I AM AN AMERICAN

I Am An American (.) period!

Dear my so called "Hmong American",

After 40 years in America, I never once called "Laos" my home country, but never denied I was born in that part of the country before the communist pathet Laos took over in 1975. In Fact, I personally have no memory of my birth country how it was before the war ended and I have no personal grudge against the current Laos government because all I know is that I am an American. In America, there are a lot of different types of immigrants; each group came from different corners of the world and with their own story. For Hmong, however, we are not "immigrants", we were forced political refugees made American - that is who we are. We did not choose to come to America to be rich or for a better life, but we came to America because we sided with the American (not by choice, but by recruit) and stood against their number 1 (ONE) enemy (the fearful "Communist) at the time, specifically, the North Vietnam and its powerful allies such as China and the Soviet Union.

Brief history from our elders and Veterans, at the beginning of a new year of 1973, while the Hmong special forces (SGU) or Special Guerrilla Unit were at the frontlines destroying the American enemy, President Richard Nixon and his Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger met quietly with Chairman Mao in Beijing and signed the Vietnam war peace agreement in January of 1973. The agreement meant Hmong has been tossed to a world of chaos or to Washington at the time - (we don't care and don't know who they are). They have served us and served our purposes and it was time to forget them. No worry, they'll be just fine. There was no plan to help the Hmong wind down and re-assimilate into the after war environment. It's more like pulling a life support of a patient and just let it goes.

Why "I AM AN AMERICAN"? Because America is our country. Many families that I know including my own family rather celebrate the date we came to the U.S. than the date we left the jungle of Laos to Thailand. After 40 years, it's time to retain the Hmong heritage, but become truth American despite all the negative rhetorics from the recent presidential campaign.

Hmong Tak, Thailand Noj Tsiab Peb Caug Jan 2016

Yug los rau haiv neeg Hmoob tsis haiv yuav nyob rau ceg kaum ntuj twg, peg yeej muaj kev noj tsiab thiab dhia qaib/dhia peb caug, pov pob lom zem xauv npo. Vim yog haiv neeg Hmoob tsis muaj teb chaws ua lawv teej tug thiab txawm nyob rau hauv lub teb chaws twg los Hmoob puav leej mus zwm rau lub teb chaws ntawd, mus haiv lub teb chaws ntawv lus, yoog lub teb chaws ntawv txoj cai. Thaum muaj kev noj tsiab li no los haiv neeg Hmoob caw tej nom tej tswv tuaj nrog qhib lub tsiab peb caug vim Hmoob xav yog ib haiv neeg hwm txog lawv tej nom tswv thiab thiab tej thawj coj.

Hmoob tseev yog ib haiv neeg uas paub qab hau tsi slam yuav noj ib pluag tsis hu kwv tij neeg tsa tuaj nrog noj thiab saib taus lawv haiv neeg, thiab hwm txog txoj kev lis kev cai zoo.

Xws li nej pom kev qhib tsiab peb caug hauv lub zos K.M. 44 hauv Phop Phra District, Xeev Tak thaum lub 1 Hli, Tim 10, Xyoo 2016 no nej yuav pom tau tias lawv yeej coj tsis txawv ntau ntawm haiv neeg Hmoob nyob teb chaws America thiab.

Qhov kuv mus pom ntawm qhov muag thaib saib lawv txoj kev qhib tsiab peb caug, coj lawv cov pej xeem dhia qaib, kev muag zaub mov noj, muag khoom thiab kev saib xyuas ntawm kev ruaj ntseg - kuv pom tau qhov txawv ntawm peb cov Hmoob nyob teb chaws Mekas li no:

1. Cov kwv tij Hmoob Thaib lawv tseem hnav tsoos Hmoob (ris tsho Hmoob) li ntawm 80-90% thaum lawv tuaj dhia peb caug li nej pom no. Peb cov Hmoob Mekas tsuas hnav li ntawm 220-30% lawm xwb.

2. Lawv muaj kev koom tes los ntawm ntau lub zos, ntau tus thawj coj thiab koom nej ib lub tsiab peb caug. Lawv sawv daws xaiv ib lub zos tuav lub tsiab peb caug ib xyoo. Tab sis, txog lub zos twg los sawv daws koom tes nraws mus khiav kom tau ib lub tsiab peb caug rau lawv tej pem xeem tuaj dhia qaib, tuaj so, tuaj sib tham, sib pom thiab coj tej tub ntxhais tuaj pov pob.

