On this Fourth of July weekend, MPR listeners are asked to call in with their stories about coming to America. Caller comments are interspersed between an interview with guest Senator Mee Moua, the first Hmong American elected to State Legislator. She speaks of living in refugee camps in Laos and resettling in the U. S.
First caller from Vietnam with boat people (00:16:05) / Second caller from refugee camp in Kenya (00:23:49) / Third caller Muhammad, a Muslim American comments on American Dream becoming a nightmare with harassments after September 11 Patriot Act (00:31:00) / Fourth caller Andrew from Sri Lanka in response to Muhammad's comments (00:37:19) / Fifth caller British truck driver wants to live in America if Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) would let her without the need to marry a U.S. citizen (00:39:39) / Sixth caller from Cameroon on learning English language (00:42:11) Seventh caller from Somalia on learning English language (00:46:46) Eighth caller from Somalia on racial consciousness (00:51:04)
Read the Text Transcription of the Audio.
(00:00:00) From Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Greta Cunningham Metro Transit officials. Say more people than expected paid to ride the Hiawatha Light Rail train in Minneapolis during the first week of service ridership increased from about eleven thousand eight hundred on Monday to preliminary counts of more than 15,000 on Tuesday and Wednesday Metro Transit is hoping for 19,300 Riders daily by the end of next year a Minnesotan is the next US ambassador to the east African nation of Eritrea Scott delisi grew up in South st. Paul received his bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Minnesota. He was nominated by President Bush in January and confirmed by the senate in May a Fargo North Dakota man has invented a product. He hopes will erase concerns about the identity of remains from cremations Tom Shaffer manages the Riverside Cemetery in Fargo each year. He supervises dozens of cremations Schafer says there has never been a problem with a cremation in Fargo. He says he was motivated by incident in Noble Georgia hundreds of bodies sent to a Crematory ended up buried stacked in storage sheds. And discarded in nearby Woods Schafer has devised a tracking system using a clay tile that is placed on the body for cremation. It would be approximately the size of a folded billfold 3 by 4 inches by 1/2 inch thick and much to my pleasant surprise after I tried that first ceramic piece through an entire cremation process. I saw that it not only survived but one side of it was still in pretty good shape Schafer has received a patent for his product from the federal government the forecast for Minnesota calls for cloudy skies and cool conditions today with thunderstorms moving from West Central into South Central Minnesota highs ranging from 65 to 75 right now the Twin Cities cloudy and 64 from Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Greta Cunningham. All right. Thanks Greta. It's six minutes now past (00:01:51) eleven (00:01:58) Heroes proved. In liberating Strife (00:02:11) who more than self (00:02:15) their country loved America (00:02:34) and good (00:02:35) morning. Welcome to a special Independence weekend edition of midday here on Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Gary eichten. And of course that is the late great Ray Charles a true American treasure during this our midday. We're going to focus on America's Roots America's immigrant roots from the very beginning America has been a nation built by people who came from somewhere else and that tradition continues today here in Minnesota. Numbers among and somalis have arrived in recent years in the state's Mexican population is growing by Leaps and Bounds nationally the 2000 census found over 30 million foreign-born people living in the United States that's nearly 11 percent of the total population. Well today to Mark the nation's birthday. We'd like to hear from those of you who came here as immigrants or refugees. Why you came what you found when you got here. What do you think America is doing right? What might we improve on what you hope your future will hold love to hear your personal story. So give us a call here, six five. One two, two seven six thousand. That's our Twin City area number six five. One two, two seven six thousand toll free number is 1-800-218-4243 can also use our online service go to our website, Minnesota Public Radio dot org and click on send a question. Now joining us here in the studio is steep. State senator me Moi whose family came to the u.s. Back in 1978 from a refugee camp in Laos as with most refugees her family started out with little or nothing. But today just 26 years later me. Moi is a citizen. She's got a law degree and she holds the distinction of being the first Hmong in the nation elected to a state legislature Senator. Thanks for coming over today and happy birthday. Thank you. It's great to be here. Is it I mean from the outside it seems more than fair to say that you are you have lived the American dream that we always talk about rags to riches story as it were absolutely I and you know, I love sharing the story because I think it's very affirming not just for the new refugees and immigrants who are here and looking into the future hopefully, but I think it's very affirming for you know first. Third generation immigrants whose grandparents great-grandparents have been here for a while. And I hear that all the time as I travel throughout the state people coming up to me and say Hey, you reminded me of my grandma, you know when I was growing up and it's just it's just been a lot of fun. Now as I understand you were what nine years old when your family came to America, that's right. Do you have any recollection what it was that you thought you were getting into when you got here when you came here? Well, you know, yeah, it's a little bit different when you're a refugee family coming to the United States. We lived in a time that was very chaotic and psychologically pretty traumatic, you know back in Laos and the journey from Laos to the border between Laos and Thailand was in itself pretty traumatic. I mean you had to go through