Vietnamese Community Gathers to Mark Past, Move Forward

Old and young alike, hundreds from throughout Southern California’s Vietnamese community arrived at Santa Ana College on Sunday to practice a cultural balancing act.

They paid homage to the sufferings of the past in Vietnam, but touted the opportunities of the future in the United States. They honored the dead--posting 10,000 names on a memorial wall--but devoted the day’s songs, dances and music to celebrating life.

The Youth Fair, organized by the Youth Movement for Vietnam, brought together members of about 30 Vietnamese American organizations for a largely pro-democracy event. Including Roman Catholic and Buddhist youth groups, political activists and refugee groups, those in attendance were united in their call for greater Vietnamese unity and courage to fight for human rights.

“We need to do something to mobilize our youth to work for democracy,” said Peter S. Nguyen, the event’s main organizer.

Nguyen said Sunday’s gathering was not specifically organized in response to the three months of protests that began when a Westminster merchant hung a picture of communist leader Ho Chi Minh in his shop window. But the pain and passion raised by the event, which also served to mobilize Vietnamese Americans, were palpable Sunday.

“We are a refugee community, and when you have to flee your country or die, to have someone do something like that it is very bad,” Nguyen said.

The incident inspired some Vietnamese youth to not only review the past, but also to pursue anti-communist activism.

Members of the League of Endeavoring Youth, for example, pointed out that everyone recalls the image of a single figure standing bravely before a tank in Tiananmen Square, and that in Indonesia, students have died seeking freedom. But where, they asked, are Vietnamese youths struggling and risking their lives for human rights?

“While over five continents, young persons just like us have stood up for their respective people’s rights . . . Do we have the right to be silent [while] our people, our own families, are being exploited to the bones?” reads literature disseminated by league members.

The literature goes on to say that the Westminster incident has helped re-energize activism that “will spread out all over the free world.”

If it wasn’t clear enough how this group feels about Ho Chi Minh, his picture was superimposed over one of the devil at various exhibits and booths throughout the event.

Among the exhibits was a five-sided kiosk that served as a memorial wall. It was hung with lists of people who died or were executed when the communists took Vietnam.

Throughout the day, mostly older men and women added new names to empty white cards on the wall, filling in the names of relatives, friends or fellow soldiers.

The day was not, however, completely given over to remembrances of tragedy.

Annie Mai of the group Nu Hong, which means “rosebud,” offered Buddhist literature promoting peace and compassion.

The literature included advice on how young people can deal with parents, resolve conflicts that may arise when dating someone of another race, or how to overcome life’s suffering.

“We embrace each moment whether it’s one of anger or fear, and then transform it to one of compassion toward all humankind,” Mai said.

One of the event’s featured speakers, Marine Corps reserve pilot Quang X. Pham, stressed pride in both Vietnamese and American culture.

Pham, 34, urged listeners to follow their dreams.

“People are going to tell you you’re not the right height, the right weight, the right color or the right race, but don’t ever let it stop you,” he said. “The fact that I wear this uniform shows that anything is possible in the United States.”