Nyob zoo txhua tug,

Hnub no, peb lub neej uas peb paub nyob rau hauv ntiaj teb no tau pauv rau tej yam uas tsuas yog nyob rau hauv txoj kev tham thiab dab neeg los yog hauv tej movie peb tau pom, uas tsis yog ib yam uas tau tshwm sim tseeb rau hauv lub ntiaj teb no dua.

Tus kab mob Coronavirus no tau ua rau txhua lub teb chaws, tej nom tsej tswv tau los tawm cov cai uas tshiab thiab tsis tau hnov dua los pab haiv neeg ntiaj teb los ceev tus kab mob Coronavirus los yog COVID-19 no.

Es peb txhua tug tsis hais cov laus uas hnub nyoog 65 xyoo rov sauv thiab muaj lwm yam mob xws li ntshav siab, ntshav qab zib, los yog kab mob plawv mob siab, los yog cov ib nrab neej ua nej tseem tab tom nyiam tawm rooj mus koom tej koob tsheej loj thiab me, mus koom kwv tij neej tsa kev noj kev haus – thov peb ib tug saib thiab xyuas ib tug, pib los ntawm koj tus kheej, koj tsev neeg, koj tej txheeb ze, koj tej phooj ywg, thiab koj tej neighbors uas nyob cheev tsam ntawm koj mus rau koj lub zej lub zos, lub teb chaws thiab haiv neeg ntiaj teb.

Lub sij hawm no, tsis yog lub sij hawm uas peb ib tug yuav los ntxub ntxaug thiab tawm tsam ib tug. Tab sis yog lub sij hawm uas ib tug yuav tau txhawb nqa ib tug, ib tug txhawj xeeb txog ib tug. Vim yog ib tug twg ze ntawm koj muaj mob nkeeg rau yam kab no lawm, nws muaj feem uas yuav kis tau los rau koj tus kheej thiab cov txheeb ze, los yog pab pawg ze nws tau.

Vim yog tus kab mob no muaj feem yuav kis tau rau cov neeg uas nyob ze ua ke sai heev. Yog li no, tej nom tej tswv twb tau tshaj tawm lawv tej cai los pab tiv thaiv kom sawv daws tsis txhob kis tus kab no lawm, peb sawv daws yuav tau ua peb txoj hauj lwm los mus pab thiab.

Sawv daws cov uas mus sib txheeb yuav zaub yuav mov ntau ntau tshaj li qhov yus siv los khaws cia noj tsheej xyoo – yog ib yam uas tsis pab rau peb lub zej zos los yog lub teb chaws. President Trump twb tau tshaj tawm rau sawv daws tias kom sawv daws tsis txhob yuav tsheej pawg zaub mov noj cia es pom muaj npaum twg los yuav tag nrho li vim yog yus muaj nyiaj. Sawv daws yuav tsum tau yuav txaus yus tsev neeg noj, thiab ho cia rau lwm tsev neeg yuav kom txaus lawv tsev neeg thiab. Lub teb chaws Mekas no ib lub teb chaws loj, dav, thiab muaj technology siab. Txawm yog tus kab mob no yeej los kis loj thiab dav lawm los, lawv yeej yuav muaj txoj kev los pab daws thiab cawm sawv daws rau ib ncua sij hawm sai xwb. Es yus yuav zaub mov los kav yus tsev neeg tsheej ib ob xyoo, ces lwm tsev neeg twb raug kev txom nyem lawm; vim tsis yog txhua tsev neeg yuav muaj nyiaj ntau npaum li ntawd mus yuav tseg. Thiab cov khw yeej tsis muaj peev xwm yuav thauj tej khoom ntau npaum li ntawv rau nej yuav los khaws cia noj tsheej xyoo.

TUS KAB MOB NO YEEJ YUAV DHAU MUS, THIAB YOG SAWV DAWS KOOM TES UA KE, PEB NEEG NTIAJ TEB YEEJ YUAV TSUM UA TAU THIAB DHAU MUS SAI SAI TOM NTEJ NO RAWS LI TEJ TSOOM FWV TAU TEEV TSEG THIAB XAV. TAB SIS, LUB SIJ HAWM NO, QHOV TSEEM CEEB YOG PEB YUAV TSUM TAU UA TXHUA YAM PEB UA TAU, XWS LI (Xiam xab lab/Sacrifices) los pab peb tus kheej, peb tsev neeg, tej phooj ywg tej ywg, peb lub zej zos, peb lub teb chaws, thiab haiv neeg ntiaj teb.

Ua tsaug ntau.
Ted Vang

Hmong and Lao immigrants with standing deportation orders could be deported from the U.S.

Hmong and Lao immigrants with standing deportation orders could soon be deported from the U.S. as the on-going talks between the Trump Admin and the government of Laos continue.