checkpoints and different go through different guards and and you know, there was a sense of danger that any point at any of the checkpoints. I mean you could just Would surely be arrested so there's a lot of tension and fear and then just the trip in the middle of the night on a Fisherman's Boat across the Mekong River into Thailand is enough itself sort of a pretty frightening experience and when you know after living in the refugee camps for a couple of years, I think psychologically and I don't think that this is necessarily unique to my experience. I think most refugees would share the feelings that psychologically you're just kind of ready for anything and for us you just the the it wasn't a sense of you know, enthusiasm or sense of anticipation. It was just sort of a resigned sense of you know, it's sort of a pretty practical resign attitude that well, this is just yet one more step in moving forward and I remember as a child I had no expectations of you know, man, I didn't I didn't see, you know, sparkling Christmas trees and The toys, I mean, there's just no no anticipation whatsoever other than just sort of feeling like well, you know, we're finally going to go to America but really no anticipation of what that represented. Mmm when you got here and I'm thinking specifically more perhaps more of your parents maybe even then you since they were older of course did did they what did they make of this country when you when you got here quite a quite a change from what you had grown up with? Sure. Well, I don't know number of levels. I think, you know after having lived in the refugee camp physically the United States America being here physically just was very very different. I mean coming from the refugee camps were just you know, bamboo walls and dirt floors, no electricity, no running water and then imagine being boarded and a bus riding a bus for the first time and then getting shuttle off to the airport and get on an airplane sort of for the First time and flying for a long time and in arriving, I think the physical changes all the I remember. My mother said her first memories, you know so much concrete concrete sidewalks or concrete. I mean, my mother said how how luxurious to live in a country where even when you're walking outside your foot never touches the dirt because there's concrete to protect you. I mean that's quite a physical impression but also for a lot of the refugees in particular from my mother and my father we have a lot of relatives who had come to the United States, you know, 1975 76 77. So by the time we came in 1978, there's been sort of a two to three year Gap where we hadn't seen relatives in a long time and my mom's almost all of my mom's siblings were already in the United States at the time so emotionally it was just uplifting to be able to be reunited with you know, the very close family members who already been resettled in the United States. I would imagine to that by by having relatives here who kind of knew the ropes and stuff that that that made the transition substantially easier. Absolutely. We were a lot luckier because we had you know, my grandparents here. We have some relatives who ended up being resettled in Waco, Texas and in like, you know a small suburb in Atlanta, Georgia, who were the only families there and they were sponsored by a church organization. And for many of them mean their story of their first week in the United States was dramatically different from our own experiences. Now for us, you know, when we came it was great to see Grandma was great to see all the first cousins. We had uncles and aunts who spoke the language who could drive it was like a big, you know week-long holiday celebration of just read being reunited with our family members and certainly having family members who could take us to the doctor's Man, who could take us to the public health clinic who could you know help take us to school have made made the transition a lot easier on my parents and made the transition a lot easier on us as kids talking this hour with St. Paul state. Senator me Moi who like so many people in America came here in her case as a refugee and we'd love to hear from those of you who share her background her experience. If you came here as an immigrant Refugee love to have you give us a call as we talk about what that experience is, like part of our independence weekend edition of midday. Give us call her six five one two, two seven six thousand. That's our Twin City area number six five. One two, two seven six thousand toll free number is 1-800-218-4243 or web address is Minnesota Public Radio dot-org when you get there. Click on send a question. Although today not really interested in questions who are interested in your comments and your experiences, six five. One two, two seven six thousand or 1-800 to for 22828 is the number to call now, you became and your parents became citizens just seven years after got here is understanding absolutely is that typical that it that you you move into citizenship that quickly. Well, you know, I'm not sure I think the the absolute legal requirement is that if you are not married to if you're not already married to a u.s. Citizen, I believe it takes five years to become before you could even apply to become naturalized if you are married or if you have a spouse that's already a US citizen that time gets cut down to three years not We Came as refugees and so at the end of five years my parents legally were allowed to Become eligible to become citizens. You have to understand that for my mom and dad. My dad has about a sixth grade education. My mom has never seen a classroom never held a pencil till we came to the United States and she started adult education classes and for them to be able to in a seven-year span learn enough English learn enough about us and American history back. Then there weren't services to help refugees to go take classes to become naturalized citizens. And so when my parents expressed an interest that they wanted to become citizens, it took us quite a while to kind of prepare them. I mean almost two years and I remember I used to record the potential I think 250 some questions on a to 80 minute cassette tapes that my