Back in elementary school in the 1980s, when I first arrived here from the refugee camps, I remember being bullied and called "chink" and "gook" on a regular basis. Out of their fear of the unknown, other kids would tell me to go back to my country. Sometimes, I even got beat up for being different. I would never wish this experience upon anyone. Luckily, through a strong family foundation and support, these experiences have made me a stronger person and a prouder American, especially when I reflect on how far we have come from those days. Today, I have forgiven those racist bullies who wronged me and my family as we made our transition into American life. I continue to pray for them as I hope they have come to understand that their deep-seated hatred for me was more a reflection of what they saw in themselves.
Lately, though, I feel that my faith in America's great promise is being called into question again by the recent hate and animosity in our political climate. I respect the difference of political opinions and ideologies and policies that various candidates are putting forth to better our country. At my core, I believe diversity is our strength. I do my best to practice this in every area of my life. I have also dedicated my life to being an advocate against violence in all its forms, whether it is violence on women, or children, or toward a particular religious, ethnic, gender or racial group. My definition of violence also includes bullying, racism, sexism, gender-based violence, etc.
Recently, I've been hearing about firsthand accounts of random acts of violence, harassment and bullying that trouble me.
March 1: During Minnesota's caucus night, a friend of mine, Kong Her of St. Paul, was assisting a group of elderly Hmong voters find their rooms for precinct voting. As an elderly white man and his wife walked past Kong, the man said (with the addition of an expletive): "What is this? Hanoi?"
To which Kong replied: "No, it's St. Paul, Minnesota. Welcome to the new face of America."
March 4: A Hmong sister, Manda Vang, wrote that "the most racist and hurtful thing" had happened to her. While she was walking in Wal-Mart, a white person looked at her and said, "When Trump becomes president, you and your family are going back to wherever you Chinese came from." To which she responded: "I'm sorry, lady, but I am an American citizen. I was born in the United States with legal documents. Before you start going off at other races, please know that all Asians are not Chinese. I am not offended by your words but hurt."
March 6: A white Milwaukee resident, Daniel Popp, shot and killed three neighbors in his apartment complex: Jesus Manso-Perez from Puerto Rico, and a Hmong-American couple in their 30s — Phia Vue and Mai Vue.
As reported by Milwaukee's WISN-TV, the criminal complaint said Manso-Perez's son told police that he and his father were going downstairs to the laundry area when Popp came out of his apartment and asked where they were from. Manso-Perez said, "Puerto Rico." Popp replied, "Oh, that's why you don't speak English. You're Puerto Rican." As the father and son were walking back upstairs to their apartment, Popp came out of his apartment again, this time with a gun, and said, "You guys got to go."
