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

[IYIiDWeSt_T.S.I3]

government of US concentrates?
no, we just prefer living with our kinds, i am sure chinese also do that and we hmong are not as large as chinese or any other asians, so dont expect us to live in every states.


"they identified very surely themselves as Chinese"
hahaha very funny, so i identified myself as a chinese?...wow.

[Kulong]

"they identified very surely themselves as Chinese"
hahaha very funny, so i identified myself as a chinese?...wow.

The full quote was...

Still don't know what is Hmong, Miao are minority live in eastsouth of China and they identified very surely themselves as Chinese.

He was refering to Miao in China, not you "Hmong".

[flyin15sec]

Let me ask a quick question, where did you get all these Miao people. In the school I attend and where I live, there's hardly any Miao. But when I come on this forum, it seems that many of you have " a lot of " Miao in your areas. Is it because the government of US concentrates all Miaos in certain regions?

No. Most people choose to live where they are at. But like all ethnic groups, one find that being with others of their origin, they find comfort and security.

China towns, Little Italy, etc.

It just so happens that there is a large concentration in northern California, Midwest - particular to St. Paul, Minneapolis, and vairous Wisconsin cities, and the Southeast - Georgia and the Carolinas.

[Horitaka]

Weren't Hmong people refugees just like other south east asians? If that's the case then the government DID concentrate them like they did with alot of Cambodians in Long Beach

[Kulong]

Weren't Hmong people refugees just like other south east asians? If that's the case then the government DID concentrate them like they did with alot of Cambodians in Long Beach

That makes more sense because why else would they choose to settle in Minnesota?

[直隸總督]

As I suspected.

[holamon]

Weren't Hmong people refugees just like other south east asians? If that's the case then the government DID concentrate them like they did with alot of Cambodians in Long Beach

No you got it all wrong bro. The US government actually tried to disperse the refugees from SE Asia all over the country so that they would simulated into the American culture more faster. However, many of these refugees seeked to be with there own kinds later on by themselves once they know their way a little bit. Some moved to where they are now b/c of econmic reason and other did so to be closer with their relatives.

[vn1234]

off topic - sweet @$$ sig Holamon - i finally loaded it up on screen to see it - haha

anyways nice thread - got pinned again eh

[holamon]

off topic - sweet @$$ sig Holamon - i finally loaded it up on screen to see it - haha

anyways nice thread - got pinned again eh

Thanks man.

[slude]

sorry new to this forum. thought i add my two cents.

sad to see many younger generation hmong don't know who or what they are. the question to this thread is "what is hmong?" to help define hmong, lets look at the similarities of various miao/hmong living in the world. what is hmong? language. religion (animism). last name (18 clans). no matter where you go, whether china or america, hmong will associate themselves with these three. many chinese share the same last name as hmong (lee, yang). some even speak hmong. but there religion is different. some caucasian commonly mormons (elders) speak hmong, adopt a hmong last name, but different relgion. not hmong. hmong will always be hmong. years of wars, migration, assimilation, hmong remains strong. little here and there might be lost,and new one adopt, but the fundamentals still there for hmong to be who they are. and that is 'what is hmong'. hmong/miao history not so credible since most archives are lost or not documented. many are educated guesses and asumptions but without evidence, they are irrelevant, yet very informative and provide hmong with sense of attachment or origin. like adopted kid wanted to know who their real parents are, hmong long for their parents/origin.

[JB_Xyooj]

finnaly people actually notice us hmoob ppl Hahaha....u ask what is hmong
I ish Hmong Hmong xiong that who ibe playa

and peace im hmong 4 life and proud of it if u wanna find out whea da hmong peep are go to Mpls in minnesota or Wausau in wisconsin, or in cali or NC
that whea u find my peeps :genius:

[JB_Xyooj]

by the way i respect you guys for noticing our ppl
even though we may not be big we all have a strong heart
no matter how scatter our peeps our we will always remain strong
fo what the chinese tahi and viet did to us...sigh...guess i can
say i can forgive u peeps....cause u me are somewat alike always representing
from the florida east coast

[fatdi(k]

in short:

the term "Hmong" is only used by the southeast asian hmong/miao to indentify themselves as hmong or of miao origin. no definitive research has been done (that i'm aware of) on the origin of the term "Hmong", when it was first coined and used.

many scholars (particularly hmong doctorates) have agreed (along with many hmongs) that the term "Hmong" means "free". however, this is not definitive as there isn't really any info/research done linking the word "Hmong" to "free/freedom". it just sort of became widely accepted that "Hmong" means "free/freedom".