mother would listen to over and over and over again just so that she could hear the questions. She could you know know what the answers were and they both passed the first time they went to take the Exam wow, and what was that like, you know for them? I think they were just so determined and they wanted to use any and every Avenue that they had at their fingertips to be able to learn the information and it was a lot of fun actually, you know, when most other children are sitting at the dinner table with their parents teaching them how to do their homework. I'm sitting at the dinner table with my mom and dad trying to teach them American history and you a US history and teaching them the names of the president so that they could answer their citizenship questions correctly, you know, it was it was a lot of fun did that cause any any problems with the kids having to teach the parents is that is that kind of thing come up at all not in our family, you know, a lot of the as different waves of immigrants have resettled in this country. I think every immigrant wave whether you're from Europe or from Asia experience sort of a you know, a generation gap after a while when The children learn more English, you know become used to life in this country a little bit more but in our family it was a little bit different because we really felt like it was it was a family effort by law. If both of my parents became naturalized before any of my siblings and I turn 18 we receive what's called derivative citizenship from them if we weren't born in this country and so sort of a family effort to help my mom and dad study so that they can go and take their citizenship exam because then by right will just automatically all become naturalized citizens in my parents felt very very strongly that it was very important for them to become citizens because their senses that this is a permanent life for them. They wanted their children to be Americans but to be US citizens and to be entitled to every right and opportunity that there was available in this country. That's the reason why they gave up their life and they Austin in and risk their lives to bring us to safety and for them, the ultimate opportunity was obtaining their citizenship going out and voting and making sure that we had our citizenship so that we could be a hundred percent whether it what my mama say a hundred percent Americans we're talking about the Immigrant experience. Meanwhile has joined us here in the studio her and her family came to the United States from Laos back in 1978. Meanwhile has since gone on to among other things become a state senator here in the state of Minnesota first legislator among legislators elected in the nation. We'd like to hear your experiences. If you are an immigrant Refugee to this country as we Mark the Independence Day weekend, give us a call here, six five, one two, two seven six thousand or 1-800 to for 2282865122. On 6,000 or 1-800 to for to to 28283 my is on the line. Good morning. (00:16:08) Good morning. Both of you. You are an immigrant. Yes. I am. I'm I came to I'm one of the Vietnamese boat people that unaccompanied minor that immigrated to the United State also in the late 70s and the early 80s and I was 11 years old when I was came to United States and I saw the Golden Gate instead of the Statue of Liberty. When I first arrived in America in San Francisco, (00:16:41) did America turn out to be what you had imagined? It might be? What is this country kind of like what you thought it was or (00:16:50) I think I when my I heard of my parents of well, at least my father dealing with the u.s. In the Vietnam War and I think my first introduction to America in 1973 was a piece of chocolate that my father carry home to home doing his R&R and I did not taste the chocolate until 1981 when I arrived in America, but the country was so different and I think as a youngster, I think I was much more busy observing rather than comparing and said, oh this is different. I took I think I did accepted that this part of America is is my new home and I think in some way I put my Caucasian parents that the Nash's really Treating treated me as one of their own and encouraging me to Pursuit everything that they encouraged their children. And so I also feel very proud of our country and I'm also actively trying to participate in the Democratic by voting and community service and and all those things. Have I have you become a citizen. Yes. Thank you came in citizen in 1988. I believed and the tree questions that well the lady who asked me well, this is trivia question for some of the citizen out there is if the president and the vice president is is no longer in power who would succeed in their place. So that was my question and I answered correctly, which is the Speaker of the House. And this lady said well since you know that is no need to ask (00:18:55) anymore. We got to say they're all out of people who don't know the answer to that question who've been hurling a lot longer has has this country turned out to be what you had hoped. It might become law would be for you. (00:19:08) I think like anybody else like all productive citizens. I think all of us do want to speak. I want our country to be better. We may have some disagreement with would certain government policy, but I think as an immigrant I always feel proud of where I'm living at and and I also have an optimistic hope that the people in the government will be wise and ethical and think about the people who have vote them in power in that position. And I think I'm some time load as Youngster while yet Gen X generation. I felt that sometimes the government have not served a citizen well, and there's a little sense of helplessness. And so we do actively try to participate in write letters and stuff like that. But sometime I felt like my voice is only one vote and it we need a lot of us together for the politician to listen. Well, thanks for your call. Thank you very much and good luck and continue to do good work. All right Q3. I (00:20:35) mean, why is it is it typical that from your experience? You're a politician after all a do do folks who've been here for a while as immigrants refugees after they get settled in squared