Posted by glarson (Gwen Larson) on January 29, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Further comment about Tyson's announcement that it will lay off 1,500 workers in the Emporia plant.

Posted by sexingthecherry (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

http://sexing-the-cherry.blogspot.com/20...

http://sexing-the-cherry.blogspot.com/20...

Posted by create (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

From your blog, cherry, you speak about the meeting in November "...inviting people to come speak about why they don't want the Somalians to live here."

That is not true at all. That meeting was called by the city in order to disseminate information and to dispell rumors that had been circulating about the Somali community. At no time were people invited to speak about why they didn't want Somalians to live here. What are you trying to pull?

While it is true that some people aired their gripes and made stupid comments, the majority of the people asked informed questions, shared concerns about how services were going to be paid for, attested to their love of Tyson employment, and some even made positive comments about the value of living in a multi-cultural Emporia.

You are pushing all of Emporia into the same mold, and that makes you as judgmental as you accuse the entire town of being? Way to be impartial!!!

Posted by sexingthecherry (anonymous) on February 1, 2008 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I absolutely am not doing that. While at times, my language may seem excessively harsh, the entirety of what I've written is directed at very specific lines of argumentation. I quote people over and over again and respond directly to those particular quotations. I have personal experience with racism in Emporia, and there are many, many things wrong with the town--that is to say, it is not the idyllic place most people claim.

As far as the meeting, from what I am told and from what I have read (since I didn't know about it ahead of time), it was hosted to allow people to "make their concerns known." The very first person to speak was pretty clear about how he felt about the Somali presence in Emporia, as were many other people. Also, just because some people disguised their racist comments as true concern does not make them any less racist.

I am not trying to be impartial. This is very much a subjective issue for me--my family lives in Emporia, I come back there often, and it's where I was born. More over, I am in the minority in very many ways. This is a truly personal issue for me, and I don't want to claim to be objective. If I am judgmental, it is based on real experiences--that's called learning.

Posted by momoftwo (anonymous) on February 1, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

@create - thank you! I just rebutted the same fact on the other blog site! I also kindly asked that they please stop calling Emporia their home town - they won't be missed!

Posted by create (anonymous) on February 1, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm with you, Momoftwo. Imagine writing about that meeting in a "subjective" way after not even being there. Pure baloney!

And by the way, cherry, I've experienced racism myself, but I don't call the entire town bigots. Yes, you are being judgmental and truth be known, your "learning" should have guided you against being that way. You're playing the blame game.

Posted by sexingthecherry (anonymous) on February 1, 2008 at 6:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

So, when you perceive prejudice against you, it's reason enough to insult someone you don't even know. But when the prejudice is directed towards people of color, it's a valid "concern." I understand now.

And that's not racist...how?

Furthermore, there was nothing "kind" about any of the comments left on the blog. Remind me again why Emporia is such a "nice" place?

Posted by admireed (anonymous) on February 1, 2008 at 6:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Leave out the bigots and race baters and Emporia is a nice town

Posted by admireed (anonymous) on February 1, 2008 at 6:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

baiters or (de)baters...either one

Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on February 2, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Worth reading..... especially after some of the other things being posted....

http://www.newenglishreview.org/custpage...

Posted by create (anonymous) on February 2, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And more worthwhile reading from Shelbyville, TN...particularly the comments which follow the article.

http://www.t-g.com/story/1308337.html

Posted by Cherry_Bomb (anonymous) on February 2, 2008 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Governor Says She Had Wrong Info on Tyson
Posted: 4:11 PM Feb 1, 2008
http://www.wibw.com/13newsat6/headlines/...

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said Friday she was given inaccurate information regarding
the massive lay-off at the Emporia Tyson plant. Tyson announced Jan. 25 that it would
end beef slaughter operations at the Emporia facility, cutting 1500 of that plant's 2400 jobs.