45 years after the Secret War brought thousands of Hmong and Laos refugees to the United States, the Trump administration wants to deport thousands of Hmong immigrants, including many refugees, because of years-old criminal convictions or those who are currently on the deportation orders. 

The Trump Administration officials have been working behind the scenes to pressure the Laos government to accept the Hmong and Lao immigrants who have committed crimes with criminal convictions that have been ordered removed from the U.S. by the immigration judges. Though the U.S. government officials and the Laos side are not making any public statement or talking publicly, it was confirmed by federal State Department officials on Monday, According to Minnesota Public Radio and first made headlines last week after Rep. Betty McCollum wrote a letter to the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to express her opposition on behalf of her constituents. 

What's at stake? If and when the Laos government agrees to sign the agreement, it means many former refugees who came to the United States legally as refugees after the Secret War; who have committed crimes and on the deportation order list are facing imminent deportation back to Laos, a country some has never visited, many also were born in the refugee camps in Thailand. 

According to NBC News dated Oct. 29, 2019, by Kimmy Yam, "in 2002, the two countries struck an agreement in which Cambodia consented to take in a limited number of deportees. The agreement prompted backlash and protests from the Cambodian American community, who raised humanitarian concerns around the deportations since a significant portion of those at risk came to the U.S. as refugees. The Cambodian government ended up halting the issuing of travel documents for deportation in August 2017 

Similarly, the government of Vietnam also have signed an agreement with the U.S. agreed to take back people who came to the U.S. after 1995 but not those that came to the U.S. before 1995. However, according to an article published by NPR on March 4, 2019, the Trump administration wants to expand on that agreement to be able to deport Vietnamese immigrants who came here before 1995 and have committed a crime.

It's unclear how the Trump administration plans to implement such a harsh policy toward one of their most royal allies, the Hmong. No doubt that many organizations and supporters of the Hmong will protest such a hardline approach. Nevertheless, when it becomes reality, Hmong and Lao immigrants who are falling into the category(ies) described above will face the real possibility of being deported to Laos.

BY: TED VANG

7 Amazing Hmong Proverbs

7 Amazing Hmong proverbs

Hmong proverbs are hundreds of years old. Some of them
were created for their own sake, and others originated from the Hmong legends.
They all have the same goal of teaching for life lessons. It’s an educational way
of transmitting the wisdom over hundreds, if not, thousands of years to the
younger generation.

1.   Nyob deb txo dej txo cawv, nyob ze rho hluav taws hlawv.

People will be a lot kinder when they live far apart but show their
true colors when they are together. Sometimes, long-distance relationships are
better than having a close one.

2.   Hais ruab zoo nrov ruab tsuag, hais hauv tsev ncha saum luag.

Talk quietly, the deep jungle can echo loud into the forest. Talk quietly,
inside your own home may rebound loudly to the whole village. This teaches us
that rumor is louder than the sound of thunder really… and it can spread
quickly without borders.

3.   Lag-luam zoo thawj ntsug, pojniam zoo thawj tug.

A successful business usually happens at your first attempt. A good
marriage also usually your first. It teaches us that whatever you do, it’s best
not to fail, as your first attempt usually is your best.

4.   Xyoob loj tsis cuag ntoo, muaj zog tsis cuag muaj hmoo.

Bamboo will never grow as big as
a tree, therefore being lucky is better than being physically strong. This
teaches us that it doesn’t matter how physically strong you are, you will never
be able to beat someone with luck and you will rather be being lucky than not.

5.   Ua tau tsev thiaj pom zoo ntoo, muaj pojniam lawm mam pom hluas-nkauj zoo

People usually find better materials after they have already built
their house. Once you are married you will see more beautiful or handsome
people. This teaches us to not regret
for the choice we made in life because you’ll always see more things in life,
but nothing will be better than the one you have than the one you wish you have.

6. Ua ruam thiaj tau nyob zov luag tsev, ua ntse ces tau ua luag qhev.

Acting stupid and you will be allowed to stay home, acting smart and
you will be put to work hard to serve others. This teaches us that even if you
think you know everything, it’s best to not show off your talents.

7.   Txhawj mob yog txhawj tsam tuag, txhawj lub neej yog txhawj tsam tau txoj kev pluag.

Worry when you are sick because you fear of dying, worry while you are
living because you fear of being poor. This teaches us that everyone wants to
live and don’t want to die, but we are living, we all want a good life for
ourselves and our family.   