3. Lawv qhib tsiab peb caug dawb rau sawv daws nkag xwb, lawv tsis sau nqe qhov rooj. Qhov no, vim yog lawv cov zej zos no tau txais nyiaj txiag kev pab los ntamw tsoom fwv txhua txhua xyoo. Muab piv txog peb haiv neeg Hmoob nyob teb chaws Mekas, tsis tau txais kev pab los ntawm tsoom fwv los khiav lub tsiab peb caug rau sawv daws.

4. Kev lom zem - muaj saum sam thiaj rau sawv daws yav nruab hnub thiab. Tab sis, qhov kev lom zem loj tshaj plaws yog muaj rau Hmo ntuj. Ib hmo twg mas lawv coj ib pab/ib tug tub ntxhais hu nkauj nrov tuaj hu nkauj. Qee zaum lawv kuj sau nyiaj, tiam sis feem ntau ces tuaj dawb thiab xwb.

5. Kev saib xyuas kev ruaj ntseg (security). Peb cov kwv tij Hmoob thaib cov zej zos yog lawv tswj. Lawv muaj lawv ib cov Security Officers nyob rau hauv tej lub zos. Cov tub/ntxhais saib xyuas kev ruaj ntseg no muaj cai nqa phom. Kuv pom lawv kwv phom npaws ncig. Yog tus twg lam tuaj tsim kev phem, sib ntaus los yog tsim kev kub ntxhov, lawv muaj cai ntes thiab coj mus rau tub ceev xwm teem txim raws li txoj cai muaj. Hais txog kev uas muaj cov hluas uas peb Hmoob Mekas tis npe rau lawv tias (laib), txawm tim Thaib, tim nplog los puav leej muaj. Xws li, kuv mus koom kev noj tsiab peb caug Thaib rau thaum lub 4 hli ntuj hauv rnoog Chiangmai, pom tau tias cov uas tuaj sib ntaus yog peb haiv neeg Hmoob xws, tsis yog Thaib. Qhov no txawm nyob teb chaws twg los puav leej muaj tej teeb meem zoo li no.

5. Liability (kev los lav txog cov neeg tuaj koom lub tsiab peb caug). Nyob rau saib Thaib teb, lawv tsis tau txhawj txog liability (insurance) los tuav pom hwm. Nyob rau teb chaws Mekas no haiv neeg Hmoob ua tsis tau vim lub teb chaws no tswj txoj cai (liability) loj heev. Yog lam muaj neeg tuaj sib ntaus sib tua es vim yog cov tswj hwm lub koob tsheej los lub tsiab peb caug tsis npaj cov tub ceev xwm txaus los saib xyuas , thiab lwm yam, cov neeg uas raug kev puas tsuaj ntawv thaib lawv tseb neeg tseem muaj txoj cai foob tau. Qhov no yog ib yam uas txawv thiab Hmoob American tsis kam qhib sam thiaj ua kev lom zem hmo ntuj rau sawv daws. Yog yuav ua ces mus ntawm tej vaj tse uas lawv twb yeej muaj liability insurance tuav pom hwm lawm xwb.

6. Kev pov pob. Kuv pom tias lawv tseem nyiam pov pob thiab tej niam tej txiv kuj nyiam coj lawv tej tub ntxhais tuaj pov pob. Hos Hmoob American ces peb cov tub ntxhais hluas cia li tsis kam pov pob lawm yog feem ntau. Cov peb pom pov pob tim no ces yog uas muaj hnub nyoog thiab cov nkauj/nraug nrab ntau lawm xwb.

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WHAT ARE THE 5 MOST IMPORTANT PRESSING ISSUES FOR HMONG AMERICANS TODAY?

Hmong-Americans...! Tonight, I'd like to ask for your help in answering the following questions.

About 20-40 years ago, five of the most important issues were:
1. Communism
2. Nationalism and Royalty
3. Welfare
4. Housing
5. Education

NOW, we are in the 21st Century. Despite the U.S.’s deteriorated relationship with Laos during the Secret War that ended in 1975, full diplomatic relations were restored in 1992 with a return to ambassadorial-level representation. With the additional restoration of diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1995, Laos has slowly but surely accepted the U.S. as their “frienemy” and in 2015, the U.S. State Department announced their 40+ acre U.S. Embassy in Vientiane, Laos.

The number one concern within the Hmong-American community back in the late 1980s and early 1990's was welfare benefits. The welfare reforms came with heavy resistance, but they steadily moved forward. It was estimated that 90% of the Hmong-American population used to be unemployed in the early 1990's. Now… 90% are employed (excluding those who are disabled or suffer from the language barrier).

When we talk about housing, Hmong-Americans used to be scattered in apartment complexes with the most memorable apartments nicknamed "Zos Vib Nais," as in Stockton, Fresno, etc... Now more than half are homeowners.