**** Sebelius says she was told jobs would be offered within Tyson for all of the employees
who are being laid off. At a Friday news conference, she said she's now learned the offers
will be made to as FEW as 400 workers.

Half of the job offers will be at the Finney County plant.
The rest at Tyson plants in Nebraska and Illinois.

Emporia city leaders, community members and Sen. Sam Brownback were meeting
behind closed doors in Emporia Friday afternoon to talk about the Tyson situation.

Posted by sexingthecherry (anonymous) on February 2, 2008 at 10:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm not sure why I'd want to read a bunch of comments that display a staggering degree of ignorance about the Muslim faith, not to mention complete fabrications. Know what would clear up so many concerns in this whole situation? Facts. Education. Knowledge.

Posted by methusla (anonymous) on February 2, 2008 at 11:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sexingthecherry-If you would have taken the time to educate yourself and learn something about T.B., both latent and active you would not be making stupid, ludicrous statements about something you evidently know nothing about, furthermore if you would bother to look up statistics on T.B. in Kansas you would see that after the refugees came to Emporia the incidence of both latent and active T.B. in Emporia was 5 times higher than in the cities with 3,4,5, even 10 times the population of Emporia and I have a copy of the statistics from the KDHE to prove what I say.
And furthermore according to the CDC and WHO T.B. kills more people world wide than HIV-AIDS.
And just to set you straight on something, I and most all of the other people in Emporia who oppose bringing refugees to Emporia, oppose the way that the whole thing was done in a sneeky, underhanded, behind our back way and done for profit and not because the refugees were Somali, Chinese, or what ever, however I am opposed to bringing refugees to not only Emporia, but to this Country who are sick and diseased without a thorough health screening and quarentine.

Posted by methusla (anonymous) on February 2, 2008 at 11:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Cherry_Bomb-Don't you agree that Tyson pretty much lied and misinformed everone in Emporia, Lyon County and State of Kansas ever-since they took over IBP.
I know I believe they lied and misinformed from the very beginning.

Posted by hottopics (anonymous) on February 3, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Methusla, you said it wonderfully what we all keep reiterating. Refugees were snuck in here and dumped on us for someone elses financial gain and became our problem. Tyson then turns around and dumps on our community.

I wonder what western Kansas is going to say, think or do when they show up on their door step?

Posted by sexingthecherry (anonymous) on February 3, 2008 at 7:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Re: TB--

As is the case with most scare tactics, an element of truth gives ostensible credence to this fear. It is true that 160 Somalians have been diagnosed with latent TB. However, every single Somalian refugee was funneled through the local health center, screened, and treated. If handled improperly--say, the refugees had never been the health center--the influx of Somalians would still not be problematic. The tuberculosis is latent, and apparently some people can't figure out what that word means. The fear arises from a fundamental ignorance of science and an unwillingness to become educated about the real facts of the situation. Emphasis added.

"Kansas usually has about 3,000 cases of latent tuberculosis a year. "Latent" means the disease isn't contagious and responds to medication. Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that most commonly attacks the lungs. In its active state it is communicable and deadly."

Latent TB occurs naturally in Kansas already. Three thousand cases a year is a rate that is more than 1800% more than what we've seen with the Somalian folks, and yet, nobody knows about this statistic or speaks of it. They would have to admit that, in debate-speak, the impact of an epidemic is empirically denied. That is, if 160 people with latent TB was sufficient to cause an epidemic, we would see 18 or 19 outbreaks of active TB every year. Additionally, there are only 2 people in Kansas whose active TB is being monitored, and only one of those is Somalian.

Also, I'm not sure that the Somalians are to blame for the fact that they aren't fortunate enough to have access to complete immunizations and Western standards of health care in Somalia where a civil war is raging. Hell, there are parents in the states who won't even allow their children to receive immunizations--where is the public outrage about those people? Or about the Christian Scientists, among others, who do not believe in any modern health care whatsoever? The Somalians do not oppose doing everything they can to be healthy, so what is the problem? Parents who oppose immunizations or breastfeeding are doing more to undermine public health and safety than immigrants seeking a better life for themselves.

http://cjonline.com/stories/112507/kan_2...