6 Nqe Paj Lus Tseem Ceeb Txog Kev Coj Noj Coj Ua

3 Yam uas Tseeb Meej Rau Txhua Tug

3 Yam uas Tseeb Meej Rau Txhua Tug

Nyob zoo ib tsoom phooj ywg hmov thiab tshua. Hnub no cia kuv muab zaj lus tseeb coj los sau rau peb sawv daws tau los nyeem thiab ras peb tus kheej txog ntawm peb txoj kev yug los ua neeg nyob rau hauv lub qab ntuj no.

Qhov tseeb ces txij li thaum peb txhua tug yug los rau hauv lub ntiaj teb no mus txog ntua hnub lub cev ntaj ntsug xaus nkaus thiab thiab tag rau hauv lub ntiaj teb no nws muaj 3 yam uas tseeb meej rau peb txhua tug, tsis hais koj yuav muaj txoj kev ntseeg mus rau tus tswv twg los yog tus huab tais ntuj twg thiab sab twg.

PEB TXHUA TUG CES ZOO LI THOOJ ICE (นํ้าเเขง) UAS KHOV KHO DAWB PAUG. IB HNUB, IB HLI, IB XYOO, NWS MAJ MAM YAJ ZUJ ZUS – KOJ YEEJ CHEEM TSIS TAU NWS LI. NWS YAJ THAUM KOJ PW, THAUM KOJ SAWV, THAUM KOJ ZOO SIAB, CHIM SIAB, THIAB TXHUA FEEB NWS YEEJ YAJ ZUJ ZUS.

Es txawm koj yuav cheem nws npaum li cas, koj yuav muaj nyiaj ntau npaum li cas, yuav txom nyem tshaj plaws es xav kom nws yaj ntshis mus los nws yeej maj mam mus raws li lub ntuj tsim nws los. Hnub twg nws yaj tag nrho, ces koj txoj sia tu nrho thiab yaj ntsis hnub ntawv mus. Tsis muaj ib yam hauv lub ntiaj teb no los yog saum ntuj yuav los cheem tau thiab muab nws rov puab ua ib thooj ice dua kom khov kho li. Tag ces yaj ntsis mus ua dej, ua av, ua cua lawm xwb.

ES NCO NTSOOV TIAS TXHUA YAM KOJ MUAJ LUB SIJ HAWM NO CES NWS YOG TEMPORARY LOS YOG (ชั่วคราว) XWB. ES KOJ YEEJ YUAV COJ TSIS TAU IB YAM DAB TSI NROG KOJ, NQA TSIS TAU YAM TSEEM CEEB RAU KOJ TIAM NO NROG KOJ LI.

Tsis xav paub, tsis xav hnov, tsis xav kom muaj li los, peb yus los ces txhau tug nqa 3 yam no nrog peb los.

1. Koj yeej nqa txoj kev muaj mob muaj nkeeg.

2. Koj yeej nqa txoj kev zoo thiab kev phem los

3. Koj yeej nqa txoj kev ploj thiab kev tuag nrog koj los

Remembering Colonel Youa True Joseph Vang

Remember CAPTAIN CHA PHIA CHUE

CAPTAIN CHA PHIA CHUE

January 10, 1952 – July 3, 2012

Captain Cha Phia Chue was born in a remote village known as Ha Lai, in Muang Sou Hong, Luang Prabang Province, northern Laos.  He was the oldest child and the first son born to Chai Her Chue and Mai Vang. He had a brother and three sisters.  His parents were farmers, and he was raised to help his parents work on the farm until he reached the age of nine when he started elementary school.  By this time, the civil war in Laos, most popularly known as the Secret War, disrupted the quiet peaceful country life in the northern region of Laos.  By 1966, at age 14, he completed at Sam Luang Primary School in Muang Vieng Fa, Xieng Khouang Province. 

As the Secret War intensified, more young men were drafted into defending the Kingdom of Laos.  At age fifteen, Captain Chue was among those brave young men enlisted in the Secret Army funded by the U.S., led by General Vang Pao, to fight communist aggression in Southeast Asia.  He was assigned to the 21^st Battalion under the command of Colonel Neng Chue Thao.  A year into the service, Captain Chue was sent to Luang Prabang to train in radio communication.  Following completion of training, Captain Chue was assigned to work between Long Cheng, the CIA paramilitary headquarter, and Pha Khao, a remote frontline.  In 1972, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.  Two years later, he successfully completed further training at Chi Nai Mo, Vientiane, and was promoted to second lieutenant, and ultimately to the rank of captain.

