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Councilwoman Nguyen in middle of 'Little Saigon' debate.
Byline: Joshua Molina
Aug. 22--A fight over what to name a proposed Vietnamese business district along Story Road is exposing the deep divisions in San Jose's Vietnamese-American community, the latest sign of tension in an immigrant group torn over the politics of their homeland.
Some want to name the district "Little Saigon" -- for the former capital of South Vietnam -- while others prefer "Vietnamese Business District" or some version without Saigon in the name.
At the center of the drama is Councilwoman Madison Nguyen, who was booed and hissed during a recent public meeting for her refusal to embrace the "Little Saigon" name. Some people are suggesting a recall if she doesn't push her colleagues on the council to adopt the name.
To many people, "Little Saigon" symbolizes freedom from communist control. Others contend that "Saigon" -- now known in communist Vietnam as Ho Chi Minh City -- is too narrow in its connotation and could deter tourists from visiting the area.
The debate is also laced with the kind of rhetoric that has historically plagued Vietnamese-American politics in California -- accusations that people are either radical anti-communists or passive communist sympathizers.
In San Jose, the dynamic is magnified; with more than 100,000 Vietnamese-Americans, San Jose has the largest such population of any U.S. city.
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Source: HighBeam Research, Councilwoman Nguyen in middle of 'Little Saigon' debate.