Posted by methusla (anonymous) on February 3, 2008 at 10:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sexingthecherry-I do know what latent T.B. means and I also know that if it is not treated with medication for up to a year that the latent T.B. can become active and pose a threat.
Therefore if a refugee, any refugee has latent T.B. and does not care to take medication or refuses to be medicated or just wanders from area to area and does not get treatment for latent T.B.,the latent T.B. he or she is infected with can become active T.B.. Therefore by your own way of thinking that would be o.k. for there to be a potential T.B. epidemic, because a refugee, any refugee who has latent T.B. and doesn't want or refuses to have the latent T.B. treated and becomes a carrier of active T.B. disease can just rome about and spread the disease any disease as they wish, is that the crux of your argument ?
If thats your argument then it is a lame one.
Furthermore I do not blame any people who live in a Third World Country for not being immunized or treated nor do I blame them for not having the as you put it "Western standards of health care". What I do blame them for is not having the the spirit or will to fight to make their own country better and a better life for themselves by fighting to make their own country a better place in which to live.
After-all, all or most of us in this country fight every day to keep the U.S. a free country and possibly a better country.
Also most of us in the U.S. know that nothing is accomplished or earned without some overriding cost, in other words nothing is given absolutely freely, without cost of some kind, part of the cost is if you are going to settle in a country other than your own country, you will have to abide by that countrys' laws, learn to speak that countrys' language
etc.,etc., etc. and not expect that countrys' citizens to welcome you with open arms when refugees are costing that countrys' citizen taxpayers billions of dollars and jobs by allowing uncontrolled admittance of refugees into the country.

Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on February 3, 2008 at 10:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Cherry, to clear up some of the "staggering degree of ignorance about the Muslim faith," and "complete fabrications", in addition to the book mentioned in the comments "Why They Hate", might I suggest some more reading, such as "Infidel", by a Somalian (formerly Muslim) woman, or read up on Syrian-born Wafa Sultan has to say at
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/sto...

As I've said before - someday soon things are going to have to change, and the change has got to come from Within Islam itself. The world cannot continue down this path indefinitely.

Posted by smith_ron (anonymous) on February 4, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Here's what Western Kansas has to say, from Garden City Assistant City Manager Matt Allen: "We've kind of got it down over the years. This community kind of takes pride in being able to handle people of all walks of life," as quoted in the Wichita Eagle.
Too bad Emporia can't say the same thing.

Posted by hottopics (anonymous) on February 4, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Taking pride in all walks of life is what Emporia has done for years. You can look all around and see it. Race and Religion that everyone has respected. What Emporia didn't do was prepare anyone for what seemed like a "take over" of the community. There was no one to "settle" in the new walks of life in our small town. Not to mention the new walks of life didnt want to mesh with the rest of us and blend in. At least that is sure how it appeared to the citizens of Emporia.

Posted by create (anonymous) on February 4, 2008 at 5:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That piece from Australian News is a worrisome read, Open_eyes, but a good find nonetheless.

Cherry, had you been at that November meeting, you would have heard the health department nurse explain that latent TB, while not contagious, does need to be treated with DAILY medication because if it is not, it will become active. BTW, the Somalians haven't been here long enough to be counted in your statistics of who has become active and who hasn't.

So, now that the Somalians with latent TB are leaving Emporia, does that mean they won't be taking their medication? How long before they check in to the next health department, if at all? The medication is meant to be taken daily, and patients go to the health department where it is administered in order to make certain that they do indeed take it.

Posted by sexingthecherry (anonymous) on February 4, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If the Somalians are being monitored by the health department and have to meet basic standards of healthiness, why would they NOT be getting medicated? You must prove that they are not taking the medication before your concerns are seen as anything more than fear-mongering. Cite your sources.

