大俠行天下日記 我見我聞我思 11/27

國際區越文路牌揭幕

上週末我和德州州議員哈伯武市議員湯姆斯及社區人員一起參加了國際區越文路牌之揭幕式 ，為我們族裔和諧， 社區發展走向前一步。

回顧一九七五年中 美軍決定撤出越南， 成千上萬的越南難民移居美國 ，其中尤其是德州為越裔集聚的第二大州， 多年來這些曾經在海上吃盡苦頭的難民從零開始， 創建了美國移民史上的傳奇。

早在十多年前 ，越裔州議員哈伯武和社區人士共同推動設立休斯敦國際區， 經過我們到處走訪商家簽署支持 ，終於在德州議會通過成案正式成立國際區 ，並在政府稅收中，每年撥款約一百五十萬元 來治理佔地十三英里西南市區， 多年來， 我們得到社區之廣泛支持， 國際區如今已成為休斯敦市経濟文化之示範區。

今天我們打開市地圖， 許多大商場商家都是由華越裔人士拼搏多年的成就 ，尤其是在國際區之香港 、越華超市， 更是其中之典範。

越文路標為我們增加了族群文化之色彩， 今後我們要增設拉丁文之標示 ，我們深信， 雖然來自不同國家 ，但是我們還是不忘自己的根。

“Little Saigon” Sign Is Up In IMD

I was with State Representative Hubert Vo, City Councilwoman Tiffany Thomas and IMD Board Member Stephen Le Sr. to host the opening ceremony for installing the  “Little Saigon” sign in the International District.

Since 1975, after the Vietnam war, millions of refugees moved to America and Texas became the second largest state in the U.S. They came over here and many of them started their new lives and became very successful politicians and businessmen. This also represented many American success stories and immigration legends.

Houston, Texas is an immigrants’ city. Almost twenty years ago under the leadership of Hubert Vo, we went door to door and got a petition signed by area business people and submitted it to form the International District bill in the Texas House of Representatives. One year later our dream came true. We would now be able to manage a thirteen square mile area in Southwest Houston to improve this area with a budget of more than 1.5 million dollars annually.

Today the International District has become one of the success stories in the city of Houston. More and more residents and businesses have moved here and made the district their home.

We are so happy the “Little Saigon” sign is up to represent our diversity and our part of America’s immigrant culture.

We need to live in our community with harmony and never forget our roots.