Is there a large Hmong population in Wisconsin?

[Orangepeel]

I was playing around Russ Feingold's website (russfeingold.com) and the translation options were "en espanol" and "lus hmoob" -- which, after some googling, I realized was Hmong (well, to be honest, I first thought that it was those gibberish words that are on powerpoint templates).

Good for Feingold for having an unusual option, but I would have thought that French or Norwegian or something would have been more useful (but what do I know? I'm in Florida)

[begin_within]

1. When I visited central Wisconsin, I was told they were moving there.

[stpalm]

2. I live in Western Wisconsin

There is a large Hmong population in the Twin Cities, about 20 minutes away. In addition to that, there is substantial rural Hmong. You might remember last year a Hmong hunter shot about 6 hunters... there was a big rascist backlash.

[Deja Q]

3. And in the TC Metro area too. Along with Indians.

As in "India: The country we're giving our IT stature to before we start whining how we're losing our own stature regarding IT." :crazy:

Are the Hmong related to that Moonie cult crap?

[Archae]

11. A lot here in Sheboygan, too.

At the "Farmer's Market" every Wednesday at Fountain Park, except in winter, most of the farmers and garderners selling produce (which is very good, BTW,) are Hmong.

[no name no slogan]

12. No, the Hmong are a SE Asian ethnic group

who originated in the hills of Laos. They were recruited by the CIA to fight against Indochinese Communists in the 1950s-70s. Most of them became refugees after Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam fell to the Communists in the 1970s, and lived for decades in refugee camps in Thailand-- left high and dry by the US Government, who had promised to take care of them in return for their service.

[undeterred]

4. Yes, both MN and WI have large Hmong populations

I live in Madison where we have community gardens. There are some Hmong who truly "farm" these gardens and grow all their food there and sell what they don't use.

There are more people of German ancestry in WI than Scandinavian or French, but most of them speak English.

[mockmonkey]

5. Many Hmong live here

in Eastern Wisconsin. I think the translation options fit the area well. :)

[Ellipsis]

6. Many thousands...

in the north central part of the state...Wausau, Stevens Point, also a large population in the "Fox Valley". (South of Green Bay)
They are often treated unkindly in conversation by local red necks... who have no understanding of the role they played in Viet Nam.

[Nikia]

7. Yes and they are probably the most discriminated against

Of all the minorities around here. I think that Hmong who grew up around here who speak good English, go to college, and leave behind the Hmong lifestyle can blend in with less discriminated against other Asians. Newer immigrants who do not speak English, live in large families, marry young, are poor, and fit certain stereotypes really have a hard time. At almost every place I worked around here, people in management have made comments about how they don't want to hire Hmongs. I have also heard all kinds of hateful comments from people who live around here. I think that their culture and reasons for being here are misunderstood.

[Arugula Latte]

8. Large?... It's Hmongous!

Sorry, I couldn't resist ...

[Orangepeel]

16. snarf

:rofl:

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. Yes, there is - in a number of cities

Wausau and Eau Claire have large populations, but so do a lot of other communities. Seems mostly that they're in the north of the state.

As to the Norwegian, a generation ago he might have had Norwegian and German on the site, but the people who speak only those languages are long gone, except for just a few very elderly ones.

[no name no slogan]

10. It could be a legal requirement

I work in state government, and we were forced to put eight different language links on our site because of a lawsuit. It was the right thing to do, of course, and were were required to put links up for several languages which are spoken in our state, even if they aren't spoken by that many people (like Serbo-Croation, for example).

[Lydia Leftcoast]

13. Actually, Serbo-Croatian would work for Bosnian refugees

The Serbs, Croatians, and Bosnians all speak the same language.

[no name no slogan]

14. Yup. That's why it's there

but only in the Roman alphabet, which the Croats use. It doesn't seem like we have a big Serb/Croat/Bosnian community here-- not as big as the Hmong or Somalis, anyway.

[Orangepeel]

15. eight languages wouldn't have surprised me

it surprised me that the two languages used were Spanish and Hoomb, which, to be honest, I'd never heard of.

Good for Feingold for reaching out, I was just surprised.

[Orangepeel]

17. thanks, everyone

learn something new everyday

[Magrittes Pipe]

18. Mmmm... Milwaukee pho shops.

:9

[Redstone]

19. Check the NPR website for more info.

They had a segment about this the other day.

Redstone

[Left Is Write]

20. When I lived in Central Wisconsin in the early-mid 90s, there was.

I don't know too many folks who speak Norwegian, and my people ARE Norwegian. :D

[Orangepeel]

21. well, unfortunately, I've never even been to Wisconsin

I just picture a lot of Scandinavian-looking people eating cheese in the snow! :D

Obviously, I need to learn more.

[Left Is Write]

22. You're picturing Minnesota.

Central Wisconsin (I can only speak for where I lived) is a lot of Polish-descended people eating cheese in the snow. ;)