Also, to clear up issues on Islam, you could also read, you know...the Q'uran. Which advocated NONE of the things discussed on that site. Muslim people are extraordinarily clean because they MUST be--Islam forbids people from touching the holy book or pray unless they are clean everywhere. So I imagine hand-washing is also pretty important, to say the least.

Posted by create (anonymous) on February 4, 2008 at 6:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I didn't formally CITE a source, Cherrysex, but I did mention the health department nurse was at the November meeting and she explained it. You had to be there to hear it.

Hand washing??? The Q'uran doesn't advocate blowing up innocent people with suicide bombers or flyling planes into buildings either!

Posted by sexingthecherry (anonymous) on February 4, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Precisely. Which is why terrorism is NOT an Islamic ideal, and CLEANLINESS is.

Oh, and the November meeting? You mean:

"Another young woman who did not identify herself asked why the refugees had not been quarantined for 8 or 9 months “before you brought them here.”

“I really can’t answer that because I did not bring them here,” Hively answered.

Weitkamp had told the audience that the refugees in Emporia were the result of a secondary migration and came here on their own before Catholic Charities was awarded the contract to assist them.

Hively said in response to another woman’s question that there is a 5 percent chance that a latent case of tuberculosis would become active without treatment.

She explained that when the body’s immune system is exposed to any kind of germ, the immune system encapsulates the germ with a hard shell around it. If the immune system is weakened, the likelihood of the shell breaking down increases.

The nine months of treatment for latent TB kills the disease, though there is no guarantee.

Hively said that in talking with the Somali community leaders, word has gotten out about the importance of tests and treatment when necessary.

“I think we’ve seen a dramatic increase in compliance,” she said.

Marsh pointed out, when questioned about more exotic diseases like monkey pox and ebola, that the ease of traveling from one country to another, and the increased numbers of people traveling, opens opportunities for other contagious diseases to spread.

Hively reiterated that TB is spread through the air and requires close, prolonged contact with a person who has an active case of the disease. In response to another question, she said that TB cannot be spread by handling meat."

So, there was a mandatory quarantine period. Where refugees got the treatment. Meaning their "nomadic" nature becomes irrelevant. Especially given the "DRAMATIC INCREASE IN COMPLIANCE." I'm pretty sure that the Gazette reporter WAS in attendance at the meeting.

PS - That's from "Clearing the Air," in the Emporia Gazette.

Posted by hottopics (anonymous) on February 4, 2008 at 11:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It only takes "one" to another........thats how a disease is spread in the first place. Colds, flu, chicken pox, etc starts from only ONE, then two and so on.

Posted by sexingthecherry (anonymous) on February 5, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

So let's talk about how disgusting EVERY PERSON ALIVE is. Everyone at Tyson has had a cold or the flu or chicken pox at some time. If your issue is ANY communicable illness, then take issues with every single person, and not just with the Somalians, since LATENT TB is not communicable.

Funny how we cite the nurse until she proves you wrong.

Posted by create (anonymous) on February 5, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Hively said in response to another woman’s question that there is a 5 percent chance that a latent case of tuberculosis would become active without treatment."

5 percent is 5 percent. Remember too that there was one death at Tyson when a man injured in a plant accident was discovered by the coroner to have an active case of TB.

I'm glad you read the article, "Clearing the Air." It should have indicated that the meeting was arranged by the city to do exactly that, clear the air, and not invite people to make claims against the Somalians.

Posted by methusla (anonymous) on February 5, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

As far as the powers that be in Garden City bragging about how they have got it down over the years, I kind of doubt that they have had an influx of refugees who are arrogant, can't drive worth a hoot, who are disease carriers and by whose own religious teachings believe they don't have to abide by any law except the law of Islam. Also after such refugees have been in Garden City for awhile and the citizen taxpayers all of a sudden discover that more refugees have been forced upon them than they were origionally told would be comming to their community, by some corporation, charity organization and yes even their greedy local city officials and that these new so called citizens of Garden City are and will obtain social services that the taxpayers of Garden City will pay for with higher taxes etc.. After all that happens, then lets see if Garden Citys' local officials still have the arrogance that they have now.