Education - wow...that's all I can say.

So - - - the question is:

WHAT ARE THE 5 MOST IMPORTANT PRESSING ISSUES FOR HMONG AMERICANS TODAY?

Being Refugee of the World

The Syrian refugee who was tripped while holding his child by a Hungarian camerawoman has moved to Spain after a soccer coaching school offered to help his family rebuild their lives, according to several news sources.

"I love you, I love Madrid, I love Spain, all of Spain, thank you for all (for everything). This (is) very, very important for my life,” he said, speaking to reporters on the platform.

Fleeing war conflicts for survival is far more difficult than anyone can ever imagined. My heart pains and crying when I see the Camerawoman kicked and tripped him and his son and they failed into the ground. Sure there are boundaries between each country and we must protect and respect, but should we as fellow human being have the same rights to be born into this wonderful world? Shouldn’t we all belong to the same mother earth and the father above us regardless if one has a country or not? Should borders be the line of death and starvation? I don’t think human can afford to not help each other in time of crisis. We must!

YES…I love you Madrid and I love you Spain and the countries of the world that accepting the current refugees and give them food, shelters, and a place they can breath and get away from the horrible war.

For me personally, I love U.S.A. and THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to the people of U.S.A. the land of the FREE and home of the BRAVE. Please know that humanity appreciate you more than you know.

STOP YOUR WHINING AND COMPLAINING & BE PART OF THE SOLUTIONS

If you’re like me, I see so many whiners and complainers in our community of so called “ modern educated Hmong”, and they just drive me nuts. Sometimes, I even failed for it and all for the wrong reason on both ends[crazy]. These are the unacceptable behaviors I’m talking about: rudeness, selfishness, thoughtlessness, arrogance, intolerance, dishonesty, whining, complaining and bragging to  be somebody else, etc…just to name a few here. AND - then there’s one specific one that also on this list that truly drives me insane - - - guess it…yep, WHINING/COMPLAINING!. Instead of using their education, knowledge, abilities, and all the things that they have learned, experienced, and trained to find solutions to the mountain of problem facing us and help Hmong to move forward, they use to attack each other. They will find any and all the reason to discredit, put down others who are simply trying to help or do their best to make a difference.

I have read many excellent letters, lengthy emails and Facebook posts and see their exceptional skills and abilities and thought that they have used for all the wrong reasons to [attack others]. I wish that they use their time and energy to advocate for the positive causes that will bring Hmong together to work as a team to build a stronger future for Hmong and better than the one left by our parents and not trying so hard to criticize others just to win the argument. I also wish that I have their writing skills! So I can write 10x better than this crappy blog that you are probably wasting your time reading because of my sketchy English Grammars.

I know and you know that being a whiner and or a complainer will not solve anyone problem or make anyone including yourself happier; rather it’s a chronic problem, and some would even called it an addiction. In fact, while writing this blog, I did some search in Google and found hundreds of articles about this issue, so I know I’m not alone and know that this is a problem that all of us need to take a good look at ourselves and ask tough question about things before we say it to others. One of the article states that “complainer will complain about just anything and everything to anyone who had the misfortune of being stuck to listen and constantly whining. It does matter if it has to do a job, the weather, the pain, girlfriends, wife, grandma, a client, or how busy he/she is at work or school or home. If anything goes wrong, the first thing is putting a negative spin on it and go from there…and then spend the rest of the day or longer complaining about the it”.

The scary thing for you whiners and complainer is that your personal relationships will eventually suffered if you continued to constantly suck out the energy of every room with your complaining. You’ll lose most of your good and most trusted friends, and suffer both personally and professionally. Your career, your life as you know it will eventually stalled out if you constantly repelled the people who you hang out with or even work with. Oh…and your mental, emotional, and even physical health will eventually declined if you don’t to stop complaining and wallowing in negativity every day.

So, STOP WHINING AND COMPLAINING.

Thanks to an article by “Shola Founder of The Positivity Solution”

GVP Statue, Chico, CA on September 12, 2015. 

Brief info of the bronze statue - according to an interviewed with the Chico GVP Monument Chair, Michale Lo:

Total Cost: $47,500
The City of Chico contributed inform of insurance deductible: $19,000 plus
Made from: China
Tall: 8 ft (including the base)
Made of: Bronze Statue
Located: Next to the City Hall of the City of Chico
Open to the public
Security and Safegard: in place to ensure the safety of th statue

Thanks to the Chico GVP Monument Committee and the City of Chico and elected officials for your support in making this true moment a reality to remember the Hmong General.

All pictures are (c) and property of Hmong Report www.crossingstv.com/hmong

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