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Hmong Journey
mercury news | July 18, 2004 | Ben Stocking

Posted on 07/19/2004 11:25:42 AM PDT by television is just wrong

Posted on Sun, Jul. 18, 2004

Hmong journey

By Ben Stocking

Mercury News Vietnam Bureau

WAT THAM KRABOK, Thailand - Teng Yang and his family live on the other side of the earth from the home they will soon make in California. But in many ways, they inhabit another universe.

If they get sick, they slaughter a pig and two chickens as offerings to the spirits. A 13-year-old bride, a man with two wives -- these are accepted social arrangements in the dusty squatters' colony where they have spent the past 11 years of their drifters' lives.

Teng and his family -- a Hmong clan of 27 people from the jungles of Laos -- are moving to Fresno, a middle-class, Central Valley town whose social mores will be as baffling to them as the drive-through line at McDonald's.

Over the next several months, 15,000 other Laotian Hmong who live at this makeshift refugee camp will follow them, most settling in California, Minnesota and Wisconsin, the three U.S. states with the largest established Hmong populations.

Teng's younger brother Tong and his wife arrived in Fresno last week, and the rest of the family will follow over the summer and fall.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Miscellaneous; US: California; US: Minnesota; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: aliens; americandream; hmong; hmongrefugees; immigrants; immigration; laos; polygamy; thailand
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To: taxed2death

Bullshit. Tell you what. We get another 9/11 and it's related to our porous borders and BOTH major parties will get swept out of office by the first third party that promises secure borders and MEANS IT.


101 posted on 07/20/2004 10:22:43 AM PDT by Kozak (Anti Shahada: " There is no God named Allah, and Muhammed is his False Prophet")
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To: Kozak

It'll never happen. No third party has the money to confront the lackeys who lead each existing dual party cartel. It's all about money amigo. GWB wants the Hispanic vote and is willing to risk national security to get it and retain his power. Kerry wants the hispanic vote and will do anything to get it to be the next president. Both of then recieve donations from chicken processers / restaurant union workers / produce growers......follow the money. It's that easy. Tom Ridge, Asa Hutchinson and company are all just there for the "feel good / window dressing" effect. Anyone who actually is SERIOUS about getting a handle on our porous borders is ostrisized (see Tom tancredo). The whole situation at the borders is completely swept under the rug by both parties. It's the third rail.....touch it and you're accused of being "isolationist / racist / xenophobic". It's all about CYA now (cover your ass)....you gotta get along to go along......tow the "party line" and suck down some more k00lAid.

Again, money talks, BS walks.



next.........


102 posted on 07/20/2004 11:00:46 AM PDT by taxed2death (A few billion here, a few trillion there...we're all friends right?)
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To: Kozak

And how do your internet figures (opposed to legitimate sources) compare to those of Hispanic, Black, Chinese and other ethnic groups?

What is their comparrison to Caucasian high school drop-outs for that matter?

Gimme a break. You go ahead and continue saving us from the invasion of the Hmong people, I know they are such a threat..../sarcasm


103 posted on 07/20/2004 11:19:10 AM PDT by Dr. Marten (Mark Twain: Travel is the fatality to ignorance, bigotry and small-mindedness)
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To: Dr. Marten
Truth hurts huh?

The stats for some of the groups you mentioned are comparable in a few areas, but still consistently higher for Hmong. Locally the Caucasian drop out rate is less then 10%.

I just don't see the need to import another 1000 people to our town ( thats this wave's first group), when it is going to strain every service we have and greatly increase out local government costs. I guess I don't have your Olympian viewpoint. My taxes are the ones that are going to go up. Feel free to donate your time money and skills to help out. Neenah and Appleton Wi would love your no doubt great experience in this area./ sarcasm
104 posted on 07/20/2004 11:43:59 AM PDT by Kozak (Anti Shahada: " There is no God named Allah, and Muhammed is his False Prophet")
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To: Kozak

Truth hurts? All I see is that you are taking your local percentages and applying them to an entire ethnic group.

It's ok if you are one of those people that like to sterotype others, some people just can't help it.

When I mentioned the other ethnic groups, I meant on a national scale. Not just your local area. Do you think the Hmong people only take up residence in your area? Think again. Once they are processed they are scattered all of over the country to where ever they can find sponsor families.


