|
Welcome to Gary's web site
The 2008 edition of Gary's website includes one new History article,
three new Culture articles, one new Topical article, eleven new
poems, four new Short Stories, and updates to the 'Home' page, the
'About Gary' page and two articles - happy reading....
From October 2006 to December 2007, I had the opportunity to serve
as scholar-in-residence to develop courses and teach at the Center
for Hmong Studies, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.
It was an important time in my life as I was able to share knowledge
on the Hmong with students and the academic community, as well as to
learn from Hmong Americans, young and old, about their hopes and
concerns, their joy and frustrations but above all, their excitement
and success in trying to achieve the American dream. I am grateful
to all my Hmong friends and relatives in America who made my
presence so welcome and shared with me their ideas and concerns
wherever I visited during my stay.
America seems to be the Hmong’s big dream, not only for the more
than 200,000 of them who are already there, but also those who live
in other parts of the world. Many have achieved their dream of being
reunited with those in America, whether from France, Argentina and
even from Australia. Those who are in the homeland in Laos also
want the American dream by marrying their daughters and sons to
those in America, or by escaping to Thailand in the hope of being
accepted for resettlement as refugees in America. About 8,000 of
them have been waiting since 2005 at Huai Nam Khao, Phetchaboon, for
this reason.
Everywhere I went during my recent American sojourn, I was told of
the many opportunities available and how much I could do to share in
the dream. By the same token, many people also asked where were the
Hmong in America going, in what direction were they heading and what
would be waiting for them 20 or 50 years from now. There is no doubt
about their material and physical survival. But will they survive
as an ethnic group, as a culture? Already, few young Hmong know
their mother tongue and the culture of their parents. Seeking refuge
in the land of freedom and pursuing the American dream have resulted
in much loss of the Hmong language and culture, the adoption of new
alien social values and contradictory norms, and the conversion to
other religions. Many Hmong in the diaspora in Western countries are
now confused about who and what they are.
I hope that the contents of this website will help readers to
understand the Hmong better. Above all, I hope the Hmong who read
my writings will regain a clearer sense of understanding and
acceptance of who and what they represent. For this to happen, we
need to know
Hmong history, language and culture. We should dress in Hmong
costumes at New Year festivals. We need to speak Hmong in our every
day life between ourselves and our children. We need to read Hmong
folk tales to our children. We should enjoy our young people and
their group dancing, and listen to Hmong music, including our latest
rap artists. We should watch Hmong movies, even those foreign movies
dubbed in Hmong.
Thanks to the Hmong in American and their consumer power, the Hmong
culture has been so enriched that we are now up there on par with
other cultures in the world. We are as modern and as up-to-date as
anyone else, so we should be proud of this achievement while not
losing our Hmong self-image. A good knowledge of Hmong culture leads
to a better sense of identity. A clearer identity leads to more
self-confidence and pride. When we have confidence and pride, we can
contribute to society the way everyone else does.
To all the Hmong around the world today, I wish to commend
you for all the great things you have done or are doing, such as
your studies and your work. Have goals and aim high in life.
Participate fully in the country you now live in. Make
contributions to it, and take pride in it, in yourselves, in your
people. Always see yourselves in the broader picture in relation to
other people around you, do not stay inside the small confine where
you only see Hmong and their needs. Yet, always remember your
origin, your roots, and be proud of it.
As in previous years, I would like to thank my webmaster,
Yeu Lee, and the many readers who have written to me with their
challenging questions and supportive remarks. I would also like to
acknowledge the unfailing support of my wife, Maylee Lee, for all
this intellectual endeavor and the word processing assistance from
my daughters, Melinda, Sheree and Debbie Lee.
You are welcome to
e-mail me with your inquiries and comments.
February 2008 |
