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March 21, 2000 Newton, MA Dear Editor, The demonstrations last Saturday evening at the Pacific Bridge Gallery in Oakland and on Sunday at the Oakland Museum against my exhibition of portraits of and Artist’s book about Ho Chi Minh and panel discussion only reinforced my belief that the time to carefully examine this complex and important leader is long overdue. But more importantly it has also made me question how to bring the Vietnamese-American communities into that examination. Clearly, for those who took part in the demonstrations own personal pain and suffering prevent them from taking part in any serious discussions on the subject. For me, the most disturbing part of these demonstrations has been the personal attack on Nguyen Qui Duc. Duc, a very well known and respected Vietnamese writer, curator, speaker and scholar, agreed to take part in the panel discussion at the Oakland Museum for which he has been attacked by some members of the Vietnamese-American community in Vietnamese language papers, radio, television and at Sunday’s panel discussion. Sitting next to Duc during Sunday’s panel discussion while he passionately pleaded with the audience to allow him the freedom to take part in these discussions as well as the owners of the Pacific Bridge Gallery, Geoff Dorn and Beth Gates, and myself to recognize our failures in organizing the exhibition and panel discussions was for me far more painful than the dozens of accusations hurled at me by members of the audience during the question and answer part of the discussions. I firmly believe that the Vietnamese-American communities must be involved in any meaningful discussions about Ho Chi Minh but fear that intimidation by members of the anti-Communist factions of the Vietnamese-American communities may make this impossible. I don’t know how many others have the strength to endure the pain and suffering which Duc has had to endure. I ask those more moderate members of the Vietnamese-American communities to publicly condemn this type of intimidation and to support Duc and other intellectuals from your communities as they take part in these important discussions. Otherwise, it will continue to be the Americans studying the Vietnam War and your critically important voice will continue to be left out. For those demonstrators who want my exhibition closed and all mention of Ho Chi Minh to end because of the pain it causes you, I ask you to reconsider and take a close look at the American Jewish experience. Many of you are fond of comparing Ho Chi Minh and the Communist government to Hitler and the Nazis. Rather than attempt to prevent any serious look at Hitler, the American Jewish community has taken the lead in carefully examining and exposing Hitler and Nazi Germany. Wouldn’t it be far more productive and healing for you to direct your energies away from intimidation and disruption and rather take part in the inevitable careful study of Ho Chi Minh and his government? I don’t believe that this would be any more painful than protesting but it would allow a broader audience to understand your viewpoints on Ho Chi Minh. Demonstrations have a short shelf life but books last forever. This exhibition will open next September in Boston. I sincerely hope by that time those of you who organized last weekend’s demonstrations will reconsider your tactics. Because of the intensity of the intimidation by many of you many people wanting to attend the opening of the exhibition turned back or stayed away and my freedom of speech was taken away from me by the audience at the panel discussion. This is not what America is about. I respect your right to protest but it is not your right to prevent people from attending public events or from making a speech. Since 1987, I have worked extensively with the Vietnamese-American communities to use art as a vehicle to overcome the painful history of the relationship between the United States and Vietnam and to build new bridges. It is because of this work that I believe last weekend’s demonstrators represent only a small fraction of the many Vietnamese-American communities spread across the U.S.. I plan to continue my work in Vietnam and the U.S. and believe that those who know and work with me will understand my efforts to draw attention to an important subject which I feel has been long overlooked. I wish this could be done painlessly but, regardless, I feel it has to be done. I would like to thank the Oakland Police for my personal protection and Geoff Dorn and Beth Gates at the Pacific Bridge Gallery and the Oakland Museum for the protection of my first amendment rights.
Sincerely, C. David Thomas Artist
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