RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING

Many people suffered as a result of the Vietnam War. Lies were told to everyone, American and Hmong included. I believe all those who fought should be respected. For those who say that if the Americans hadn't come, we would still have our homes, I don't believe you are entirely correct. The communists were active in Laos as well, even though it was supposed to be neutral. North Vietnamese were using it to get supplies to their army in South Vietnam. I believe it was inevitable that the Hmong would be involved. The communists would have encroached on our homes and we would have had to fight. I don't blame the American people for what happened. Many did not know what was going on (concerning the Hmong) and still do not today. Even many vets (as seen in some of these messages)do not know about the role we played. However, there is also much support for us from those who know, many American vets icluded. I don't believe blaming and screaming at each other will solve anything. It's true that some people got the short end of the stick, but we can't blame everyone for something a few people did. IT IS BETTER TO EDUCATE ONE ANOTHER AND TO MOVE ON TOGETHER SO THAT THE SAME MISTAKES ARE NOT REPEATED.

FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE HMONG: Most Hmong who are in the US now used to live in Laos. We were a freedom loving people who lived high on the mountain tops to escape oppression from the Laotion. Many generations ago, we came to Laos from China because of oppression there. That has been our history for hundreds of years. We have tried to remain independent as a people and we have always been persecuted for it. Our solution to oppression and attempts at assimilation were to fight and run. Long before the Vietnam War, the Hmong fought the Chinese several times in some major rebellions before many migrated into Southeast Asia and into Laos. There, they faced oppression from the Laotians and later the French who were colonizing S.E. Asia. Again, the Hmong fought for their freedom. To stop the fighting, the French called a truce, allowed the Hmong to live in peace, and offered them education and representation in the government. During the Vietnam War, the CIA recruited the Hmong to attack the North Vietnamese supply lines that were running through Laos. We were also to rescue downed American pilots. These things the Hmong did courageously. Sometimes, we lost many people in order to rescue one American pilot. We were on the front lines when the Communists attacked Laos. For Hmong soldiers, there was no returning home when you got wounded. Wounds were patched and you were soon fighting again. So many died that towards the end of the war, young boys (13,14) were fighting. After the Americans pulled out, the Communists came after the Hmong using poison gas and other weapons in an attempt to wipe us out. Many fled to Thailand while the soldiers formed guerilla armies that continued to pester the Communists.

I am a descendant of those who fought in the war. I'm proud of the way my people have always fought for freedom. What I want is for people to know who we are, what we've done, and to recognize that we had a part in it as well. Here in the US, we're asking for understanding and "a hand up, not a handout." Like many Hmong my age, I'm working to better myself and this country that I am now a citizen of. As a social work student, I try to help and better the lives of people of all ethnicities. America was built on the backs of immigrants from throughout the world including Europe, Asia, and Africa. We need to understand, support, forgive, and learn about each other and ourselves in order to move forward and live together.