Comments on Chapter 14: “The Melting Pot”

In class today we addressed the question of America’s Hmong population in relation to its welfare status. We know from Fadiman that an incredibly large portion, if not the majority, of first-generation Hmong families in America rely on welfare for most of their income. Are they unethically taking advantage of the federal system? It is easy to look at the situation only through cold “facts”: America has taken in hundreds of Hmong families, given them shelter, clothing, and free medical care (hundreds of thousands of dollars worth in Lia’s case). Yet these people make little to no effect to learn our language, therefore holding very few, mostly menial jobs. The Hmong are clearly an undesirable economic burden on the United States welfare system, taking rather than contributing to our economic well-being.

From this standpoint it not difficult to see how the US government, as well as natural citizens, may hold the Hmong abusive of the system, lazy, or stubborn. How many people know, however, the enormous debt that America owes Hmong society? I am willing to guess that even fewer know the horrendous conditions the Hmong tolerated in Laos, and later in refuge camps as a result of their involvement with America’s conflicts. The Hmong were essentially cheated into fighting for America since we have done very little to uphold our end of the bargain—airlifting only the captains out of danger in Laos, relegating the Hmong to disease-ridden refuge camps, scattering tribes and families across the States in assimilation efforts. In my opinion, the least that the federal government can do is provide unquestioned welfare to the first generation of Hmong refugees without judging or questioning their ethics.