away. Do they tend to be fairly active in civic affairs? Or do they are they so consumed with their own situation that the bigger picture kind of they just ignore it for a while. It's been my experience that the people who are immigrants or who knew a man who are new Americans have an extra high sensitivity to political participation in partly because I think those who are closer to the Immigrant experience has a much deeper appreciation for the legacy of what this country has created and given to its citizens. And so I this is not an unusual story and someone like tree who feels that he's an Engaged, you know Citizen and he listens to you watches his elected officials. He watches the political scene he votes that's that's basically what we asked of all of our citizens and I've you know, I found that particularly in the recent more recent waves of In refugees who are who have been coming to the United States, whether it's from Africa or Eastern European or from Asian countries, the more recent wave since the 70s tend to be more political refugees the majority of whom were part of you know, a group that were agitating for political equality. So among this more recent wave the sense of political self is even more heightened if if you were to go into the Somalian Community or into the Hmong Megan Community or to some of the Eastern European communities. There's a very heightened sense of where in America one-person one-vote. I'm going to exercise my voice and the the follow comment is always that's why we're here because we fought for that in our home country were persecuted push to come here to seek political refuge. And now that we're here we're And given an opportunity as part of the history and tradition of this country for citizens to fully participate and we're going to exercise that voice in that option. If you just joined us special Independence weekend edition of midday. And today we are focusing on the Immigrant experience such a central part of the American story. If you are an immigrant or Refugee and come to this country love to hear your story, six, five, one two, two seven six thousand or 1-800 to for 22828 joining us here in the studio is a Saint Paul state senator Memoir whose family came to America from Laos back in 1978. She's here to share her thoughts her story as it were and would like to have yours as well. Six five. One two, two seven six thousand or 1-800 to for 22828. Jama is on the line. Thanks for calling in. (00:23:49) Hi. Good morning. Good morning, Gary. I usually call this program every other year. Excellent. Great program my lovely program. I just want to share with you today the experience which I had when I came to America for the first week. I came here 10 years ago. And I was I came from a refugee camp in Kenya and there was a lot of worries about that refugee camp in water. We didn't have a war that when 24 hours. So when I came to New York, I was since I was the head of the family. I was worrying water. I used I used I used to remember waking up middle of the night and checking if the war is funny and making sure the family tomorrow. So it says experience and I enjoyed it. Yeah after a while I get used to matter of fact, he was calm. Little bit culture shock, but after that it was I could use the system and and I think America is the best country in the world after all when it comes to democracy and when it comes to big trout, wow, no one will say you shut up you you can speak whatever you have in your mind. So it's a great country Jama. Do you (00:25:14) recall? What was the toughest adjustment for you to (00:25:17) make? Well the language was one of them I didn't speak no English frequently and mostly it was only the language if you don't speak English in here, it's more like you're branded you blind man. No one, you know what I'm saying? And sometimes if you speak broken English kind of people who make fun of you. So who was he was a man which most of us thinks (00:25:45) anything else that you recall that let me ask you this. Was there any anything that Stands out in your mind that made the transition easy for you. (00:25:56) well the most the most catching up the first first time then he came different country. You have a lot of other things Allah, you know too much washing. Your hand is too much super this you a lot of things that go through your mind, but it also depend this is just you going like China people China have a different culture and different things and and it won't understand you won't understand them. So imagine yourself being American and on his big no Chinese language and going to China. What do you expect a shin is, you know how the people view what the beep the view of the people are all of those things coming into consideration. (00:26:44) Well Jeremiah, thanks for calling and again this year. It's always good to talk with you. Thanks. Before we take a quick break here. I mean why I wanted to ask you do you recall when you when you came you and your family came here. We're in general where people pretty helpful or were you kind of left the sink or swim on your own? Well, you know gay people were extremely helpful and I think when our wave of immigrants came through the resettlement organizations the ones that we work through we're Lutheran Social Services and Catholic Charities, and if they if we didn't the families that didn't already have immediate families here as host families receiving them Lutheran Social Services and Catholic Charities will work with other Church organizations and other individuals to try to sponsor those families. And so the resettlement process itself was pretty smooth and then what was also very helpful. Was the fact that the neighbors and the church organizations and the people who were here felt so connected to us as an immigrant Community as I mentioned to you before almost every individual that we encountered would share that, you know, it was only two generations ago or the I grew up in a household where my grandparents spoke only German and so as I was growing up, I would hear these kind of stories and I think people connect it with us as a new immigrant group and they felt very much that it was their obligation as established Americans to help