Emporia may become a major settling point for refugees within the next several years, and a diverse committee of local, state and private leaders is working to prepare for the next step.
Details to expand on plans for a $104,495 grant were given during a meeting of the Emporia Refugee Resettlement Alliance Friday morning at the Ayan Restaurant. The grant recently was announced by the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.
The grant, awarded to Catholic Community Services, comes through SRS from the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Stephen Weitkamp of Catholic Community Services spoke to the group about a Somali registration session held two weeks ago, as well as CCS plans to open and operate an office to serve the needs of the community, including Somalis and Emporians alike.
Weitkamp is director of refugee and migrant services for CCS, a branch of Catholic Community Charities in Kansas City, Kan.
Weitkamp estimated that about 400 Somali refugees work at Tyson; with families and others included, the total Somali population here is estimated between 750 to 1,000. He was in Emporia two weeks ago to help register refugees and help them find the services needed.
“It was, in a way, almost overwhelming ... and yet another opportunity for me to be humbled,” Weitkamp said of the registration. “I got a sense of the potential impact of this (Somali) community on a town the size of Emporia.”
Weitkamp said that many Somali women were among those registered, and most of them were working within time constraints in order to go to work on the second shift at Tyson.
“To me, it explodes stereotypes that I think a lot of Americans have about Muslim women in general,” Weitkamp said.
Weitkamp said he expects Emporia to become home to a “pretty substantial community” of refugees. The refugees can maintain that status for five years; they can become permanent resident aliens in one year and, with an unusual amount of effort, can become citizens in five years.
CCS plans to use much of the grant to open an office in Emporia that will help Somalis find the variety of services they may need, he said. It will have a full-time office manager who Weitkamp anticipates will be Somali, fluent in English and willing to work weekends and evenings as needed. A full-time outreach worker and a part-time outreach worker will complete the office work force. They will act as referral agents to direct Somalis to services for which they are eligible and a clearinghouse for information.
“We’re counting on Emporia Refugee Resettlement Alliance to continue, and Catholic Charities will be just another element,” Weitkamp said. “We will have a daily presence here. The Somali community will be part of establishing and setting it up.”
Those involved will actively seek out as many collaborations as possible, he said, such as child care, driver education “and whatever else the community tells us is needed.” Workers will help Somalis apply for benefits, missing documents, continuing education, affidavits of relationships to bring relatives to America, counseling assistance and other day-to-day hurdles the refugees encounter.
Office space will need to be large enough to allow trainings, meetings, and offices for staff, who will be paid about $10 per hour for outreach workers and about $12 per hour for the office manager.
“I understand that is not competitive with Tyson, but that’s all right with me,” he said, mentioning that employees for non-profit organizations accept that disparity. “That person is really not on the clock. Everybody in the community will know their phone number.”
That news cheered Fardusa Council, community liaison for Tyson, and ERRA members laughed when she responded, “Hurry up and bring ’em so I can shut off my phone.”
Weitkamp noted that it will be important to gain input from the Somali community and to hire a Somali to be office manager, and in the other positions, if possible.
“I definitely want the input from the Somali community,” he said of the hiring process. “It’s so easy for an outsider to make a mistake, and I would be that outsider.”
Council agreed, saying that Somalis have difficulties meeting new people, no matter what their ethnicity; someone from the local Somali community would put them at ease. Otherwise, they likely would want an intermediary to talk with workers in the office that would be established, and that would add to her already heavy workload.
“They would come to me and ask me to take them to that person,” she said.
Weitkamp said that in the future, he expects Emporia to be developed as a refugee center.
“I expect that there will be direct re-settlement here,” he said. “If re-settlement starts here, that will expand our role. ... I also see at some point the office here could possibly become cut loose from us and become an office on its own, applying for funding.”
If the numbers of refugees increase, it is possible the local office would apply to Washington to become a suboffice.
Weitkamp said that representatives of Tyson’s home office had approached him about refugees from Burma (now Myanmar) coming to this area.
“The nature of the program is such that over time we’re going to see” more diverse refugee populations, said Lewis Kimsey, state coordinator for refugee services.
Kimsey said that an additional SRS position has been created for Emporia to help deal with Somali refugees.
Kimsey added that it is important to get an accurate count of Somalis in Emporia, to be able to obtain federal monies on the scale they are needed. He expects more money and additional staff after that count is completed.
“The biggest thing that’s going to sell it is activity here,” he said.
Weitkamp expects to set up another registration day for Somalis on Nov. 11 or 18.
The ERRA also received the written report from the Spring Institute, which was in Emporia twice during the past year to present programs about refugees and monitor what the local community has done to work with the refugees.
“Many of the recommendations in here from the Spring Institute this organization has already accomplished,” said Renee Hively, public health manager for the Flint Hills Community Health Center. “... But really, it’s going to be up to the community to decide what’s next, where we need to go.”
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Posted by pizza (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Doesn't anybody, except greenday, see what a stupid, idiotic thing this is? Many folks have worked lifetimes to build homes, businesses, and dreams here and now are allowng the whole thing to be turned into a huge, welfare supported slum. I'll never, ever understand.....
Posted by Observer (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well posted!!!
It is the ultimate irony that they are so concerned with the image of Emporia, that they hold meetings with sports "musac" wafting gently in the background, and yet to feed from the Federal "trough" the powers-that-be will gleefully turn Athens of the Plains into a refugee camp.
Its about Federal $$$$$$$'s.
Tyson gladly builds a prayer room to facilitate veneration towards Mecca 5-times a day.
Owning the trailer court, will we see the trailers removed and a new Mosque with Minarets adjacent?
The gentile fragrance of Tyson wafts winsomly through Emporia's western air. Will the stench of cultural accommodation continue to overpower governmental sensibilities?
Posted by jasper007 (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Another reason to move from this FINE community. "Come on in.Take OUR jobs, use OUR Health Department." I guess my next step is to stop buying TYSON products!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by jasper007 (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Another reason to move from this FINE community. "Come on in.Take OUR jobs, use OUR Health Department. Drive OUR streets without licenses, no insurance, etc. I guess my next step is to stop buying TYSON products!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by name1 (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 12:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How selfish. It seems hypocritical to say these things, when I am sure most of our (previous commenters and myself) ancestors migrated also. Maybe you should stay in a refugee camp and see what your opinion would be. Instead of just complaining, do something about it.
Posted by madpoet (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel bad for the conditions the refugees have in their own countries. But we'd still be an English colony if our ancestors hadn't said "ENOUGH!" and fought back. I think we'd be better off training and supporting people to take back their own countries. I'd rather see our troops doing that than mucking around in Iraq. Not like we don't have local soldiers in Kosovo right now! I wish we could find a happy medium where we could meet everyone's needs but don't see how. I worry about the disease factor of the refugees more than anything. TB and whooping cough are making a big comeback in the US due to 3rd world refugees. It's a thorny problem with no clear solution.
