From: htcao@cirrus.com (Huy Thanh Cao)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.vietnamese
Subject: Re: [SOC] NON SONG MAGAZINE & AUTHOR'S PREROGATIVES
Date: 21 Nov 92 02:16:34 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Cirrus Logic Inc.

Dear SCV readers,

	Thanks to anh Hung and anh Hien for their concern about Non
So^ng.  I sympathize with anh Hung's pragmatic views about copyright
and I share anh Hien's concerns.

	After talking with anh Vu~ of Non Song, I see the difficulties
he had to deal with.

	Let me make it clear that I, and perhaps nobody else in
Horizons, has any intention to threaten Non Song, sue Non Song, or
humiliate Non Song; and if any of those things have been perceived,
then I in my capacity as chief editor would like to apologize to Non
Song and all individuals named in connection.  There were friendly
dialogues between the editors in private, and I believe that conflicts
are always best worked out through private channels.

	I realized that Duc Pham was going to send a complaint to SCV
about copyright in general.  He is entitled to make that point in
an individual capacity (this is a free country), but I was hoping
that it wouldn't become a "Non Song versus Horizons" thing.  I haven't
been reading SCV mail when these discussions occurred, and was told
only recently about it.

	Let me make several points about the difficulties involved.  
This is not meant in a judgmental way but to help bring some
understanding.

	- The story "Byline" was printed in Horizons and reprinted in
	  Non Song without permission.  This upset the author because
	  she was not paid the courtesy of being asked.  I understand
	  why she was upset. I also heard Non Song's side of the story.
	  There is a conflict here, and it was worked out between the
	  author and Non Song.

	- Also, please allow me to acknowledge that Non Song ALWAYS 
	  paid me the courtesy of asking me for my permission whenever
	  they wanted to print anything of mine; other writers have told
	  me the same thing.  So if there was a mistake this time, it
	  is an irregularity (possibly editorial miscommunication about
	  permissions) which doesn't warrant the soiling of Non Song's
	  reputation.

	- Horizons would like to ensure, for the sake of its
	  contributors, that their future works will be respected.

	- Non Song has always reached out to help Horizons, a magazine
	  that's been around less than a year.  We are sincerely grateful
	  to them.  I personally am grateful to Non Song for having
	  printed my articles when I was in college, yearning to
	  share my identity crisis with the rest of the world. :-) 

	- Horizons, in turn, has worked under the most friendly editorial
	  relations with Non Song throughout these last few months,
	  regardless of the "Byline" controversy.  In fact, Horizons
	  very recently *requested* that Non Song reprint two of its
	  articles; we recognize that Non Song is a much-needed and valuable
	  source for students and other members of our community in the
	  United States.

Finally, please allow me to say that Non Song and Horizons both have a
very similar purpose: to establish a forum for young overseas
Vietnamese as a way to express their care for their people and for
each other, a care that we know will grow over time.  Horizons has not
succeeded in its purpose, whereas Non Song has proven for a long
period of time that it has done so.  For that, Horizons extents
its respects to Non Song and wishes that any difficulty can be settled
in a friendly way in the future.

					Respectfully,

					Huy Thanh Cao
					Editor-in-Chief
					Horizons