ease the transition whether that was with my teachers at school or out in the community. Hmm. We're talking about the Immigrant experience here in America as we Mark the Independence Day weekend on midday. Let me give you the number again if you are an immigrant or refugee. It has come to this country. Don't call though because all our lines are busy right now and then you'll get a busy signal and you'll get you'll get mad at us. Try us in a few minutes when some of the lines clear six five one two, two seven six thousand or one eight hundred two, four two two eight 286512276 thousand or 1-800-222-8477 Krista Tippett from speaking of Faith many of your favorite public radio programs, like speaking of Faith The Splendid Table and A Prairie Home Companion are produced locally right here in Minnesota and heard on other public radio stations across the country. We now have a new way to present them American public media when you hear that you'll know it comes from us American public media is a part of Minnesota Public Radio. All right, let's catch up on the weather forecast is cloudy and cool across the state today. And in fact, there's a chance for Thunderstorms in West Central and South Central Minnesota through the afternoon highs today 60s to the low 70s tonight rain is forecast for the entire state with a low upper 40s to the 50s and then tomorrow is going to be well, it doesn't it's not going to feel like July let's put it that way showers and thundershowers tomorrow with a high temperature only in the 60s Twin City forecast cloudy Sky through the afternoon with a high around 70 to night showers and thundershowers with an overnight low of 55. And then tomorrow more rain is forecast with a high temperature only near 65 degrees right now at 66 and it's cloudy in the Twin Cities during this our midday. We are talking about the Immigrant experience here in America to Marquis Independence weekend me Moi St. Paul state senator has joined us to talk about her experiences as coming from Laos in 1978 full Bank of callers to share their stories. And let me give you the number. If you would like to share your story, six, five. One two, two seven six thousand or one eight hundred two, four two two eight two eight Muhammad. Thanks for calling this morning. (00:31:00) Yes, sir. My name is Mohammad. I'm going from Minneapolis. I really been called to express my descent Chapman, but I've been through every day enacted September 11 patriotic act. I've been a subject of harassment and they attend my American Dream to a nightmare and I found it really appalling I care about this country. I can attest to that any person. Who is claims to be God genuine American I can attest to that I can contest to that that I care about this country. Not an Iota less than someone who's born here. I planted trees for fact on my house. I'll happened. I planted more trees and more than an average person in my last house. I was only st. Louis Park, but people in here are they found that label you like a cow and they go around and they had asked you I just called to let you know that we don't get too many calls from Muslim Americans because we are subjected to harassment and I called this this station too moist why view because when I voiced my view, I only means I care about American values. Thank (00:32:17) you Muhammad before you run there before 9/11. Were you subjected to the (00:32:23) same go watch the river? No whatsoever know whatever. Never okay. I was subjected when I worked for corporate I make up from time to time, but I said no I will never get this treatment from authorities (00:32:40) after 9/11 has it. Have you been (00:32:43) harassed? Yeah been a smash they can come and verify that but I mean that's see that resulted I end up selling my house on Colfax Avenue because they had asked me and my daughter but is this not? Okay. No, but my uh, my (00:33:03) question would be do you get the sense that this is that you're being harassed by a large number of (00:33:10) people or a coordinated effort was done against me. That was very coordinated effort. Well, thank you my hamon. Thank you (00:33:20) Shannon mean why is that a typical story that you've heard? Well, you know Gary life has been a little bit atypical. I think in the last several years as a result of the whole September 11th experience. I know that you know over time and it happens with every wave of immigrants each wave of immigrants go through a transition period where you feel kind of like split you have a split experience. There is one aspect of resettling and living in this country where it's wonderful. There's your full of Hope and full of a sense of optimism and there's lots of people who are very embracing very helpful. But the reality is that there's always another element of individuals who given the rest of their lives who will always be bigots and who will always feel fully and Really to express that bigotry and it doesn't matter if you're African-American your American Indian or Asian American they're individuals who are going to do that. I think that September 11th, unfortunately gave an opportunity an excuse individuals to express that bigotry in ways that is extremely an American and extremely unmanned Asotin in my experience. Some of Muhammad is not alone in being picked on he hasn't he's not alone. And in fact, Minnesota is a great place to live. I I love this state and I think that any immigrant groups whether their previous groups are recent immigrants will attest that this the state has given immigrants and refugees time and again from you know, the Polish Americans in German Americans in swedes to the most recent one Refugee waves, great and tremendous opportunities and part and parcel I think because from a from a political and A policy standpoint we've put in place the infrastructures to allow our systems here to help facilitate people who are going to resettle here, but that doesn't mean in Minnesota is not unique in that there isn't a lot of elements out there individuals who Harbor Prejudice and bigotry and they don't feel an ounce of hesitancy to express that it's not just the Muslim Community although post-september 11th. I think individuals in the Muslim Community has felt a