In 1974, Captain Chue married his beloved wife, Chao Yang, who was the daughter of Chue Pao Yang and Mao Vang.  By 1975, as Communist victory pushed the United States out of Laos. Captain Chue and thousands of his comrades were left behind at the hand of Communism.  On May 14, 1975, Captain Chue witnessed the final C46 evacuation of Long Cheng with sorrow as thousands of his comrades and their families were abandoned by the American government.  As a result, Captain Chue and thousands of his comrades were subjected to persecution by the Communist; therefore, many were forced to take refuge in the jungle.  Captain Chue spent over two years surviving on the run from communist execution.  With determination to survive, in April 1978, he decided to lead 2,000 people out of their jungle refuge and tried to reach safety in Thailand.  Catastrophically, approximately 500 out of the 2,000 people survived the tyranny upon reaching Thailand’s border.  Captain Chue was shot by the communist forces as he swam across the Mekong River.  Severely wounded, Captain Chue was unconscious, and washed away by the Mekong current.  However, with miracle, he was washed ashore into Thailand’s border, and rescued by local Thai authorities where he was taken to Nong Khai Hospital.  

After two months of recovery, Captain Chue was put into a refugee camp.  After six months in the camp, on December 1978, he made the heroic effort to return to Laos to rescue his family who were stranded behind enemy line at Ban Done, Muang Fueung, Vientiane Province.  He successfully reunited with his family, and led them out to safety into Thailand.  Upon arriving in Thailand on February 1979, Captain Chue and his family were settled into Vinai Refugee Camp.  After eight months in the camp, Captain Chue was determined to restart life all over again in the United States. 

In October 1979, Captain Chue’s family was sponsored to Syracuse, New York.  Two months later, he moved to Providence, Rhode Island to reunite with his relatives and the Hmong community.  In May 1985, Captain Chue decided to move to Fresno, California where the largest Hmong community in the United States evolved.  Within the first five months in California. Captain Chue explored northern California, and determined Oroville, CA would be his permanent home.  He fell in love with the City of Oroville, as the foothills, Table Mountain and the Sierra Nevada reminded him of his lost homeland – Laos.  On November 1985, Captain Chue marked a place in history to be the first Hmong family to settle in Oroville, CA.

Despite the rural isolation, Captain Chue played a significant role at the national level. He served as the Chue representative to the Hmong Council, Inc.  He also maintained his leadership role at the local level, and was committed in assisting the newly arrived refugees to assimilate.  By 1990, as the Hmong population in Oroville grew, tensions between the Hmong community and the community at large also developed as a result of language, cultural, social and legal barriers.  Therefore, Captain Chue and other local Hmong community members responded to the ongoing concerns and established the United Hmong Community of Oroville to function as a bridge between the Hmong community and local officials, law enforcement agencies, schools, and many other local agencies. 

In 1991, the Lao Veterans of America, Inc. was incorporated to serve members of the US Secret Army who served in the Secret War in Laos.  Captain Chue played an important role as a member to the organization. He successfully advocated for national recognition for their services and citizenship waiver for the veterans and widows whose husbands were killed in action.  On May 19, 1993, Captain Chue was naturalized in Sacramento, CA and became an American citizen; where he has been actively participating in the voting process.  Ten years later, in October 2001, Captain Chue was elected Chairman of the Lao Veterans of America, Inc. Northern California Chapters (LVANCC), serving members from Stockton, CA to the Oregon border.    He actively participated with the local Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies.  He served two terms and ended his term in December 2008. 

Despite of his growing health concern with high blood pressure, diabetic, and ongoing dialysis, Captain Chue continued his leadership role and served on the advisory committee for the LVANCC.  A soldier, a father, and a community leader, Captain Chue was always out there with every support he could provide.  Even when he was in the hospital, Captain Chue never shown sign of weaknesses or sorrow.  He carried his casual conversation and laughter as usual and openly shared the war against his health to whomever visited him. 

In the final weeks prior to his departure, Captain Chue made every effort to be with his family and the community.  Freshly out of the hospital following a kidney transplant operation, Captain Chue walked with a cane but made the effort to stop shortly at a newborn blessing ceremony to wish good health, wisdom and blessing to baby Nolan and the first time parent.  In the final week of his life, Captain Chue made his last commitment to his family and the community, and attended the Chue families reunion.  On July 3, 2012, Captain Chue finally lost the battle to his health, and passed away at Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento.  Captain Cha Phia Chue is survived by his wife Chao Yang, six sons, five daughters, and seven grandchildren.

His sons are:

Cha Chue; Wa Meng Chue, who is married to Hua Chang; Cheng Chue, who is married to Julie Kha Heu;

Peter King Chue; William Leng Chue, and Charlie Yeng Chue.

His daughters are:

Youa Chue who is married to Neng Thao

Xia Chue who is married to Benny Thao

Xee Chue, Xue Chue, and Xay Chue.

Captain Chue also left behind his siblings: Nhia Lue Chue, his only brother, and three sisters: Chao Chue who is married to Choua Dang Yang, Sua Chue who is married to Chong Houa Thao, and Ying Chue who is married to Pa Chia Yang.