105 posted on 07/20/2004 11:49:25 AM PDT by Dr. Marten (Mark Twain: Travel is the fatality to ignorance, bigotry and small-mindedness)
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To: Dr. Marten

Look those examples were drawn from multiple states, not "my local area". Wisconsin, Minnesota and California. Some were from national stats published by the feds.
But so what don't let some facts interfere with your fantasy.


106 posted on 07/20/2004 3:21:40 PM PDT by Kozak (Anti Shahada: " There is no God named Allah, and Muhammed is his False Prophet")
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To: taxed2death

Like I said, one more 9/11 with a cause at the border and the volcano WILL blow.


107 posted on 07/20/2004 3:23:23 PM PDT by Kozak (Anti Shahada: " There is no God named Allah, and Muhammed is his False Prophet")
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To: Kozak

You were the one complaining about not needing 100 more Hmog people in your town. Yes, I believe those were your words.

At any rate, you still have not introduced any HARD evidence that the Hmong people compare any differently than other ethinc groups. Besides, even if you did have 'facts' to support your sterotypical points, you are not taking into account that if what you say were the case (and I highly doubt that it is), their population in comparrison to other ethnic groups is not fairly represented since there are a lower number of them in the general populations. That would make their numbers seem inflated.

Don't waste your time replying, because I don't make it a habit to engage in discussions with bigots.


108 posted on 07/20/2004 3:58:15 PM PDT by Dr. Marten (Mark Twain: Travel is the fatality to ignorance, bigotry and small-mindedness)
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To: television is just wrong
...lonely days turn to

lonely nights

It's all okay, if you're

feelin' right

Take th' Hmong way home

Take th' Hmong way home...

109 posted on 07/20/2004 4:02:35 PM PDT by The Scorpion King
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Comment #110 Removed by Moderator

To: dennisw
You are living in the past and that past is a Vietnam war of 4 decades ago when the Hmong helped us

The Holocaust occurred 60 years ago. The State of Israel was founded 56 years ago.

We, as Americans, understand our special moral obligation to support the Israeli people and the State of Israel. It's the right thing to do, despite the time elapsed and the cost incurred. We owe a similar moral responsibility to the Hmong people, who were loyal allies and friends when the chips were down, and who we criminally abandoned to the slaughter, persecution and terror of Communist butchers when we fled SE Asia.

I'm paying, as a taxpayer, for a large Hmong refugee community in the St. Paul, MN area. I do it gladly. They're wonderful people, and doing pretty well considering the profound cultural dissonance they face trying to assimilate. I will state, however, that I put a lot of distance between me and any cars on East Metro roadways that appear, from behind, to be operating without drivers. These folks can't see over the dashboard and they are an imminent community menace behind the wheel. It's a lurking danger analogous to sharing your community highways with 10,000 confused octogenarians or one R&B Legend aka "The Godfather of Soul".

111 posted on 07/20/2004 4:28:55 PM PDT by Barlowmaker
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To: Kozak
You might want to study The History of Wausau

It looks to me like Marathon County was inhabited by Chippewa and Menomonee Indians, developed by Scottsmen and Frenchmen, "invaded" by Germans and Poles and was purchased, financed and protected through the taxpayer resources of the Federal and Wisconsin State governments.

Between 1856 and 1860, the area underwent a massive settlement of German immigrants to provide labor in the lumber, farming and milling operations enabled by Wausau's prime riverside location (purchased and protected by the Feds) and capitalized by Scotsmen and Frenchmen from Chicago and St. Louis, By 1860 over 2/3 of Wausau's residents were foreign born immigrants.

1000 Hmongs introduced into a community of 40,000 won't rip the foundations of the community. When they assimilate, they will bring an energy and economic diversity that will make Wausau a more vital and prosperous community. Every new ethnic group, throughout American history, does.

After all, I don't think it was the culture of guys named Fromm who developed and popularized the science of herbal medicine that has made Marathon County, WI the "Ginseng Capital of the World"

112 posted on 07/20/2004 5:21:32 PM PDT by Barlowmaker
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To: Barlowmaker

Wow. What a revelation. America was populated by immigrants. Who would of thunk it?

of course in the 1860's Wausau was pretty much unpopulated, and nearly frontier. Those immigrants then by the way got NOTHING in the way of support from their fellow citizens.