Posted by methusla (anonymous) on February 5, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sexingthecherry-You can't possibly believe that you can lump illness such as a cold, flu, chickenpox, measles, mumps, etc. into the same catagory as T.B..
That is like comparing apples and oranges, they are not the same thing.
Further-more you in comparing a cold, flu, chickenpox, etc. to T.B. which is one of the worlds #1 killers shows me exactly how intelligent you really are.

Posted by hottopics (anonymous) on February 5, 2008 at 11:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Cherry" didnt understand what I was trying to say that it only takes ONE person with a disease to spread it. Colds and flus we get and get over but TB isnt. So your apparent lack of comprehension on the point we are trying to get across shows in your replies as well as your choice for a forum name which I find ridiculous. I dont think you obviously want to be taken seriously on the matters.

Posted by sexingthecherry (anonymous) on February 6, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Actually, I opposed lumping those illnesses together, and I was not the one to do so--it was hottopics. My argument was, IF we were talking about the spread of the diseases that the person brought up, then the comparison falls flat because other illnesses (eg the flu) spread much more readily than LATENT TB. MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS say that latent TB won't be spread, since the Somalians have been treated. I'm more willing to trust their opinions than those of laypeople.

Also, that 5% is if treatment does not occur. The refugees were quarantined for the obligatory treatment period, so there is no risk. Furthermore, their health continues to be monitored so that any change in their condition would be caught quickly.

PS - It's really neat how the lack of a substantive argument means you resort to personal attacks.

Posted by olddog (anonymous) on February 6, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If there is nothing to worry about then why is it when you see the Somolians at the local hospital they are all wearing masks? Do they do this by choice or do you are they instructed to do so by hospital staff?

I have a friend who was in the emergency room and they said everytime a Somolian walked in the staff had them put on a blue mask covering their nose and mouth. There must have been a reason for this.

Posted by momoftwo (anonymous) on February 6, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let's take a break from the discussions regarding the Somalians. Tyson just sent a press release regarding their restructuring plan. Seems they were a little off on their numbers. I feel for those workers at the plant - what a roller coaster ride they're being taken on...
www.tyson.com/corporate/pressroom

Posted by momoftwo (anonymous) on February 6, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My bad - didn't post the entire link. Hopefully this will work better.
http://www.tyson.com/Corporate/PressRoom...

Posted by olddog (anonymous) on February 7, 2008 at 9:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And further nore just because they recieve a medical plan for Latent TB or medication doesnt mean they are takin it. Like someone said on a different post , how many throw their medication away when they walk out the door! They may or not be taking the medication!!

Posted by olddog (anonymous) on February 7, 2008 at 9:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sorry posted this on the wrong link ....

Posted by hottopics (anonymous) on February 8, 2008 at 12:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As I said before.....It only takes ONE to spread a disease. I dont care what it is. That is why they continue to be active and spread. TB is a serious disease. The rest we do get over but yet they still spread. It doesnt take a genious to figure out that we are at risk!!!

We can agree to disagree as we have that right in America. We will never completely be able to get people to see the big picture. But we cant stop trying to protect our families. Protect from any harm that comes before us. That means that Somalis DO present a risk to us because of the unknown health of each of them. Its just plain common sense and not rocket science.

Posted by sexingthecherry (anonymous) on February 12, 2008 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'd think I'll do a better job protecting my family by educating them. I hardly see how racism and ignorance serves a protective purpose.

Posted by sexingthecherry (anonymous) on February 12, 2008 at 3:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think I'll do a better job protecting my family by educating them. I hardly see how racism and ignorance serves a protective purpose.

Your problem is that you see this issue as black/white, in more than one way. It's neither common sense nor rocket science, but it does take more of an effort than what you appear to be putting forth to understand.