Jon burrows Introductory to Sociology 271 Discussion Answers 1. EMIGRATION (exiting a country) & IMMIGRATION (into a new country) – Why was the Hmong forced to flee Laos and Thailand? Why did the Hmong immigrate to the USA and Wisconsin specifically? What is their experience in Wisconsin? Reasons that the Hmong people being forced to leave Laos and Thailand because the Hmong people help The United States in the Vietnam War. Being trained by the CIA from 1959 to 1973 to fight communist rebellion The “Secret War”, was planned when the Hmong president Vang Pao, who had already worked with French, visited United States President John F.
Kennedy, the U. S. couldn’t get in the North Vietnam and Lao border to couldn’t retrieve falling soldier pilots. The United States will “take care” of the Hmong people for their services. There were 35,000 Hmong soldiers before the Vietnam War. 20,000 Hmong soldiers died. In 1975 when the U. S. Pullout of Laos. Taking a few Hmong’s with them, a new civil war in Laos with the royalist and communist. In Thailand and the Hmong sided with communist. Losing side to both wars, there was a campaign to eliminate minorities’, especially the Hmong population.
There were 400,000 Hmong people in Laos before the Vietnam War. ProVietnam -communist bombed the Hmong villages with napalm and soviet war weapons by 1975 25% of Hmong population was killed, 300,000 Hmong population was left. Many fled to Thailand where the Hmong people became refugees where they immigrated to the United States. In 1975, with the promise to take care the Hmong for their allied ‘ships in the Vietnam War. Many fled to the United States seeking asylum from Laos and Thailand.
Wisconsin with other Midwestern states where the irst states that Hmong people came to when moved here at the time the only veteran of the Vietnam War could only immigrate till 1980. It was 480 Hmong’s in the United States. Churches In Wausau took in refugees in 1978 who at the time had one percent nonwhite population the population of Hmong and other South Asian cultures was 200. 1982it was 400. 800 by 1984. 16,000 by 1990 making it the most interesting population group in Wisconsin. In 2004 when the United States allowed immigration of 15,000 Hmong people, now the population of the Hmong people is 281,000.
With Wausau with 3,569 Hmong people nine percent of the county population. The experience of The Hmong people in Wisconsin and United States most had felt betrayed by The U. S. for pulling out of Laos in the Vietnam War leaving them with Laos’s communist rebellion. In Wausau, Wisconsin the biggest population of Hmong people. With the other countries, Hmong’s have gathered in parks. A place to meet other Hmong’s as walk around and play sports. Like most foreigners who come in the U. S. , they do place some prejudices by some Americans thinking foreigners are taking over the country.
As the Hmong people have to get used to western cultures which a culture shock for most. 2. RELIGION – What religion do Hmong people traditionally follow? What are their religious practices? The Hmong people who migrated to the U. S. some have converted to Christianity, most stick to traditional spiritual practices of Shamanism. Shamanism is a practice of a practitioner reaching altered states of consciousness in order to interact with the social world of benevolent and malevolent spirits. Performing rituals for sick people by connecting with the spirit world (trance) to see why they are sick.
The ancient time, it was believed that humans and spirits lived with each other. The conflict between the two brought a sub-deity (a member of a pantheon of a polytheistic religious system). Blinded the worlds from interacting. Treatments include herbal remedies or offering of Joss papers (ghost money. ) when the soul returns back to the body through a string tying rituals (sting-tying). Red, white, black or blue strings are tied to shield the person from evil spirits. The strings symbolize binding up and holding intact of the life souls.
Animal sacrifice is another Shaman ritual to attempt illness with offerings to the spirits with the sacrifice of chickens, cows, pigs, or other animals. The soul of the sacrificed soul of animals is connected to human souls. Shamans use the animal soul to protect the sick person. Then that animal is eaten. When a Hmong person dies the soul must travel to the every place the person lived until it reaches the burial place of its placental. To be dressed in the “placenta jacket” it can travel to be reunited with ancestors and be reincarnated with a newborn.
The Hmong revere the dead with funeral rituals of being washed, dressed in special clothes, animal sacrifice, and verbally guided to where the placenta is buried. Lamented with musical instruments and laid to rest. Lasting for three or four days. 3. LANGUAGE – What language did Hmong people traditionally speak? How has that changed in their immigration to the USA? What do generations speak what languages – What is happening to the cultural transmission? Hmong name comes from the First Vernacular Chuanqiandian Miao in China. Chinese is the three dialects of the Hmong.
Hmong Daw (White Miao), Mong Njua (Blue or Green Miao). Dalmatian (standard Chinese Miao), Mong Njua, and Hmong Daw is the dialects most used in America. Before 1950, there was no written Hmong language. Hmong developed the written language Hmong RPA (Romanized Popular Alphabet) in Laos the most commonly used form. Pahawh Hmong is another language used it’s an indigenous written language that is a symbolic language like the Cherokee tribe but with Roman and Laos influence. The older generations speak Hmong as the younger generation is using English more. The Hmong language is known for its many tones and difficulty.
Younger generations have trouble learning the language. When people move to a new country and settle there with a family, the next generations to come are going to adopt the new country cultures. 4. FOODS & DRESS – What foods do/ did Hmong people traditionally eat? How has that changed in their immigration to the USA? What clothes do/did Hmong people traditionally wear? What generations are wearing what types of clothing now? Food for the Hmong culture, rice is the staple of Hmong food, vegetables with a small amount of fish and meat. Noodles and soups commonly ate too.
Not generally spicy Chile sauce is added to add a kick, dairy, and fruit are less commonly eaten. Most Hmong food is homegrown. Served in communal style with the main dish placed in the middle of the table. Hmong eating culture in the U. S. is a major issue. Understanding nutrition in the U. S. one has to study the culture and food of that culture. Hmong have spoken out about cultural diversity in American eating. Hmong traditional clothing is worn on special occasions, Hmong New Year and weddings. Hmong cultures in Laos and America the men wear long black pants belted at the waist, with a red embodied band.
Black shirt is tucked in. Women’s clothing is a headband with a black or multicolored shirt, long pants, and striped or plain skirt. The style might differ from different areas. Accessories such as red necklaces with white cloth bands. Being worn on wrist, ankles, or neck. Hmong cultures traditionally believe those analysts have the power. Hmong in America today still wear still wear their traditional clothing for special occasions. Hmong’s dress Americanized. 5. OTHER NEW? – What Other New (for you) things did you learn or find surprising? Before this assignment, I knew of Hmong people but didn’t know about their history.
I was blown away by their courage to fight the Vietnam War with the U. S. the genocide of Hmong people afterward. Doing my research by reading and watching some videos, it shows me that injustice happens everywhere in the world. To still hold their culture and values in today’s society is respectable. Immigration is a touchy issue in America, even ironically immigrants build this country. I believe that if you come here to America from any country and make the best of your situation, by getting an education, get a good job and pay taxes. That makes you an American in my eyes.