unique pressure because they have been targeted. That's a reality that the Immigrant communities have experienced living in the state of Minnesota. Even, you know, during my election. I mean think about this to Gary what is more American than a refugee child coming to the United States going through school and then running for public office and even during my election as I was standing in the street corners on Election Day to do visibility. I would hold an American flag and I would wave to cars that go by and the vehicles and that would stop and give me the birdie or tell me to go back to my own country tended to be vehicles with an American flag sticking out of its hood or on its window. And that was a direct result of I think the post-september 11 opportunities that gave an opportunity to people to be able to voice that kind of bigotry. So I understand and I fully appreciate Muhammad's experience. He's not unique a lot of people in the Immigrant communities have experienced that but my response to that is that Minnesota continues to be a great place for all of us to live and as time goes by in the the grief of the September 11th subsides. I hope that we can all come together and try to build rebuild and reconstitute the Minnesota that has brought all of us here. Andrew your comment, please. (00:37:19) Yeah. I'm just responding to the last caller Bahamas. I don't think it's all like everybody's resting the foreigners. I think it just a few bad people who are like bad apples or not open, you know there as far as their view, you know, because I mean my experience is I think there's a lot of good people in this state that are in his country actually who care about a lot of mean like foreigners and we are all here, you know, so I think my just wanted to let Muhammad know it's just not everybody had been is this is a great place for everybody like to come here. I think (00:37:56) did you come here as an immigrant (00:37:58) Andrew? Yeah it from work my ass from Ceylon (00:38:02) Sri Lanka was was this country what you imagined it was going to be (00:38:07) I came here when I was 13, and I was like, wow, this is cool. Thank you. Until I mean, I mean every any any other place in the world, everybody wants to come here. There's a reason for that. I think it's not because you know, I mean there are people there's wonderful people here. I think you know, who cares about I mean just few people. I mean, there's gonna be Prejudice them anywhere you go. You know, I'm sure Muhammad is pretty is about certain things and you are prejudiced about certain things, but that's not that's the human nature I believe but there is a good people in this country and Ramona. Yeah (00:38:44) before you run Andrew, you said that people all around the world want to come here? Yeah. Why why do they want to come here (00:38:51) opportunity here? It's not selecting Sri Lanka. It is the I think if I could work hard all the all night and I don't think I'm gonna get the return as in the United States. If I work five years save continuously. I think I'm going to be established here. And I mean that my kids will be, you know, they'll be they'll have more opportunity. A lot of people like Indians and they come here and they work hard and they are just you know, establish what they want to do how many they tried that in India. I'm sure it's a lot harder and every other I mean, I mean the opportunities I just endlessly and I think (00:39:31) Andrew thanks for your (00:39:32) call. Thank you. (00:39:33) Let's move on to another caller Allison is on the line Allison. Thanks for calling in this morning. (00:39:39) Hi, I'm not an immigrant, but I want to be (00:39:49) from where (00:39:50) England (00:39:53) why why why do you want to come to you come to America and become a (00:39:57) citizen? Because having been here a couple times, I love the place. I love America. I love America what America stands for? Which is in your mind Freedom opportunity Liberty. But you have all that in England, don't you? Yeah, that's true. But I'm Annie. I'm a truck driver back in England and I want to do the same and you wouldn't believe how difficult it is to thread a big truck down roads that were designed for carthorse Century. (00:40:34) So you like the big three ways. Oh, yeah. Well Allison, are you re going to put down your roots here (00:40:45) if the ins will ever let me yeah. This is very very difficult for me to get residency here without actually Marrying an American. (00:40:55) Perish the thought well good luck to you and thanks for calling (00:41:00) in. (00:41:03) But you know gay one of the themes that I see surfacing among all of the speakers who have called is that contrary to a perception that a lot of people come here and they get a free ride or you know, they come here and they become a burden of the US tax system or they become a burden on society as a whole what what we're hearing is that for a lot of these immigrants who are here? They're hopeful they want to join the young market system. They want to get a job many of them really see this as an opportunity to get even if it's just a minimum wage job or a livable wage job or truck driver job. It's still an opportunity to move somewhere and I think that really is you know, one of the essence of the American dream is that you know, most people from around the world don't want to come here so that they can get a handout or be a burden but they come because they see that almost. In every strata of the opportunities out there. There's a niche in a place for them whether they're most educated researchers come into Minnesota or somebody like my parents who hardly speak in English. Mmm, Theresa your next your experience, please (00:42:12) it's not so much my experience because I came here years ago and would take a week for me to tell you what I went through what I want to find out another step for moving up from where we are, you know, the new Metro they have four different languages. And when I look back when the forefathers came, I don't know if the translated things America being a place where people come from all over the world, where will we draw the line and do having all these languages does that not give people the incentive of