Posted by Observer (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
name1:
"How selfish. It seems hypocritical to say these things, when I am sure most of our (previous commenters and myself) ancestors migrated also. Maybe you should stay in a refugee camp and see what your opinion would be. Instead of just complaining, do something about it."
1) Our ancestors immigrated to this country, worked hard and assimilated as an intricate segment of the adoptive community.
2) The Somalis are government supported, and tax subsidized to Tyson. Rather than seeking to assimilate and adapt to our culture they demand cultural accommodation from the surrounding community.
The Sons and Daughters of Ishmael stride aggressively down the aisles of our local Walmart. Beware the gray-haired matron who gets in their way, and gets bumped from behind.
Beware the multiple Somali men who use one drivers license, and woe to the driver which shares the lane with those who deign to operate with ignorance of local traffic laws.
Beware of the female dancer who returns to a local motel room to be beaten and raped by multiple Somali men.
Beware of the single woman in the Lawrence apartment complex who was raped in the hallway by a Somali male.
The aura of a refugee camp already begins to hang heavy over those unfortunate enough to share neighborhoods, with the government sponsored interlopers. Not everyone can afford to relocate to the upper-crust enclaves of NW Emporia.
The Emporia elite has always dwelt safely in the northern areas, and as the "blight" of the working poor has encroached northward beyond Twelth avenue, the urban elite sought insulation with the Water Treatment plant and I-35.
Do a search in regards to Sudden Jihad Syndrome, and one can "appreciate" the government turning Emporia into a major Islamic refugee center. We are truly becoming a refugee center, but it becomes desperate for those seeking refuge from cultural accommodation and compromise.
Posted by Observer (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 2:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sudden Jihad Syndrome:
http://www.danielpipes.org/article/3835
Perhaps one should remember the faces of those who stripped our dead sons and drug them through the streets of Somalia.
A drug resistant strain of TB coupled with HIV is sweeping-through sub-Sahara Africa.
In regards to Somalia:
http://www.unaids.org/en/Regions_Countri...
"Limited data indicate a significant TB-HIV coinfection problem. Although a second generation surveillance plan has just been put in place, little data exist on young people, internally displaced persons, returnees, refugees and other mobile populations."
Posted by so_sick_of_tyson (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Now it's just getting absolutely ridiculous for my (ours) tax dollars spent on improving the welfare of immigrants when they obviously do not care to conform to our policies and our culture as American citiziens. I know everyone argues about how this country was built on immigrants and that being true but those "immigrants" worked their asses off and learned ENGLISH and adapted to OUR country. All I see us doing within the last few years is having to conform to not only one but two different cultures and neither being ENGLISH or AMERICAN...My ancestors came from Europe and they worked THEIR asses off and learned ENGLISH and American cultures not vice versa.....If you have not had the pleasure of running into a Somalian then you really should do so, just for the practice because I see Emporia becoming a haven for them and it saddens and disgusts me beyond repair. These immigrants or refugees, what exactly do we call them?? Anywho, they refuse to adapt to our culture and practices and they damn sure aren't learning English and are RUDE as I have never seen rude before. I have no desire to co-habitate with these people and certainly have no desire to pay for their welfare when there are plenty of Emporians who need our tax dollars not a bunch of ignorant, rude, dirty, TB and HIV or perhaps maybe even AIDS stricken individuals who cannot drive to save their ASSES and when do we stop paying for everyone else and start helping OUR OWN!!!! I am completely fed up and although Tyson foods may be abundant at your local grocery store I am gladly purchasing any product that is NOT Tyson....
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
its interesting that emporia has taken the slumlord situation seriously in time for the refugees who will live on federal money and will need housing that meets those standards. how about the man who has been homeless in emporia for years, sleeps under bushes, isnt allowed to fill out paperwork for hud housing, lives on the cans he digs out of dumpsters and will do this for the next couple years until he is old enough to collect his social security. what im saying is shouldnt we help our own before we help everyone else. i know these people are leaving a bad situation, but, emproria?, come on, if we are low on jobs here, should someone else be given the jobs that locals could have?
Posted by Observer (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
One wonders which Somalia warlord these people were allied with back in the days of the UN fiasco.
Warlords ruled the country.
It was followers of a warlord who hijacked UN supplies.
It was followers of a warlord who viscerated UN Pakistani troops, searching for weapons at a radio station.
I was followers of a warlord who brought-down a Blackhawk helicopter and stripped and drug the soldiers through the streets.
There are 700-1000 in residence in Emporia, at the moment.
Yet the quote declares that Emporia MAY BECOME a major settling point for Somalis. It means that not yet is it major.
Quote:
"Emporia may become a major settling point for refugees within the next several years, and a diverse committee of local, state and private leaders is working to prepare for the next step."
How many more do they expect? 100, 1000, 5000, 10000?
How many of these have swung a bloody machete?
How many have hijacked food suppiles for starving people?
Are they here because their warlord was overthrown, and they cannot rebuild their land for fear of retribution?
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 4:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have been posting just one "thread" over, for a week, about the Image of Emporia...and how I love Emporia and the people,after moving here a few months ago.
I went to the meeting last Tuesday night, and, I have been encouraged by the response of some of the community wanting to focus on our image...and get a new slogan, and beautify the town.
To the person that told me that the "smell from Tyson" was the "smell of money"....I guess you're right.... I thought I couldn't dislike Tyson any more until today...but, I found out today that I can.
Weitkamp says he was "overwhelmed" when he got the sense of the potential impact of the Somali community in a town the size of Emporia....and he expects Emporia to become the home to a pretty substantial coummunity of refugess.....
while a diverse committee of local, state and "private" leaders are working to prepare for the REFUGEE CAMP!
Excuse me!!!....What the hell did we have a meeting for on Tuesday night? To improve the image?....to find a way to make Emporia GROW?.....There has been discussion on the Image thread of a new "slogan".....
Well, it has already been made....."EMPORIA, THE REFUGEE CENTER OF AMERICA."....
I guess that's going to encourage those Baby Boomers we have been talking about to want to come to Emporia....
Does anyone realize we are competeing with hundreds (if not thousands) of small communities in America to entice the Baby Boomers and businesses (big and small) to settle in our community?......
I came here because I saw a beautiful town..nice people, and a good real estate market....My husband and I have been doing home improvements ,and planning for our retirement years here.
If I ever had any doubts about it...it's today.
Before you accuse me of anything like racism, or not caring for 3rd world countries...Don't bother. You don't know me. But, do know this....If I wanted to live in a 3rd world country, I would have moved to one,on purpose.
