"Little Saigon District" What do ya think ? (Houston: salons, living)

[elnina]

Originally Posted by Redlionjr

Huh? If anything naming sections highlight the diversity in the city. Opposing the idea makes it seem like the stereotype of the city being some conservative racist humid cesspool. New York City and L.A. have several Little "insert country" within the city and nobody bats a eye.

^^^ I agree. Not sure why are we so fighting against. Houston is a big, diverse city. People from different backgrounds (ethnics) like to live together, as you all probably noticed from the relocation questions.
If they don't oppose such idea, then who are we to dictate how they live?
If Vietnamese community is OK with "Little Saigon" then let it be.

[lipbalm]

Originally Posted by Jack Lance

I think some people just don't like the moniker "little Saigon" for a variety of reason, from the fact it doesn't include other groups that live and do business in the area, to the name Saigon itself, being a reminder of a bitter piece of American history.

How weird this thread poped up while I am actually in the real Saigon ( Ho Chi Minh City for you slow people )

I am amazed how much Saigon is still used by the locals. They tell me it's the unofficial common name. Anyways probably went in a tangent. ......... I will show myslef out ======>

P.S. The girl I am seeing here tells me pho is for foreigners. They just don't get it why we like it so much.

[foxelipsus]

That's funny, I don't like Pho but I like a lot of other Vietnamese dishes. Maybe I was Vietnamese in a past life.

I agree that it's a shame anyone would have a problem with this, firstly because it comes across as intolerant/having race issues (even if it doesn't), and secondly because there are so many horrible things to have a problem with and this is pretty tame and harmless by comparison.

[Vicman]

Originally Posted by signOthetimes

Let's create "Little Arabia"!

Actually it would be a good question of which Arabs? I don't even know what the demographics are in regards to that group. Are they mostly Lebanese, Syrian, Iraqi, Jordanian, Palestinian, Egyptian?

(Arabs from Saudi, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE are wealthier and are a bit different compared to those from the Levant and Egypt)

[foxelipsus]

Originally Posted by Vicman

Actually it would be a good question of which Arabs? I don't even know what the demographics are in regards to that group. Are they mostly Lebanese, Syrian, Iraqi, Jordanian, Palestinian, Egyptian?

(Arabs from Saudi, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE are wealthier and are a bit different compared to those from the Levant and Egypt)

I would say any nation that primarily speaks Arabic, which would be Morrocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and several more in the Middle East, but nations that do not speak Arabic (such as Turkey, Iran, Iraq) are often lumped into the category, but I don't think people from those nations consider themselves Arabs, and would correct someone who said they were Arabs.

I know where "Little Persia" or "Little Tehran" is, it's on Westheimer near Belt 8.

"Little Colombia" is on Richmond near Gessner.

[cheryjohns]

Originally Posted by Redlionjr

Huh? If anything naming sections highlight the diversity in the city. Opposing the idea makes it seem like the stereotype of the city being some conservative racist humid cesspool. New York City and L.A. have several Little "insert country" within the city and nobody bats a eye.

It seems to me that it actually is a segregation move to start designating parts of town.

Little Italy, for example, in NYC wasn't because everyone thought it would be a great addition - it was in part because of Italophobia (the more things change, the more they stay the same).

[Chris V]

Little Saigon. i like it.
Little Ho Chi Minh city. I Chris V will burn it down

[foxelipsus]

Originally Posted by cheryjohns

It seems to me that it actually is a segregation move to start designating parts of town.

Little Italy, for example, in NYC wasn't because everyone thought it would be a great addition - it was in part because of Italophobia (the more things change, the more they stay the same).

These days, if a part of town is named "Little Whatever", it's to celebrate the culture of whatever, and whatever's influence over that part of town and the area in general. It's a positive thing.

Little Italy today is part of what makes Manhattan great. As you know, it doesn't mean everyone in Little Italy is Italian and it doesn't mean there are no Italians outside it. I think Houston would benefit from "Little Whatevers."

[Redlionjr]

Originally Posted by Jack Lance

Not until the Saudis agree to production cuts ! haha


Its a little harsh to suggest anybody who opposes any particular designation is doing so because of racist motives don't you think ?

I wasn't suggesting anyone was racist for opposing the idea, I was stating opposing the idea just reaffirms the stereotypes people have of Houston or the South for that matter as being openly racist and less tolerate of other cultures. Alot of people outside the city and the state think this. And news like this doesn't help the case much either.

Originally Posted by cheryjohns

It seems to me that it actually is a segregation move to start designating parts of town.

Little Italy, for example, in NYC wasn't because everyone thought it would be a great addition - it was in part because of Italophobia (the more things change, the more they stay the same).

I understand that was once the case when Italian immigrants first settled in America but that's clearly not the case in Manhattan now.

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by foxelipsus

These days, if a part of town is named "Little Whatever", it's to celebrate the culture of whatever, and whatever's influence over that part of town and the area in general. It's a positive thing.

Little Italy today is part of what makes Manhattan great. As you know, it doesn't mean everyone in Little Italy is Italian and it doesn't mean there are no Italians outside it. I think Houston would benefit from "Little Whatevers."

I'm fine with Little Saigon although there are other names I would prefer, "little Indochina" for one might be more apropos, but do they really need 1.7 miles of Bellaire Blvd? The Gandhi District is about 1/3 that size along Hillcroft and a name like that is more inclusive as well. BTW Chinatown, in Houston anyway, is a informal designation as are most of these "Little" whatever's.