What Is Hmong?, F.A.Q. Options

[AzNgIrL]

This question has always been asked.

What Is Hmong?

I found a site about the Hmong people. I will edit as I find more.

Until 1999, the Hmong people have lived without an archive of our own. The reasons can be found in our history. Over 5,000 years ago the Hmong, once highly developed with a rich culture in northeast China under the leadership of the Hmong king Chiyou, were invaded, conquered, and suppressed by the expansionist Chinese. Our civilization was taken away.

The Hmong were forced to migrate to southern China and some eventually arrived in Southeast Asia. In Laos, we were drawn into the Indochinese War on the side of the French and later of the Americans. When the communists took over Laos in 1975, we began to disperse to many parts of the world. Now we can be found in China, Vietnam, Laos, Burma, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, French Guyana, Argentina, Canada, and the United States.

The Hmong have already lost much of our history over the years because historical records and artifacts have been neglected, thrown away, lost or destroyed. Through the Hmong Nationality Archives we want to locate and make available the remaining materials in order to ensure that they are properly handled and preserved. This way the vital heritage of our nationality will not be destroyed or forgotten.

"Hmong Australians are one of the most recently arrived groups in this country.
Their number is, of course, small but their courage in seeking to take their place in our community, the contribution they have already made to our society and the welcome diversity their culture has added to the Australian way of life are out of proportion to their size."

This post has been edited by AzNgIrL: May 5 2004, 08:32 PM

[Fil-Am]

I have nothing but respect for the hmong people. You guys sure have an interesting history. I have been reading up on the hmong people and what all your people went through for helping the US. I hope the best for the future of your people. Here is an interesting article on hmong people, of an vietnam veteran defending what the hmong people mean to the US.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

[W]e don't need any more Hmongs here. Have you noticed the new cars and vans they drive? It is our tax dollars buying them. How many of the widows of the Americans killed in action get their medical bills paid and are they driving new cars? Do they get their medical bills paid or do they have to work to pay them?
My son-in-law and a nephew went to Vietnam and fought for our country. They saw their buddies killed in action and others crippled in World War II. He doesn't get a big check or food stamps. We don't owe a dime to any of these people that our boys fought and died to save. Enough is enough... think of our people first.

- Ms. R.

ENOUGH of WHAT?
Jack Austin Smith's response is quoted below with permission:
You're are right, Ms. R., enough is enough. I am a retired Chief Master Sergeant with 27 years of faithful duty to my country. I was a professional. I entered the service on my 17th birthday and have fought in every American war or police action that we were involved in since. I have been decorated and wounded while defending your rights to complain. I have never felt it wasn't worthwhile, until this narrow-minded racial hate was started locally....
The war in Vietnam was fought on several fronts and I served in two them. The main American battle ground was in the Southern end of South Vietnam. In order for the North Vietnamese forces to fight us there, it was necessary for their supplies and troops to go through Laos and Cambodia on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and Laos was controlled by a Pro-Communist Government at that time. Therefore America was not allowed to have any forces on the ground, although we were allowed to bomb and attack North Vietnamese troops with our aerial forces. About 99% of the combat forces on the ground were Hmong irregulars who were persuaded by Americans to forget about being neutral, and to fight the N. Vietnamese regulars (not relatively poorly trained Viet Cong guerrilla forces). We supplied air cover, but every combat trooper knows aircraft can't take and hold ground. We depended on the Hmongs to do this. Without modern arms, without medical help.

After the fall of Saigon we pulled out of Southeast Asia and left the Hmongs to continue the fight without air support. When we left, the Hmong had to fight both the Laotians and the N. Vietnamese. They could not fight tanks, heavy artillery and aircraft with rifles. A great many Hmongs were slaughtered in their villages. Many were slaughtered at airfields where they waited for evacuation planes that never came. A few were able to fight every foot of the way across Laos and cross the Mekong River into refugee camps in Thailand where they were further mistreated by rather corrupt UN and Thai officials. Out of a estimated 3,000,000 prewar Hmong population less than 200,000 made it to safety. One other ill informed or stupid writer said "they were all gone" meaning, I guess, that the combat Hmongs were all dead, they are wrong. Most of the survivors are in Australia, France and here among us.

Now I don't know about those heroes who have never heard a shot fired in anger, but I am embarrassed that my country so mislead these people. The Hmongs gave up literally everything for us: their country, their homes, their peaceful way of life, most of their families, everything that we would cherish. We promised them our continued support and then we bugged out.

Ms. R., you mentioned having relatives who fought in Vietnam and I hope they all survived. However their chances would have been much less if the Hmongs hadn't intercepted over 50% of the N. Vietnamese troops and supplies. If you truly loved your relatives, you should be grateful for the Hmongs' sacrifices.

Another point you complain about: new cars etc. Look again. Most of the cars are older models, but they do keep them up so well that they do look like new. I believe that is called pride. The Hmong boys in auto mechanics are teaching the others as fast as they can: fathers, uncles, cousins, to know about cars, too.

Now about rights of citizens, the Hmongs are legal immigrants and they have the same rights as any one else here, whether Canadian, Mexican, German or... Sure there may be a few that abuse the system, but don't judge them all by the few.

Germany has been our mortal enemy in two wars and their treatment of the Jews was so totally depraved that history will never, and should never, forgive them. Let's not be guilty of a similar mistake against any one minority group.

We are all immigrants to this land and I, for one, have greater faith in Americans than you do. But I'm deeply disappointed that more Americans haven't spoken out against this racial injustice. We should never forget that Hitler got his start by encouraging the Germans to hate the Jews. Look at the hate mongers around us, the white supremacists, the church burnings, the bombings. This is the road that racial intolerance will lead us. Please, Americans, speak out against bigotry. Or by your apathy do you want to show the politicians that is the direction we want to go?

Jack Austin Smith, July 1996