Please, please, someone convince me that I have not made the biggest mistake of my life by moving here.....and, convince me that I should encourage my friends, who are looking into retirement, that Emporia has more to offer than Tyson, and a Refugee Camp.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Will there be any religious requirements or considerations made of applicants since this is a grant for the Catholic Community Services?
The article says the the CCS is "...to open and operate an office to serve the needs of the community, including Somalis and Emporians alike." However, most of the entire article speaks of Somalis. How exactly are the other members of the community to be served?
Who are the "local leaders"? When exactly are these meetings? If public monies are involved, why was the public not informed of the meeting time and place beforehand?
People are jumping up and down, and it is understandable especially since we are not being fully informed.
I agree with the concept that our own ancestors came here from other areas of the world, but that they did indeed assimilate immediately and made no demands on the local culture. My own people did everything they could to learn English and even refused to speak anything but English once they learned it because they wanted so much to fit in. I don't see that sort of thing happening with the newest immigrants. That alone makes it troubling.
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
im sure the city has some financial incentives involved, increased federal money for making emporia a refugee camp, increased money to accomidate the agencies that will see a jump in a demand for their services, sos, health department, srs, and how are the schools going to accomidate a third language in the schools? the public schools are losing their quality as it is, how is this going to affect the education of emporias kids? also, when poverty goes up so does the number of kids in foster care, when a lack of money in a home causes a kid to go without things, they are taken out of the home more swiftly than the ones that are neglected because the parents are too lazy to take care of them, is this why kcsl moved an office here?
Posted by Kansan (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 7:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Will someone please tell me why we are spending $70,000 to hire an image consultant? Shouldn't be too hard to figure out how to improve that image! Emporia as a refugee center.....now that ought to portray the image of a town that would bring in high-paying jobs and retirees! NOT!!!!
Posted by equality (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It saddens me the insensitivity of people who have chosen to write in. I see it as an "all about me" society, never thinking beyond what you need. If you are a Native American, than you do have the right to complain as this was a county that was robbed from the Native Americans, if you are from any other country, you really have no right to complain.
If those of you complaining the loudest would actually take the time to get to know another culture, you may find that you have much more in common.
It is also my feeling that most of the derogatory comments are coming from mostly people who lack education and could use a little cultural sensitivity trainning. I am sure given the area that you all live in, it is highly unlikely to happen, thank God I do not live there with this angry, closed minded group.
I support all of those who are couragous enough to make a change and move to a completly different county! Good luck to all of the immigrants, stay strong.
Posted by Kansan (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Equality
You're just like all those who preach compassion and seem to know what's best for everybody else ....as long as it's not you who has to pay the taxes to support the extra burden placed on your health care facilities, schools, and police force in your community. It reminds me of the politicians in Washington D.C. that choose to send their kids to private schools, but the public schools are fine for everybody else. Would you want to send your kids to school with those who come from a community where more than half of the population is infected with TB (an airborne illness) or have your kids biking down the street where people are driving that don't have proper driving instruction and understand English street signs?
Posted by reservist (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 10:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I spent 2 years in Iraq. I like to say I did something for this country. All the guys I served with over seas are all upset about the Somolians being allowed to come here. A few years ago American Service men were dragged through the streets of Somolia during a humanitrian effort. Few months back AC 130 gun ships fired on terrorist camps in Somolia. Makes perfect sense to bring people to this country that may have fought against us at one time. Makes me feel safer at night knowing my country is doing what it takes to make America safe against terrorist. I have been in combat with Islamic people, and I get nervous around the Somolians. I want them out. Makes me sick to think the goverment would spit on its vets like they do. Makes me feel like I wasted my time in the service. Somolians are just ghost consumers, raising our taxes. I see alot of Emporians who are on welfare. I think we need to worry about getting Americans jobs before we bring others here to work. So what if Tyson goes out of business. Its just a smelly eye sore. Other companies look at Emporia see Tyson and move on. Most of Tysons skilled labor has quit them anyway. If the Somolians dont go I know I will. Im afraid Ill catch something from the Tyson meat products anyway. I found out its cheaper to buy a steer and have the Olpe meat locker process it than to go to the store and buy the same amout. I used to see Emporia as a nice place to live and never had any intention to move away. Now I do. Emporia and Lyon county residents pay some of the highest taxes in KS. The city tries to beautify the city with clocks and trees. Would work but now I guess its more stuff for Somolian drivers to run into. Americans had to fight and still fight for our freedom. Maybe refugees should do the same. America is the home of the brave, not cowards who are to afraid to take a stand. Imagine if how you would feel if Iraqis or Afghanis started pouring into Emporia tomorrow.
Posted by rami (anonymous) on November 3, 2007 at 11:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is ridiculous! The unemployment rate in Emporia is going to hit an all time high within the next few years and do you know who will suffer? The people who were born and raised in this town, that's who!
These Somalians have no concern for the safety of others....I have seen a car accident that involved Somalians and the driver was actually LAUGHING about it! Thankfully no one was injured!
I have had a few encounters with Somalians..men and women, and they are rude! I don't know how anyone is supposed to happily welcome them to our "wonderful" community when they CLEARLY have no respect for us!!!
This whole situation is wrong on more than one level!!!
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 12:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
equality: To make a blanket statement that brands all people who disagree with your point of view as "lacking education" speaks Volumes about your own intelligence. Or lack of, specifically. You said you do not live here. Then what gives you the right to tell other people how to run their own community? Apparently, you don't have to put up with the problems they do, and you haven't had to experience what they go through, but somehow you know better, right? I counted 3 misspellings in your post, but I'm not going to accuse you of "lacking education" just because your opinion doesn't agree with mine. That would make me ignorant.
Posted by citizenT (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Emporia may become a major settling point for refugees within the next several years."
This comment has really caused me to take pause and think hard. I have felt like I have worked hard throughout my life to work on underlying prejudices that I may have and tried to overcome them. I am nearing the completion of a master's degree, so I don't consider myself uneducated.
I was one of those people that moved away because I didn't perceive Emporia as having enough to offer me when I graduated. After being gone for a period of time, and having children, I decided that Emporia was the type of community I wanted to raise my children in so I returned. I have spent the last 15 years working, paying my taxes, being involved with the youth of Emporia, and am actually a leader in my business on cultural sensitivy training.
I feel like I need some clarification on the above quote. Exactly how big is major? Who made these decisions? Is one company dictating Emporia's future for all of us?
My family recently purchased a house that we considered to be our final residence. We chose Emporia because we liked the community even with the lumps and bumps that it has. However, I don't think I want to live in an area that is a refugee resettlement center. I don't think it has anything to do with where they come from, simply that it will involve major lifestyle changes on their part that will take time before they acculturate to our society. I'm not going to put my house on the market tomorrow because I want to hear more answers to all of the questions and comments listed here, but I won't say any longer that this will be my final residence. I may have to look again to find the kind of community that wants to consider the needs of it's residents rather than cater to one of the only surviving big businesses in it's town.
