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Nomads in America: Somali migration transforms a New England town
Red Star Tribune ^ | 9/15/02 | Jonathan Tilove

Posted on 10/05/2002 6:18:34 PM PDT by ozone1

Edited on 04/13/2004 3:37:24 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

LEWISTON, MAINE -- Every week, another four or five Somali families arrive in this workaday city on the Androscoggin River.

They are refugees from the clan-wracked ruins of their homeland on the Horn of Africa, from years of waiting in camps in Kenya. And they are migrants from their place of first resettlement in America, more often than not trekking 1,000 miles from the heat and multihued humanity of metropolitan Atlanta to this sparse, wintry, whitest of all states.


(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; US: Maine; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: lewistion; maine; somali; welfare
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For She Lion "Better welfare

"Maine is crazy cold," says Abdullahi Abdullahi, president of the new Somali Community Development Organization in Clarkston. But, he says, "the welfare system is much better."

Indeed, in moving from Georgia to Maine, Somalis are trading one of the nation's least generous welfare systems for one of its most generous.

Lewiston provides general assistance to anyone in need, splitting the cost with the state. Such relief was unavailable in Clarkston. In Georgia, there is a four-year time limit for receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. In Maine it's five, but even that can be extended. About a quarter of Lewiston's Somali families receive that form of welfare, according to the state. And in Maine, a state-funded program assists single parents while they attend college.

There is a waiting list for public housing in Lewiston, but not nearly as long as in Georgia. About a third of the more than 90 apartments at Hillview, Lewiston's largest public housing project, have Somali tenants, and about 35 more Somali families have received Section 8 vouchers, which subsidize the rent on private apartments."

Your Tax dollars at Work, Thanx Baldacci, King and Tom Allen

1 posted on 10/05/2002 6:18:35 PM PDT by ozone1
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2 posted on 10/05/2002 6:21:26 PM PDT by Anti-Bubba182
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To: SheLion
"When he arrived, Lewiston was producing a quarter of all American-made textiles. In Auburn it was shoes. But that is all gone.

"Then there was more work than there were people," Langlois said. "Today, there are more people than there is work"

He hit it right on the nail, why is catholic charities sending people up here when there are no jobs for unskilled labors?
3 posted on 10/05/2002 6:25:07 PM PDT by ozone1
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To: ozone1
Strange the daffy lib who wrote that did not mention the Somalis mentioning the need to go out and find work to support themselves. Lots about our assumptions that going out and working but not theirs, just welfare and the need to find a less diverse enviroment for their children.
4 posted on 10/05/2002 6:26:57 PM PDT by junta
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To: ozone1
Because it is the Unitarian branch of the Catholic Church, and they really like isalmists living among them.

Remember that two of the unholy warriors spent their last night on earth 40 miles away, under the nose of Chief Chitwood.

King, snowe, collins little tommy and baldi, bring home the pork.

Too bad they can't bring home the jobs.

5 posted on 10/05/2002 6:30:26 PM PDT by dts32041
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To: ozone1
this is really interesting. On the one hand, these are clearly intelligent, organized immigrants who want the best things america has to offer -- clean lives, orderly, crime-free living, small town america. But on the other hand, they're basing decisions on the welfare system. I can think of immigrants who've come here with much worse mindsets, but I can think of others who've come here with better. Interesting.
6 posted on 10/05/2002 6:31:02 PM PDT by Anotherpundit
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To: ozone1
Your Tax dollars at Work, Thanx Baldacci, King and Tom Allen

Thank BOTH Kings...Stephen King is a MAJOR whore for the democrat crime syndicate...absolutely ADORES Baldacci.



7 posted on 10/05/2002 6:35:29 PM PDT by who knows what evil?
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To: dts32041
"How the hell do they find out about this stuff?" she asks.

8 posted on 10/05/2002 6:38:16 PM PDT by ozone1
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To: ozone1
He hit it right on the nail, why is catholic charities sending people up here when there are no jobs for unskilled labors?

