Fry’s Remarks an Insult to Vietnamese
* Your article “Newspaper Office Hit by Arson Fire” (Sept. 28) about the arson fire at our office is well written and fair, but I must take exception to the remarks made by Westminster Councilman Frank Fry Jr.
He is quoted as saying “there is a big split down there in Little Saigon over whether (the United States) should recognize Communist Vietnam or not. But I wouldn’t be too concerned about it. If it had been the doctor’s building, that would be different.”
This is not the first time he insulted the Vietnamese community by saying something stupid. Matter of fact, in 1984, we tried to recall him when he told the former South Vietnam soldiers to go back home if they wanted to have a march in the streets of Westminster in the memory of their deceased military colleagues during the Vietnam War.
This time, as a Westminster councilman, he supposedly represents the people of Westminster, not just the doctor’s clients.
Furthermore, his comments come across as racist, and he seems to be too crass to know it. This good-ole-boy bit, the “haw haw haw, those funny people are rumpusing around again” tone that Frank Fry always adopts when he addresses any issue concerning Vietnamese ill-becomes an American official, whatever his rank.
It is sweet that Councilman Frank Fry doesn’t like the idea of arson. Well, if he doesn’t think the city ought to be alarmed about arson, what does he think it ought to be alarmed about?
One suggestion: We might be alarmed about city officials whose speech drips prejudice.
BRIGITTE LE
Editor-in-chief
Little Saigon News
Westminster
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