Posted by Observer (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Any bets that we will soon have an editorial from Patrick Kelley or another "sage" journalist, seeking the mantle of WAW, solidly affirming Equality's liberal position?
They will reiterate the prevalent academic indoctrination, that America is a "fruit salad", not a "melting pot", and we must have tolerance and understanding of all cultures and races. It is the despised ethnocentrism and xenophobia which sparks such racism against the poor Somalis.
The deep and abiding concern does not arise from isolationism nor from cultural paranoia. The reality is that rather than seeking to elevate the socio-economic stratification of Emporia, the powers- which-be have sought to facilitate the dwindling Tyson workforce with subsidized labor.
WAW referenced Emporia as the Athens of the Plains. Do we seek to rise to ever higher levels of academic/economic excellence, or to inundate our populace with an massive influx from the lowest levels of society.
The transition from mud floors to indoor plumbing may be miraculous to the Somali Refugee, but it is detrimental to the safety and well-being of the general population.
Secret meetings behind closed doors. No potential numbers of refugees. The first wave received by the US was 12000 Somalis in 1999. There are potentially hundreds of thousands needing asylum, camping-out in Kenya and other countries such as Yemen.
Do the aristocrats from NW Emporia desire to grow Emporia's population to 40,000, 50,000, 75,000?
Posted by Observer (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.photius.com/countries/somalia...
With the flight of Siad Barre and consequent fall of his government in late January 1991, significant population shifts occurred. According to sketchy UNHCR reports, there were more than 50,000 Somali refugees in various camps in Mombasa, Kenya. These were mainly Daarood who had fled as a result of Hawiye clan-family assaults on them when the state disintegrated and the Daarood residents of Mogadishu became the objects of revenge killings. Another 150,000 were scattered in the North Eastern Province of Kenya, especially in and around the border town of Liboi and slightly farther inland. Other thousands had fled to eastern Ethiopia, where the UNHCR stated it was feeding more than 400,000 ethnic Somalis. Many others were dispersed throughout the border areas.
Will Emporia become a major population center in Kansas, as it becomes THE MAJOR refugee center?
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
reservist...
First...I want to thank you for your service to our Country. I wish your post could be put on the front page of the Gazette.
Equality...Don't try to insult the intelligence, of the community of Emporia because they are angry for being forced to accept something they have not been asked about, or given the opportunity to give their opinion about.
I am not insensitive to helping others...but, I like to be informed of who,and why, I would be helping....Then, I would like to be asked if I WANT to participate....
My suggestion to you Equality...is unless you are planning to move here, own a lot of property here, or have a good reason for being involved..BUTT OUT!
....OR....do you want to buy my house?
However, for now, I plan to stick around and defend my rights to speak up. I own a home here, I pay the outrageous taxes, I vote, and I am a good American....Just not willing to be run out of Emporia by Tyson, and some sneaky politicians and "private" leaders...so we can be made a REFUGEE CAMP.
I hope you're reading all of this Mr. Weitkamp. (or are you Mr. equality?)
The people of Emporia have a right to defend themselves..and should have a say in what happens to their Community.
We were told this week that we don't have a City Planner, because our Commissioners think they can perform the tasks for a City Planner, and save us money. So, they brought in a Consultant...and some of us went to the meeting.
We were told to keep the remarks "positive"... The purpose was to discuss the Image of Emporia and how we could encourage growth.
What?????? Our City Manager, Zimmerman was at that meeting, and Jeff Longbine, and other leaders....Did they know about all this? Or, are they as suprised as us? If they did know..and have approved Emporia being the "Refugee Camp of America", then what why did they hire a Consultant for a reported huge amount of money, and call a meeting to ask our opinion, without giving us "all the information."
Posted by emporialive (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What a nightmare, we cannot even support the people who live and work in Emporia as it is but we allow our tax dollars to carter to every need the Somalis. Emporia has become the joke of Kansas it's no wonder companies don't want to build here and this is only making things worse.
The city and county are always taking about how they want to improve Emporia and if this is there idea of improving it I wish they would have left things be, as with many people here have stated they do not wish to live in a "REFUGEE CENTER" and I can't blame one person for not wanting to live here after this.
Jobs in this town are going away at an alarming rate yet we will add more issues to deal with and less income to the people who have lived here their entire life.
What is going to happen in our schools when our children get less help due to the Somali children taking time away from our kids that need help only because Somali children need more help. What will happen to the no child left behind program, maybe they should start a no Somali left behind program and take away funding from our already poorly funded shcools .
The local government needs to wake up and see what this is doing to Emporia before it is too late, if it isn't already. I for one do not want Emporia known as the REFUGEE WELFARE CENTER.
Posted by neighbor (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just wait until the Iraqis start arriving. Most likely they will not practice the same form of Muslim religion, they will most likely have conflicts with the Somalis.
It's not the Government bringing them here folks, it's all Tyson, and IBP before them. Big Brother is providing incentives to provide work for the refugees, but it would not happen without Tyson being the magnet drawing them in. Tyson is bringing in whomever they can get to work cheaper, without benefits, recruiting out of state like they always have because they refuse to provide a safe work environment, refuse to pay a respectful wage, and because they have already went thru all of the workforce in the area that had enough of a brain to know that there were much better work options elsewhere.
I've had education and sensitivity training Equality, obviously you haven't had enough, perhaps too much. BTW, there's no such thing as a Native American, we all migrated to this continent according to what I was taught in school.
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think there are two sides to this issue. There are more than a few of us who want to find a place for the Somalis. At the same time there are also more than a few of us who see that there really isn't any assimilation plan at all.
I think it's fair to ask questions. For instance, who is going to fund the services that are being touted? Is it Tyson? Is it Catholic charities? Or is it Emporia and Lyon County? I doubt that Tyson or Catholic Charities will do the funding. The best I saw was that Catholic Charities is opening an office here in Emporia. But, it's primary purpose is to outline services (sic - government paid benefits) for the refugee population.
What will this do, short term, to our poverty problem? In all likelihood it will make it worse. What will this do to the already heavy tax burden Emporians now carry?
What is the long range plan? Is it to bring the Somalis from a place where they're dependent on services and low wages, as they currently stand? Nothing's been said, but from we have to this point it appears that we may be in the process of creating a permanent underclass, whose sole purpose may be to benefit a large corporation in its drive to increase profits. That's not the American way. The American way is to make way for opportunity, not permanent dependency.
I think these are fair questions, and I don't think they have anything to do with race. They have everything to do with our collective futures.