learning English, which is a unifying language, you know. Don't know how to State it with so that you get the point. I'm trying to (00:42:59) make we get to Point re so where did you come from Cameroon Cameroon? Did you speak English when you came (00:43:06) awesome? Uh-huh. Yes, but I know others who didn't and did they did they (00:43:14) make an effort to learn the (00:43:15) language or yeah. Well, you know, that's the whole point of being an American you learn to speak English because of course when I came they were not translating anything and you just had to learn the language and of course, then you get into the mainstream. You don't get stuck by doing the menial work. I don't know if you know what I mean. Oh, yes. Yes, that's not even to go get a driver's license. You can get it in your language. Whatever it is. Now the Metro you don't even have to learn the language and I think that's part and parcel of being an American you learn that language and communicate with (00:43:54) everyone Teresa. Thank you for your call. (00:43:57) Okay, Senator. What do you think? Are (00:44:00) we in some respects at least in terms of the language? Are we too accommodating to new immigrants refugees for languages on the hi? Wife of train line that wouldn't it be better for those folks long run just to learn English and get over get done with be done with it. Well, yeah, there's a there's an assumption that because out of necessity. We accommodate different languages that people are going to not learn the English language when that's not the reality. The reality is that people are learning English and while they're trying to get up to speed to learn English people still need to get two words don't need to have transportation to get to where they need to go to part of it too is that you know, as a as a state and a country that has increasingly very diverse populations mean there are parts of this country where the language is spoken are not is not just English, but you know Spanish in English now and that's just a reality and so I think the accommodation piece of it is not necessarily giving people an incentive to not Learn the English language, but it's a necessity and it's become a way of life. I just want to point out that it isn't just in recent times that we've been accommodating to language differences over time. The state of Minnesota has always recognized that with all the different waves of immigrants who have come here that there were always be a second or third or fourth language being Spoken Here in the state of Minnesota. I have many friends who are just a half a generation removed from going to an all-german church or going to an office suite is church and I seem to recall that as recently as you know in the 1950s the Ramsey County election ballot was printed I think in five or six different languages, so it isn't in recent just in recent times that we've been too accommodating, but I think the public policy has always been that in order for citizens to work and to continue to live we have to accommodate to some extent in order to get them up and going I have no doubt whatsoever that in time everybody who lives in the United States is going to be speaking learning how to speak and we'll know English. And in fact, many many of them do who are bilingual trilingual in their everyday lives. And so I think that accommodating the the different cultural groups in different languages actually is more helpful to us as a state than to the people that were trying to accommodate because it is trying to create a community that is able to function Sayid your comment, please. (00:46:47) Yes. I'm going from Minneapolis and I'm from Somalia. Mm. I was in India for some years and they have superpowers having a United Nation Scholarship and I could go back to Somalia because of the Civil War and when I came to United States the dream I had the first time I was really very great high Dream it takes I know for years to fulfill all kind of dreams I have but it's the best thing is I was I was injured in Somalia and my heart was broken on the my bone was there was a deformation so but when I came here the first month is I met with a doctor I consulted with him and he corrected his there was one correction he made it and I'm really glad my legs doing well now and I got a job good job, and then I work and then I took some courses in the universe cannot also teaching especially say other University of Minnesota teaching introduction to translation and I realized it You know a lot of there are a large number of Somali population in Minnesota particular the Twin Cities and the really like to intermix with the American society. But because of the the country became from would you say at least developed country and the country became which is a very expensive country and the cultured cultural difference is that it will take for some time to adjust the in America but someone like who was well who was able to speak English prior to the coming to the United States like me like me can adopt very fast, but other also the way we issue. Of course, we would like to see I mean even in Somali language, you know, so that they understand exactly where it was the instructions, you know of the the railway issues moreover ain't even in health issues. We need a lot of translators. He has causes of course if the government is cutting the budget for the immigrants to learn in For the translation issues over for the school of ESL. We requested the government here about the state as well as to provide give this kind of service and to goof grants for this kind of because of funny people who ran and I am glad I'm here and I will have will be very glad to take part even and in a political system in America, although I know I can't be a president of the United States. Thank you very much. All right, thank you. Sorry (00:49:24) language, you know, we keep coming back to that and that seems to be both the door opener and the biggest barrier in my am I right about that absolutely and Gary, you know, the one piece that people often think about often. I think Miss understand is that a lot of refugees and immigrants come to the United States with no language skills. That's only true of certain