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3: Are Hmong people becoming too Americanized?
For thousands of years the Hmong
people have migrated from country to country and were able to quickly adapt to
the environments (Thao, Bo, et al). For this reason, the America
culture has influenced and provided a challenge for the Hmongs to hold onto
their culture. The first Hmong American
generation has lessened the use of the Hmong language, and ignored the
relevance of the history of the Hmong people (Ehling, Matt). Being Americanized has benefited the Hmong
community such as changing from an agriculture system to an industrialized
system, and education; however, we should never ignore our roots.
Deep in the mountains of Laos was
where the Hmong people dwelled and highly depended on slash and burn agriculture
to support their families, education was not practice (Thao, Bo, et al).
Survival skills such as hunting and farming were more relevant than
education for the Hmongs who lived in the wilderness. It is the opposite in America how education
now is more valued and an industrial economy is more productive in providing
needs to society. The Hmong elders has a
better understanding now that receiving an education should be taken seriously,
because the Hmong people needs role models for the Hmong community. To earn prestige and be valued in America, one
must be educated.
The
Hmong American generation receives their education through American schools
which have a cultural influence on them such as speaking only English. It is not wrong for Hmong Americans to adapt
to American behaviors, because we are not only Hmong but American as well.
Being Americanized does not mean
forgetting our culture. Loving and
respecting your heritage does not mean you have to agree with everything the
Hmong culture consists of. It is a good
thing that Hmong Americas are becoming more Americanized, but as long as their
culture is still valued and preserved.
Kramer,
Joel, [Matt Ehling]. “Celebrating and
reflecting on Hmong history, culture”. Minnpost.
Minnpost. 28 November 2008. Web. February 29, 2012 <http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2008/11/celebrating-and-reflecting-hmong-history-culture>
Thao, Bo, et al. Donald A. Ranard. “The Hmong:
An Introduction to their History and Culture”. The Cultural Orientation Project. 28 July 2004. Web. 16 March 2012. <http://www.cal.org/co/hmong/hlaos.html>
I think you should re-edit this paper because there are some minor places that have grammar errors. Your information is given good though, and one can tell that you strongly care about your heritage which is very good. You give the information in a way that makes the reader want to do more research on this culture.
ReplyDeleteYou can add to this blog by possibly adding another blog about the significance of having the Hmong culture in our country to help diversify our American culture also. You also can speak on how it will benefit your culture if America will take more interest in keeping the Hmong culture characteristics just as important as all of the other cultures. But good job!