The Somalis have been the victims in their own countries. Since they've been here in the U.S. they've been shunted from pillar to post by the State Department, that appears to be dumping them,hoping to find someplace. There does not appear to be any plan, nor does there appear to be any sensitivity to the communities they're being shunted to and from. This is not the American way.
So, we have Tyson's desire for profits, Catholic Charities attempt to be noble, and our governments, at all levels, floundering around in a beaurocratic wilderness. This does not seem to be a healthy way to solve a problem.
There are very few, I think, who don't want to help solve this problem, but I think the leaders, whoever they may be in this situation, are taking a very short sighted view. In the end, it may not solve the problem at all. In fact, it may make it worse.
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kstrebuchet....they won't have to build a lot of apartments and rentals to house the refugees, if this all happens...There will be a lot of empty places for them to move to. Have I mentioned my house?
neighbor...If you are right and it's not the Government, or local politicians that are involved...then I will apologize to them now for accusing them. I just wondered how much any of them knew on Tuesday night at the "Image" meeting for Emporia.
As for Tyson...It's not just their "air pollution" that stinks...The whole place STINKS...and I, for one, have purchased my last Tyson beef. (that should put them out of business...LOL).
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
mexico is almost empty by now, cant we just ship tyson and their followers there? lol i am not staying long enough to see how this effects the schools, jobs, housing, and the poverty level. if tyson has a meat recall from one of their imported diseases, hopefully it would end their business
Posted by momus (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish the community as a whole would have been consulted more before this announcement took place. I agree that we need to, as U.S. citizens, take some responsibility for some of the refugee situations in certain parts of the world. During the cold war, we loaded up Somalia (among other nations)with weapons and supported local warlords that were sympathetic to our cause. The USSR did the same thing, and then Islamic extremists took advantage of the situation. I get that.
My question is: is Emporia really the ideal situation for thousands of displaced refugees? As far as communities go, we are on the smaller side. A mass population influx of people with nothing to their name could overwhelm our town's economy quickly. So, my follow up questions are: how many are comming? Are we talking about turning Emporia into a settlement center for one group, or several different refugee populations from throughout the world? Has anyone done a cost analysis to determine the effect on the communities economy, social systems and tax base? Who, exactly are the people that made this decision and continue making these major decisions regarding Emporia's future?
We've talked about image and development while trying to encourage community involvement, but it seems like some major decisions are being made about Emporia's future with little or no input from the community at large. It doesn't do us a lot of good to solicit imput about what type of community we want Emporia to be if, in the end, a few individuals or outside entities are making those decisions for us.
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
momus...you and a many others have a lot of good questions.
I am one of those people that sometimes doesn't ask how a house is built, or question the permits, or who designed it...I just look at the end result......and if I don't like what it looks like, I get upset, and want to start over......Probably not a good way to be.....But, I wasn't here when they started building this mess in Emporia.....
So, I probably don't ask the right questions.....All, I know is I don't like what I am seeing and hearing...I have no clue how we got to where we are at....but, I don't like, what I think, the end result is going to look like.
I just know I feel like the community has been "back doored" by someone....and, the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing in this town.
One hand is Tyson, and the other hand is the community. Although, I suspect I know what Tyson's hand is doing to the community.
While we were all at the Image meeting on Tuesday night, being positive,and making suggestions on how to help Emporia grow....there were plans for a "secret" meeting on Friday night to make Emporia a "Refugee Center for AMERICA"...That's a big statement momus....It doesn't sound like just a few hundred more refugees are moving to Emporia.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Years ago, there was a television ad that featured a Native American on horseback who looks around at the waste and ruin of the land. The camera zooms in to the man's face where a tear forms and runs down his cheek. I am reminded of that image this morning. It is difficult to read these posts and not come to tears because we all feel, and rightfully so, that we are losing our town. Worse yet, we were not informed. And that is the rub -- we weren't informed, it was just shoved down our throats.
Equality, you don't live here. Your taxes are not involved. You have no right to tell us how to feel. Shut up!
Renegade, don't leave us. Stay and fight. We all have to put our heads together to figure out what to do about this. Netloafer is right, there doesn't seem to be a plan for assimilation, and we DO INDEED have a right to ask questions and demand answers.
Must we have our own meeting? I wonder if the powers that be realize that if the people wanted to, they could very easily organize.
Posted by abby_normal (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tyson needs to go. They obviously don't support our community or give its jobs to the people of Emporia, lets get them out of here. Tyson is ruining our community, and they don't care. As long as they make a few extra bucks, they'll watch Emporia go up in flames. Their extra bucks are worth our women getting raped and disease spread throughout our community? We need to let them know it is not okay.
We need to stand together as a community and fight this tooth and nail. Tyson needs to be shown they cannot control OUR community. Somalis need to go back and fight for their own country (we fought hard for ours).
Posted by Observer (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 11:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.sepblogg.com/node/3089?PHPSES...
64af2c285ba0d9aace8131e7dc9d6086
An Eventful Year...
By admin at Sat, 2006-12-30 21:10
In February, the closing of a Tyson plant in Norfolk, Neb., signaled the arrival of a new Somalian population in Emporia. By March, 80 Somalian refugees had been transferred to the Emporia plant, a number that grew to 200 by June and to more than 400 by the end of the year. Many of the Somalians had spent years in Kenyan refugee camps before being granted asylum in the United States.
Late in the year, a group of Emporians founded the Emporia Refugee Resettlement Alliance to help everyone acclimate to the new situation.
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http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2006/...
_promotes_understanding/
The group, Emporia Refugee Resettlement Alliance, formed recently after a variety of representatives of agencies and governmental units attended a meeting organized by Lougene Marsh, director of the Flint Hills Community Health Center. The meeting also was attended by Lewis Kimsey, state coordinator for refugee services for the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.
Elizabeth Nelson, chairwoman of ERRA, said the group was organized “to deal with issues that have arisen from the arrival of Somali refugees this summer. ...”
Nelson also is coordinator for multicultural programs and services at ESU; however, the university is not a sponsor of the group.
“The Somali refugees have chosen to call Emporia ‘home,’ and it is the ERRA’s wish to help them acclimate to their new surroundings while helping Emporians adjust to the arrival of their new refugee neighbors,” Nelson said.
ERRA is made up of representatives from the health center, SRS, Flint Hills Technical College Adult Education Center, Tyson Fresh Meats, the City of Emporia, the Emporia school district, the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau, the United Way and Newman Regional Health. Two Somalians also are members of the group. Both work at Tyson and one also is a part-time student at ESU.
“We’ve got issues connected to health and safety, transportation, driver’s education, education, English language training, social services, and also development of cross-cultural awareness and understanding,” Nelson said.
