association of De Anza College also performed a Vietnamese traditional dance done to a reggaeton beat.

"We're not stomaching [the fusion of foods] very well," says Lisa Madrera, a resident of San Jose, "But if it's to build relations with my Vietnamese friends, that's the least of my worries."