Half of my family is Catholic. Most of them vote Socialist, no matter what. Carter, Carter, Mondale, Clinton, Clinton, Gore, in lock-step; rape, infidelity, corruption and abortion be damned. After all, Democrats are more compassionate, you know. They still think the Kennedy's are gods. Good luck trying to change that mind-set. I stopped yelling at them, I prefer not to talk to them now.

9 posted on 10/05/2002 6:39:51 PM PDT by FlyVet
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To: ozone1
THINK I'M GONNA . . . CRY!.
THE REPUBLICANS TOOK BACK THE SENATE.

HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN! GO TO:

TakeBackCongress.org

A resource for conservatives who want a Republican majority in the Senate

10 posted on 10/05/2002 6:40:07 PM PDT by ffrancone
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To: ozone1; SLB; Fred Mertz; pocat; Squantos; sit-rep
a sophisticated cost-benefit appraisal of which American community best suits their needs. ***********

Too disgusting for a reply. I would be jailed if I did say what I am thnking.

11 posted on 10/05/2002 6:41:24 PM PDT by Lion Den Dan
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To: ozone1
They come for the taxpayer-funded welfare system, yet they resist assimilation.

How perverse is it that Mainers' tax dollars are being used to fund their own cultural destruction?

12 posted on 10/05/2002 6:47:27 PM PDT by j271
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To: ozone1
Why aren't they in Somalia?
13 posted on 10/05/2002 6:49:12 PM PDT by Phillip Augustus
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To: ozone1
Cheryl Hamilton, a 25-year-old cultural skills trainer...

Cultural skills trainer? Where were these jobs when I was 25?

14 posted on 10/05/2002 6:54:40 PM PDT by NewHampshireDuo
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To: Phillip Augustus
"Why aren't they in Somalia?"

Good question. One of my son's best friends is a Somalian lad. He lives in a housing project with 4 or 5 siblings and a good two parent family. The older sister wears traditional Somali gard, very conservative. My son's friend cannot spend the night with us - taboo. Many other traditions are strictly adhered to. No pork, etc. But when it comes to monetary considerations or such things as giving rides they are very deficient. I have probably spent a fortune on this kid's guest fees at our private pool, movies, snacks, on and on. He walks across town to come here and then expects a ride back at dark (he must be home at dark, never mind that my son has spent many a dark evening at the housing project with those kids playing "throw it up, beat 'em up") while his family has a new SUV sitting in their housing project parking lot.

15 posted on 10/05/2002 7:05:14 PM PDT by groanup
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To: j271
...tax dollars are being used to fund their own cultural destruction?

Lotta that going around in the US, these days.

16 posted on 10/05/2002 7:06:56 PM PDT by Semaphore Heathcliffe
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To: ozone1
He hit it right on the nail, why is catholic charities sending people up here when there are no jobs for unskilled labors?

For GRANT money, ozone! GRANT MONEY. Isn't is always about money??????????

17 posted on 10/05/2002 7:15:27 PM PDT by SheLion
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To: ozone1
why is catholic charities sending people up here when there are no jobs for unskilled labors?

Sorry to be so nasty.......and I AM Catholic.....not born Catholic, but turned Catholic to get married........maybe the Catholic Church found a "use" for the Somali men. You think? God, I hate being so suspicious........

Maybe Sue Bernard can answer that question! heh!

18 posted on 10/05/2002 7:18:04 PM PDT by SheLion
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To: Thornwell Simons
Decent human beings they probably are. But they are living off of our TAX dollars. At least until they can find work. But where in Maine can they find work? McDonalds???? Maine is laying off workers left and right, not to mention the factories that are closing. So........there goes our tax dollars........
19 posted on 10/05/2002 7:20:39 PM PDT by SheLion
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To: who knows what evil?
Stephen King can kiss my northern Maine patoot. He should look in the mirror sometimes! ugh!
20 posted on 10/05/2002 7:22:04 PM PDT by SheLion
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