The group will emphasize cross-cultural training — educating Lyon Countians to the cultural and religious traditions of the Somalis and educating Somalis to the cultural and religious traditions of Americans in general, and Lyon County, in particular.
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Create..Thank you. It's people like you ,and many others, that I have met here, that make me want to stand up for our community.
My husband and I have invested much of our future here, in a very short time, and I hope we have something left to leave our children, and grandchildren when this is over.
I have other relatives here that feel the same way.
We are fairly new to Emporia...but, there are so many people that have lived here all there life, and don't deserve what a few sleazy people are trying to do to our community.
I don't think having our own meeting is unreasonable...I have the time..and even if I didn't I would make the time.
I intend to make some calls, on the phone, and in person, this week. (I'm glad I have that extra hour now....LOL :-) )
Posted by vankamp (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gwen Larson..
Do you suppose the Gazette could ask the question on the next reader poll: Are you for Emporia becoming a major settling point for refugees? I would be interested in how the poll would turn out.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"...helping Emporians adjust to the arrival of their new refugee neighbors,” Nelson said."
I remember all this. I also remember they had handouts to all the medical offices, schools, etc teaching local people how to deal with the Somali people. One instruction was not to look Somali men in the eye. I don't know why. Okay, so that's a cultural instruction. STILL, when were we informed that this many people were coming here? Were we consulted at all? We are usually informed after the fact in news articles.
Is there anybody in this group willing to admit that there has been a HUGE impact on the Emporia community? That many Emporians are upset?
Maybe it's time to go elsewhere for answers. If enough people ask questions...
www.jerrymoran.house.gov He represents our district.
Posted by emporian (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Should see alot more for sale signs as people get out while the getting good. The only people I see benefitting from this deal are Tyson and Walmart. I have always said it, but someone tell me What does Tyson do for this community? You bring up getting rid of Tyson and people say this town would die and that Tyson does so much for Emporia. Maybe someone can show me what they do.
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
why cant we look a somali man in the eye? is this the same reason we cant look an aggressive dog in the eye? it triggers their aggression? if they are so sensitive that looking them in the eye is wrong, then what does a passing smile or a hello mean?maybe when they give little nuggets of advice on how to get along with this new population, they can also say the reason for their cultural reasoning for things
Posted by Observer (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.cis.org/articles/2003/back130...
Bias Against Resettlement in Africa
But the larger challenge will be managing the dissolution in a modern western society of a traditional culture with its traditional ways of handling conflict and providing comfort and support. Did the world community fail to get behind a plan to resettle a communal, agricultural people in a neighboring country that is ethnically, linguistically, religiously, and culturally familiar only to disperse them among Section 8 housing units in 50 American cities?
An institutional bias against intra-regional resettlement comes from the U.S.-based resettlement agencies themselves. Functioning as federal contractors and employing at least 5,000 in the United States, most of their income is based on the number of refugees they resettle to the United States — not to other countries.
Staffers, both from the refugee contractors and DHS, responsible for weeding out fraud and verifying the identities of intending refugees in many cases do not speak any African languages and know little about the region or people they are dealing with. According to Africa-based refugee workers, some of the Somali Bantu are actually “dominant clan” Somali, that is, the very category of people that put the Somali Bantu into the category of “refugee.” According to the workers, some “dominant clan” Somalis are trying to enter into sham marriages with the Somali Bantu in order to gain admission to the U.S. refugee program. According to both the DHS and the UNHCR, polygamous marriages will not be a bar to the U.S. refugee program. Husbands need merely divorce their second and third wives prior to DHS processing. The ex-wives will still get a berth on the program with the promise of resettlement in the same town as their ex-husband.
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Posted by create (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I had the same question, slipandslide, about why we can't look Somali men in the eye. That was in a handout to a local medical office. I have lots of questions.
Thanks for all the good information, Observer.
Did everybody get their tax bills yet? Mine went up.
Posted by MrCmonkeeDo (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 1:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
MrC looks Somali men in the eye all the time...no one ever told him not to. Besides how would THEY know unless THEY were looking MrC in the eye?
Posted by lisag (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just a few things that come to my mind. How many can Tyson employ at once? What happens to the ones no longer employed there...move on or rely on govt. support? Is this just a stepping stone for them, or permanent residence here in Emporia?
How will this effect ESU? Do fresh kids first time away from mom & dad really want to live with a large refugee population? Will rural parents feel comfortable sending "little Susie" to a major refugee center?
I think many hearts are heavy in Emporia with this news. It is almost too coincidental to come the same week as Emporia tries to rally for its image, then gets blind-sided by this. "It's a sad day in Emporia....."
Posted by emporian (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Its more of a money cannot look them in the eye thing. Money are inferior. I know one woman that they bumped her out of the way in line at Walmart. When you told them they told her "you woman you mean nothing".
Posted by emporian (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
instead of money insert woman. Typing on MSN at the same type can really screw you up.
Posted by reservist (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We need to set up a meeting, crash secret meetings, do whatever legally we can do to let the supporters of a refugee camp know that we will not stand for this. Many Emporians are to scared to say anything because of their jobs may be at stake. We need to have meetings, organize do legal research something. Even if we fail trying to do something at least we can say we tried. Relatives of mine suggested that I go to meetings and speak because they are to scared to do anything. I have nothing to risk. If we start having meetings, maybe more people will start to show up. The ones who are scared may start showing up once they know how many people are getting involved. Instead of just typing on here lets do something. Contribute money to hiring a Lawyer or Lobbist. I can afford to donate at least $200. If a 100 or 1000 Emporians do the same we maybe able to stall the refugee camp or stop it. Lets do something before it comes to late. Lets start trying to think of times and places we could meet and brainstorm up good ideas we can use. Thursdays around 6 outside the public library? Start thinking of places to meet.
Posted by landinkansas (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 3:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A Somolian refugee settlement. That's where I want to live & retire. That's impressive when people are researching universities for their kids to attend? Are we going to put up a big billboard along I-35? If this is the direction the town is going there is no sense spending time & money researching how to make the town better. It's not going to happen.
Maybe the real issue is TYSON. Maybe it's time for Tyson to pack up and leave. Seems all they are doing is providing poverty level jobs and a tremendous amount of discontent with the citizens of Emporia? I think their time has ran out. I see more bad than good with Tyson being in Emporia.
I'm discusted and I don't care who know's it.
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
im all for it, if there is a way to chase tyson out or keep the town from becoming a tb infested dump i think it should be done
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, according to Observer's information, Tyson's plant in Norfolk, Nebraska closed. I wonder how those people in that town are doing?
Posted by momus (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 4:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with a lot of what landinkansas is saying. This has the potential to overwhelm our population, tax base and local economy. Furthermore, a town our size is identified by certain buzz words. Essentially, we are not big enough to be known for too many categories by those from outside the area. If we get tagged as a refugee camp by the rest of the state it will hurt ESU enrollment, business recruitment, redevelopment, real estate sales (I could go on, but I think you get the point). Referring back to my earlier post on this issue, we need answers to MANY questions.
