[Winona] Re: Dear Mayor Kelly

[Vicki Englich]

[Winona Online Democracy]

Wow. I check my email and read this very angry letter to Mayor Kelly, 
copied to WOD. How does one respond to such mean-spiritedness? I'm 
grateful that I was also able to read Phil Carlson's response.

I would add and stress that the Hmong people who are coming to 
Minnesota are refugees. So many Hmong have been killed by the Laotian 
government for having assisted the U.S. Military in Laos during the 
1960's and 70's. Our involvement in Laos at that time was not common 
knowledge; it was purposely kept a secret by the U.S. government. In 
fact, I would bet that most Americans still don't know of  U. S.'s 
secret military involvement in that country. When Laos fell to the 
communists, the Hmong people were targeted for extermination and fled 
to Thailand. Generations of Hmong people have languished in refugee 
camps in that country, although the United States decided, beginning in 
the  mid 1970's, to bring Hmong refugees to this country in order to 
save them. Many of these people have settled in Minnesota, and we in 
Winona are blessed to have Hmong people in our community.

Before people who believe in a zero sum world panic at the prospect of 
additional refugees and immigrants in our communities, I would 
encourage them to read the this year's Winona Reads book selection, The 
Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, by Anne Fadiman. Fadiman gives a 
very detailed account of Hmong history, including their assistance to 
our military in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Regardless of 
one's opinion about the validity of the U. S. role in that war, one 
must, I believe, take into account the great risk that the Hmong 
undertook in order to assist us, and take proper responsibility for 
their survival. In addition, the Minneapolis Star Tribune is running a  
3-part series about the Hmong refugees who will be coming to Minnesota. 
I recommend that people read it in order to understand this latest wave 
of immigration.

Regarding Ms. Geibel's litany of complaints that there just isn't 
enough to go around, I would say that this is what "No New Taxes" looks 
like. Contrary to what Speaker Sviggum promised, he has not protected 
the family budget by not increasing income taxes. We are seeing 
increased property taxes, tuition, user fees (tell me that isn't a 
tax!) and the like. Public school districts statewide are closing 
schools and cutting programs. We are seeing decreased services. Try 
going to the library earlier than 11:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m.! Ms. 
Geibel's complaints, as I see it, are misplaced.

Vicki Englich

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