"miao" is a degrading word meaning "barbaric/barbarian" and is not accepted by either hmong of any distinct location, even in china. the hmong of china, have ask government officials to stop using the term "miao" to describe hmong because of it's degrading nature.

i won't go too much into detail about hmong or miao in general. if you're really interested, visit the Hmong of Australia's site at Hmongnet: http://www.hmongnet.org/hmong-au/ozintro.htm
this site has a lot of info and resources for the interested person. if you are indeed hmong, read the story by Y. Xiong about "Hmong history in China". you'd be surprised to know who you really are and may even learn to appreciate you are hmong.

if you cared to know, hmong history predates chinese history. we were there, in china, before the chinese. our culture is older than you think or may care to know.

fd

[JustINtroverted]

in short:

the term "Hmong" is only used by the southeast asian hmong/miao to indentify themselves as hmong or of miao origin. no definitive research has been done (that i'm aware of) on the origin of the term "Hmong", when it was first coined and used.

many scholars (particularly hmong doctorates) have agreed (along with many hmongs) that the term "Hmong" means "free". however, this is not definitive as there isn't really any info/research done linking the word "Hmong" to "free/freedom". it just sort of became widely accepted that "Hmong" means "free/freedom".

"miao" is a degrading word meaning "barbaric/barbarian" and is not accepted by either hmong of any distinct location, even in china. the hmong of china, have ask government officials to stop using the term "miao" to describe hmong because of it's degrading nature.

i won't go too much into detail about hmong or miao in general. if you're really interested, visit the Hmong of Australia's site at Hmongnet: http://www.hmongnet.org/hmong-au/ozintro.htm
this site has a lot of info and resources for the interested person. if you are indeed hmong, read the story by Y. Xiong about "Hmong history in China". you'd be surprised to know who you really are and may even learn to appreciate you are hmong.

if you cared to know, hmong history predates chinese history. we were there, in china, before the chinese. our culture is older than you think or may care to know.

fd

nice to know..

[福州市长]

wow

This post has been edited by 福州市长: Sep 4 2004, 08:14 AM

[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

[yajthaugluv]

many scholars (particularly hmong doctorates) have agreed (along with many hmongs) that the term "Hmong" means "free". however, this is not definitive as there isn't really any info/research done linking the word "Hmong" to "free/freedom". it just sort of became widely accepted that "Hmong" means "free/freedom".

Hmong is just Hmong...It has no meaning, its just a representation of people. By the way where did these idiots came up with a definition for hmong? Can one define the "han" people? Ofcourse not, its just a name it has no definition.

Interesting history eh? They are like roaches that don't know how to extinct if that's what you mean. The chinese has tried to get rid of miaoren in the past and now its the viets and the laotians turn.

[Fil-Am]

many scholars (particularly hmong doctorates) have agreed (along with many hmongs) that the term "Hmong" means "free". however, this is not definitive as there isn't really any info/research done linking the word "Hmong" to "free/freedom". it just sort of became widely accepted that "Hmong" means "free/freedom".

Hmong is just Hmong...It has no meaning, its just a representation of people. By the way where did these idiots came up with a definition for hmong? Can one define the "han" people? Ofcourse not, its just a name it has no definition.

Interesting history eh? They are like roaches that don't know how to extinct if that's what you mean. The chinese has tried to get rid of miaoren in the past and now its the viets and the laotians turn.

Hey if you got nothing nice to say then don't say anything at all. I think hmong people are cool.

[fatdi(k]

many scholars (particularly hmong doctorates) have agreed (along with many hmongs) that the term "Hmong" means "free". however, this is not definitive as there isn't really any info/research done linking the word "Hmong" to "free/freedom". it just sort of became widely accepted that "Hmong" means "free/freedom".

Hmong is just Hmong...It has no meaning, its just a representation of people. By the way where did these idiots came up with a definition for hmong? Can one define the "han" people? Ofcourse not, its just a name it has no definition.

Interesting history eh? They are like roaches that don't know how to extinct if that's what you mean. The chinese has tried to get rid of miaoren in the past and now its the viets and the laotians turn.

you must really be an ignoramus.

every word has a meaning. Whether it's used to describe which part of the world they are from or who they are, it has it's meaning whether if personal or universal.

even you've already indicated that "hmong" means something when referring to " 'its just a representation of people' ". this has already implied that hmong is a representation of a group people who have identified themselves as hmong either by themselves or others--indicating that hmong already means something, if not "free/freedom".

simply because the "han" people may or may not have a meaning to it's root/word does not implied that "hmong" shouldn't. this is narrow headed thinking! the names of countries, groups of people, including individuals all have meanings whether it be for the person founding the country, organization, or individual.

of all things, names have the most significance. it defines who we are as a person, as a group of people/organization, as a state/nation, as human beings.

and a final word, like roaches, we'll be here eons after you're gone. no matter how hard you try to exterminate us, we'll develop an immunity to any and all racial strife/injustice.

fd :genius:

[yajthaugluv]

"Freedom / to be Free" That's just ridiculous. -

Just go ahead and ask every hmong person you see to see what hmong really means. I'm sure they'll say the same, means nothing.

This post has been edited by yajthaugluv: Aug 26 2004, 05:54 PM