At its most basic level, this just seems rude. At least talk to the community and get buy in (or alleviate some concerns) before you move ahead and announce a proposal like this. I wouldn't walk into a strangers house and start painting and rearranging their furniture without permission. That's exactly what it sounds like is happening here. People that may not have anything to do with Emporia feel they have the right to come in and rearrange the town without having the common courtesy of asking the citizens of Emporia first. If questions are answered to the citizens satisfaction, and it can be shown how the economy and our tax base will respond in a positive manner, then fine. But, we Kansans are hard working, stubborn and have exceptionally long memories. I think those that tried to push this through without asking just ticked off the wrong people.
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 5:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here are some of the demographics on Norfolk, NE
Median household income in 2000 was 34,000
Median household income in 2005 was 36,200
Median home value in 2000 was 83,000
Median home value in 2005 was 88,500
Poverty rate is 11%
This compares to Emporia was during the 2005 reporting period was 31,000 (median income), 68,000 (median home value) and 15% (poverty rate.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 5:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Can't look them in the eye? Wonder if it has anything to do with why you don't shake hands with a certain hand? harhar
As for "you woman you mean nothing" - I guess that answers my question I asked in an earlier thread (the Somalian poster never would reply) as to whether they followed the common Somalian practice of removing a female's clitoris while they are 5-8 years old, thus 100% depriving her of ever, ever, ever having any chance whatsoever of physical enjoyment from sex, for the rest of her life. And equality thinks WE'RE close-minded and need sensitivity training? What about the rights of that poor 5-year old Somalian girl? Yes, I'm sure I'll catch flak again for bringing this up how I should understand different cultures have practices we may not agree with, yada yada yada, but when that practice so blatantly tramples on anothers basic human rights (in this case a child who is too young to understand, no less) - I simply will not agree.
Observer, you asked the question earlier how many of these have ever swung a bloody machete. I don't have any idea whatsoever, but I do know that at Tyson a Somali made a comment when getting his knives that "in his country, we use these to kill people". Now, I'm not ready to brand them all bad, but comments like that make me wonder - was that just a sad commentary on the state of his native country, or a joke? I honestly do not know. But comments like that certainly make me raise my eyebrow.
Posted by ksfarmer (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 6:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Throw in the towel..........say UNCLE........whatever.......Emporia will never overcome this stigmatism. Try all the positive image campaigns ya want, people will still call Emporia a little hard-luck, stinky, poverty, refugee town. Just a place on the turnpike halfway to everywhere. Where little farm girls get their teaching certificate......
Makes you wonder.......do outside people just assume our town is so bad, whats a few more hundred refugees...they can handle it? I think this will push us all over the edge. Quit wastin' money on consultants, we are what we are..... take it or leave it.
Posted by emporian (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 6:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe we can come up with a slogan...
Posted by so_sick_of_tyson (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 7:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree that if you don't live here you need to shut the hell up and if you are so concerned with the somali welfare then maybe you should contribute to their well being instead of my taxes going up again, Lyon Co already has a high enough tax rate and for you to be so smug and sit their and say that because we don't agree with what Tyson is doing and for us to not welcome these refugees with open arms shows by itself your ignorance so please open your pockets to them (somali's) your bleeding heart amuses me...maybe you are one of the ignorant people who choose to marry one and make them a US citizen or maybe you are just ignorant period.....I have and will continue to ban Tyson products and agree with the previous postings that if I wanted to live in complete harmony with TB, HIV and rudeness as a second nature I would gladly move to Africa don't you think....Everytime I turn arond there one is being completely rude (if i had another option to do my shopping I would completely avoid Walmart as well) and don't get me started on their driving skills, even defensive driving courses couldn't even begin to help these people....I will once again go back to this.......If by chance these individuals would have some respect for us and our country and try to live and abide by OUR culture and practices then maybe, JUST MAYBE I would have a little compassion for these individuals, but as it stands right now I don't appreciate the COMPLETE disrespect they have shown and I as a US citizen should not have to adapt to them and their practices!!! PERIOD Like I said before , our ancestors built this country for GOD sake, we can't have prayer in school no pledge of allegiance and no Christmas program, but by all means let's give the damn Somali's a fricken prayer room for wherever they go, it's completely ridiculous and I think it's time WE as Americans take a stand and get back our AMERICAN PRIDE!!!!
Posted by ksfarmer (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 7:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Emporia.....Going nowhere fast, but getting darker by the year"
Come on ....everybody can think of one & we'll all vote!
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 7:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i agree with so_sick_of_tyson 100%
when tyson is done building toilets to accomadate the cultural bathroom differences, how about they install one large toilet handle so we can flush and watch the swirling action as emporia finishes going down the toilet.
Posted by Kansan (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 8:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ksfarmer...... great idea! Sounds like fun.
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 8:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ksfarmer, the slogans i keep coming up with are too descriptive of sh*t, cant post them here, sorry
Posted by outdoorsman25 (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 8:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All the Somalians do is take everyone's job...stink up the town...wreck into anyting and everything....carry diseases and give Emporia a bad name
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 8:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
said Renee Hively, public health manager for the Flint Hills Community Health Center. “... But really, it’s going to be up to the community to decide what’s next, where we need to go.”
did the community get a say in this to begin with? can we really just say 'no' ? they could have came up with a better way of telling lifelong emporians that our was going to finish being destroyed for the sake of tyson and the city to have alittle federal dollars to pad their pockets with. this is the spinless town that changed our local culture by changing OUR christmas program to appease to one jerk who threatened a lawsuit. instead of importing more dependents, improve the quality of life to be like we had it,start with returning the flag salutes and prayers in school, and bring back OUR christmas program. quit quibbling about the name, its a christian holiday, give it the christian name it had, then export, tysons entire workforce. ps for those of you who think the schools are having daily flag salutes in school, go to your kids school at the beginning of each day and see for your self, it s absent
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 8:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
im done posting on this
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 9:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
slipandslide...Don't stop...We are listening to you...and, we need to hear from everyone.
I think it's good that we can use this forum to vent our frustrations. It's good to hear that so many share the same feelings about this sad situation.
You've lived in Emporia all your life, and you've helped me to learn a lot about our community. If I want to know the truth I come to this forum to find out. There are a lot of honest feelings on here this week end.
ksfarmer...Although I don't think there is anything funny about what's going on, I do appreciate your sense of humor. Thanks for making me laugh when I read your posts.
Posted by rami (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 9:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have always said that Emporia was a nice place to grow up and that I wanted to raise my kids here. I seriously have my doubts now.
