Makers Defend ‘VAX’ at Forum

Nearly 70 Vietnamese Americans turned up at an emotional public forum in Westminster on Thursday to hear the producers of an MTV-style television series about their community explain their decision to put the show back on the air after protests led to its cancellation.

“You don’t have to like our show,” said Sa Dao, the executive producer of “Vietnamese American Xposure,” “but we don’t want people demanding our show off the air.”

The fledgling “VAX,” aimed at young Vietnamese Americans, was pulled after its Oct. 9 episode when viewers complained that a photo of the late communist leader Ho Chi Minh and the communist Vietnamese flag were used in a segment.

The half-hour English-language cable-television series -- seen in Vietnamese communities from Orange County to San Jose -- featured shots of the picture of Ho and the flag that sparked 53 days of demonstrations in 1999 when a Westminster merchant hung them in his video store. The footage came from English-language television.

Larry Pham, president of Saigon TV, which aired “VAX,” told the crowd Thursday that he took it off because of community pressure.

“The protesters came to my station, and I received a lot of phone calls,” he said. “I couldn’t sleep for several nights. Saigon TV just wants to do business peacefully. I am sorry -- I can’t continue business that creates trouble for us.”

“VAX” producers appealed directly to KXLA, the station that had leased time to Saigon TV, asking to air 12 episodes of the program. It received permission to resume broadcasting Nov. 13.

The younger generation of Vietnamese -- many of whom were born in the United States or arrived as toddlers after the Vietnam War ended in 1975 -- want to learn about their country, he said.

“This is a history lesson,” Dao said. “We know so little, and it is our desire and hunger to learn and try to understand. In order for us to understand it, we have to talk about it.”

Many members of the audience, the vast majority of whom appeared to support the show, seemed to agree.

“I am trying to educate myself about community politics,” said Miriam Lam, 33, who teaches literature and Southeast Asian studies at UC Riverside. “It’s an opportunity for education.”

Dao said it is difficult to discuss differing views with the older generation because disagreement with elders is seen as disrespect. “Our voices are not respected because we are seen as young and naive and we don’t have that privilege because we didn’t go through what they did,” Dao said. “They feel they have earned the voice because they have gone through it.”

Jeffrey Brody, a Cal State Fullerton professor who teaches about the Vietnamese American refugee experience, said the older generation still suffers today as they try to adjust to life in America. Some battle with post-traumatic stress disorder. Some have a hard time finding jobs. Many have not learned English.

“As a result,” Brody said, “their energy and their antagonism toward the communist regime can be channeled by political activists who have an agenda against the regime.”