groups. For example, a lot of the Hmong American refugees did come to the United States lacking very much in language and other transferable skills. And I think everybody recognizes the for those groups. The transition process is a little bit more difficult as they're trying to gear up on their language skills, but we've got this awesome intellectual migration to the United States. That's even beyond the the refugees who are coming here with very few skills. You've got researchers. We have people who are journalists who are doctors and lawyers Young from Somalia and Eastern Europe who come here who are already very sophisticated who are very very technologically savvy who have basically experience the world and for those individuals who come here the initial physical resettlement process is going to be a little bit shocking as moving from Minnesota to say North Dakota is enough self shocking but they very quickly adapt to the I fear the very quickly adapt to the Rhythm and the system's here and they make tremendous contributions to the life in this country. And in this community, we all know you're coming. (00:51:05) Yes. Thank you for accepting my call. I'm a first-time caller on am a little bit (00:51:10) nervous. No, don't worry about it. Don't worry about it. (00:51:14) Yeah, I'm from Somalia and I spent some time in Europe before I came to hear the United States and when I came here the thing that shocked me was how race-conscious America is and if you apply a job or if you apply in some kind of government document you have to sign a box which states which race you are. If you are black or white or Asian and even when I was here of I I never I never check any box You know and in Africa, everybody's plaxo we didn't have a you know, race-conscious Society back (00:52:00) home and but in parts of Africa, even Africa you had a lot of problems with the white settlers and they and the black native folks as I understand it. That was a big problem there (00:52:12) too in southern Africa, but I whe I'm from East Africa and and we didn't even hit that much even even in South Africa. It was it was it was not a big news between the blacks enough and the whites in South Africa. And so with even even even with was very hard. We would not we were not educated a lot about the slavery and and you know, what goes on in America. I mean the last couple hundred years. So when we came here, it was very shocked and and nobody, you know, we didn't prepare for that. And we didn't know what the African-Americans went through and a lot of that. So it was a lot of ignorant part of the Africans who come in here, but after two years I learned how much you know what happened and in America and and what the African-American went through and you know a lot of that so that was that was really shocked to me. I mean how many boxes you side you are it was very hard for me which box to sign and even had some I have a some story some of my friends sign in the white box because they told you will get you know the job or or you know, whatever if they sign I mean, so it was it was tough. I will thanks for sharing that story. Okay. Thank you very much, (00:53:37) sir. We don't have a lot of time left. But if people have been listening this hour who are not immigrants not refugees, but you know say well gosh I this is something I ought to Be concerned about care about what's the best way for folks to help newcomers to this country in your mind. Well, the a lot of the local nonprofits here in st. Paul and Minneapolis are all putting together programs. The various school districts are preparing in a lot of church organizations have affiliations with different Refugee and immigrant groups the three organizations that would encourage people to call to sort of get some updates would be Catholic Charities Lutheran Social Service and The International Institute based here in st. Paul and just give them a call and say I have an interest I want to know what is going on in the Immigrant Refugee resettlement Community. What can I do to help we need a lot of people to be tutors and teachers you can just call up and say I like to adopt a family and I like to visit them once a week and I'd like to read to the children and like to you know, take them out and help the parents to learn how to pay the Phone bills and electricity bill there's just a lot of opportunities. And so I hope that you will make the call and you will help some of these new refugees and immigrants Meanwhile we're out of time, but thanks for coming by today. Thank you Gary. It's great to be here. So Paul state senator mean wha joining us here in the studio like to thank all of you who called in her try to call in with your stories of immigrating to the United States break here for some news headlines. And then when we come back an interesting piece of Americana Jim bickle's report on the Rock Island lines of stay tuned. I'm Bill cling president of Minnesota Public Radio. I want to take a moment to say thank you. We recently wrapped up our fiscal year-end fund, right and because of your support we can continue to bring you the news and information you depend on over the years. Your generosity is help build the strongest Public Radio Service in the country. We couldn't do it without you. Thanks again from all of us at Minnesota Public Radio indeed. Thank you very much for your support. With white wig on head and musket in hand William Summerfield is George Washington at the first president's home Mount Vernon and Summerfield says his portrayal is what the father of the country was really like, I'm Lynn Neary a conversation with people who make the past and Adventure living history next Talk of the Nation from NPR news (00:56:12) one o'clock this (00:56:13) afternoon here on Minnesota Public Radio. You're too 91.1 Candor wfm Minneapolis and st. Paul cloudy and cool all afternoon. We could expect some drizzle as well. And it's as warm as it's going to get today cloudy and 66 currently in the Twin Cities tonight rain is likely with an overnight low near 55 degrees. And then tomorrow more rain is forecast and it's going to be a little chilly again tomorrow high temperature 65 by Wednesday though, maybe 70 degrees and 80 by Thursday.