113 posted on 07/20/2004 6:15:43 PM PDT by Kozak (Anti Shahada: " There is no God named Allah, and Muhammed is his False Prophet")
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To: Kozak
"I know exactly what the hmong did for us. Do we owe every South Vietnamese and Laotion and Cambodian a ticket here? Seems to me we were fighting FOR THEM...."

All due respect, it's clear you do not know the story. I refrain from responding further given this.
114 posted on 07/20/2004 6:33:35 PM PDT by Chummy (RepublicanAttackSquad.biz: "A vote 4 Kerry is a vote for Osama")
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To: Dr. Marten

Doc, Kozak's not even citing statistics -- and keep in mind the truth about statistics, ie, they lie -- that pertain to Wausau or to Marathon County, but rather is referencing Minnesota numbers and a ten-year old article from, let's say not the most conservative of monthlies.


115 posted on 07/20/2004 7:04:47 PM PDT by Chummy (RepublicanAttackSquad.biz: "A vote 4 Kerry is a vote for Osama")
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To: Chummy

Yeah, I realize that. However, s/he is only concerned about looking at figures that attempt to make his point.

As he said, the truth hurts too bad.


116 posted on 07/20/2004 7:10:05 PM PDT by Dr. Marten (Mark Twain: Travel is the fatality to ignorance, bigotry and small-mindedness)
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To: Barlowmaker

Israel blah blah Holocaust blah blah Hmong blah blah. That's your argument since I'm Jewish. No sale buddy. We have 300,000 of these jungle dwelling welfare hogging tribalistic polygamous parasites known as Hmong. Enough.

We should be bringing in educated immigrants not stone age relics.


117 posted on 07/20/2004 7:11:28 PM PDT by dennisw (Once is Happenstance. Twice is Coincidence. The third time is Enemy action. - Ian Fleming)
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To: dennisw
We have 300,000 of these jungle dwelling welfare hogging tribalistic polygamous parasites known as Hmong. Enough.

Millard Fillmore
Patron Saint of FRs "Neo Know-Nothings"

118 posted on 07/20/2004 10:11:41 PM PDT by Barlowmaker
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To: Barlowmaker

oh my...I thought I was having a bad day


119 posted on 07/20/2004 10:14:58 PM PDT by cyborg (http://mentalmumblings.blogspot.com/)
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To: Kozak
Those immigrants then by the way got NOTHING in the way of support from their fellow citizens.

Of course they did. They received the advantage of a labor demand in a viable economic model that was designed, financed and enabled by the risk-assuming political, social and economic investments and legacy of others.

You think the Germans got off the boat in New York or Chicago and developed a comprehensive plan to go to Wausau, Wisconsin and start a logging and paper milling industry on an obscure trading post in the middle of soverign Chippewa and Menomonee nations? Armed only with the pocket change they brought on their persons, tinfulls of snuff and a plucky resolve?

Every immigrant group has, in one way or another, leveraged the inherent advantages for success that had been hard won and paid for through the blood, sweat and tears of those who came before them. Wausau wouldn't have existed had not the Federal Government executed a treaty with the native tribes. It would not have existed absent the investment of capital, expertise and commitment of entrepreneurs in Chicago, St. Louis and New York. Without the overarching rule of criminal and commercial law no industry could have fourished. Without federal provision of infrastructure to control chronic flooding and wildfires and subsedized construction of rail and road access to Green Bay, Minneapolis and Chicago ... Wausau would not exist. It would be Hayward without the strip bars.

Whatever job you have in Wausau right now has been in large part financed and donated by every Wisconsinite and American citizen who has contributed to building and maintaining Highways 29 and 51, the regional airport, the telecom plant, the courts, the national defense and market economy - all the things that make your paper/ag/insurance industry possible. So, not only do the historic residents who built Wausau owe the greater American clan a debt of gratitude, but so do YOU.

Nobody here did it alone. We all required/leveraged the unique perqs of membership.

The Hmong have paid their dues. In spades. They're entitled to the full support and nurturing of the American family. If you don't want to pay for it in Wausau, you need to make a political case and cultivate a response. Apparently, that case and response has been absent or unpersuasive.

America has plenty of room to share our human gift with the tough, honorable and hopeful people of this world. All of our ancestors were once those people.

120 posted on 07/20/2004 11:14:33 PM PDT by Barlowmaker
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