My thoughts on the Tyson situation...I don't see how they do anything for Emporia. They bring all these people to Emporia to work for them when there are already people here that NEED jobs!!!
They will not do rehires because it costs them money....I think that is BS!
My husband worked for IBP in 1990 before he moved to a new town. He tried to get a job at Tyson a few years ago and that is when he was informed about rehires. They said it didn't matter that it was IBP when he worked there....needless to say, he didn't get the job. I'm sure some Somalian or illegal DID get it. No, I'm not racist, but I am sick and tired of this being the norm and the natives being forced to accept it!
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 11:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
racist? what can be racist about wanting a job even if it is stinky tyson. why is it discrimination when when there is not a certain number of non whites employed, but when there are way more non whites than whites its not discrimination.
Posted by reservist (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 11:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Go out of town to shop and eat. Let the merchants start to hurt. Let the city officals know what is about to come if they turn Emporia into a refugee camp. Everone will start pulling out. Business that requires skilled labor will start shuting down. ESU's enrollment will drop. Restraunts will start closing down. Stores will shut their doors. Police officers and first responders will start taking jobs in bigger cities. Taxes will sore as the city tries to cope with the loss of revenue. Property values will drop. Crime will go up. Every one who doesnt pull out when the getting good is going to suffer. The city thinks Tyson keeps us afloat. What happens when every other place goes out of business? The city is already broke, what happens when the city has to take on the extra burden the Somolians are going to impose. We need to take some sort of legal action to stop this madness. We need to start some type of committee ourselves. We got to stop this before it goes to far. People on here have addressed a great many of valid issues. The key is to get the valid issues off of here and make the ones deciding the future of our town hear them. We got to let them know that we cannot be pushed around and bullied into their ignorant ideas. We have to act now. In away that is educated, legal, and civilized. What we say and do could hurt our motives. If the elected officals of our once great city do ready this post, I hope you know that their is a great chance that you will never be voted into another politcal office ever again. Look at the long lasting effects that this will have on the future of our town. If you are to blindsided to see how this is hurting our town, at least think of the saftey of the Somolians. This decission the city has made is turning into a powder keg, and some hot head may provide the spark that ignites it. If the city will not defuse the situation than we ourselves should try to do so, and the only I see how is stopping Emporia from becoming a refugee camp. All it takes is one cultural misunderstanding and boom. Property owners the city will need a place to build or house the refugee center, refuse to sell or lease.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 11:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And I caught alot of flack awhile back when I posted that it was nearly impossible for local help to get hired on at Tyson anymore..... hmmm..... gosh, guess I DID know what I was talking about after all. Golly Gee Whiz.....
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 11:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just now reading back thru these posts, something caught my eye I glossed over earlier. At the meeting with the consultant, everyone was "told to keep the remarks 'positive'"...
Just what kind of a stipulation is that? They don't want to hear what people have to say, they just want everything sugarcoated? Only add to the discussion if you agree with everything? What is the entire point of a meeting that has that kind of a limit on the discussion?
Seems our city "leaders" don't want to listen to the people, only their own pocketbooks. Let's see now, how long till the next election(s).......
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 11:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
when tyson picks up a bus load in mexico headed for work in their great smelly plant, they conveniently give everyone ready made social security numbers.whens the last time anyone reported a neighbor they suspected was illegal? never they have all the benifits of full citizens without going through the trouble to become legal, same goes for samolies?
Posted by blulitespecial (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 11:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe higher taxes,more government sponsored programs,and a casino or two will solve all our problems.....
Posted by ksfarmer (anonymous) on November 4, 2007 at 11:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who's lining their pockets with all this besides Tyson? Follow the money trail. Somebody's got to be getting a big paycheck from all this "refugee center" talk. Non-profit organizers, Catholic community services, somebody is making it worth their while with all the fed. money available. Who's really calling the shots? Dump on Emporia, don't want all these refugees in KC or metro area, where they actually may assimulate easier. How many can we handle? Percentage wise, at what point in relationship to our population, can we say whoa! Too many! Emporia is starting to look like one of those force-fed geese.....refugees crammed down our throat. Starting to feel like we're on the Titanic, Tyson the iceberg. Sad, just really sad to watch this all play out before our eyes. It's hard to smile & think about the future of our town at the same time.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 12:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Observer, I was reading 1 of your links on Somalian immigration, and noticed "The principal partner involved with the Somali Bantu case, Mohammed Ibrahim, is also suing the U.S. government on behalf of local victims of the 1999 U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania."
Good God, what is this country coming to. OUR embassies get bombed, hundreds of Americans killed, and OUR government gets sued? Thanks to people like Equality, I'm sure he'll win millions of $$$. Insanity rules the day. If you have 1 ounce of common sense you're branded a right-wing wacko. (Don't confuse me with the Phelps psycho's).
Folks, enjoy your July 4ths. I'm not sure how many this country has left.... :(
Posted by neighbor (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 7:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Be sure to wave at them with your left hand too kstre.
My wife and daughters have witnessed them bump into women, cut in line, and bad mouth the clerks at Wally world. They would not want to do that to my girls or any other woman in front of me.
Cultural awareness=disregarding your own culture so others can benefit from your spineless inability to promote your own.
Posted by landinkansas (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 7:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is truly a disturbing issue. I don't post much but can't help myself on this issue. The future of the entire community may very well hinge on this issue. EVERYONE needs to stand up and let it be known how they feel. Obviously this isn't a plus for any community. If it was, larger cities would have used their political persuasion to become a Refugee Settlement. I'd welcome FRONT PAGE exposure from the Gazette. Let's put the facts on the front page for everyone to see. Let the public know the facts and have a say in how their town moves foreword the next 20, 30, 40 years...... Is this what the citizens of Emporia want? Is this what you want for your elderly parents to deal with? Is this what you want for your children, your grandchildren? I want my kids & grandchildren to live locally. To prosper and have a good lives. Not packing up and leaving to get away.
I've heard a lot of talk about creating jobs to keep ESU graduates around after graduation. If Emporia is going to be a Refugee Settlement the real issue will be in getting student to come to ESU. I'm sure retiree's want to live in a Refugee Settlement. That's really appealing. Same with people traveling through Emporia. Word will spread quickly. People won't stop or stay in a Refugee Settlement, I wouldn't. It's to easy to go on down the road another hour.
Let's get this stopped before it gets worse.
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 7:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kstrebuchet...
I've been catching up on reading the posts this morning, and you're right. There are a lot of posts here, but, we are only a very small representation of Emporia.
I too have mentioned this to others in the community, who knew nothing about it. I was told they thought a few more "refugees" would be coming to Emporia, but not enough to make a difference.
A lot of people read the Gazette, but they don't read the Forums, on line.
There are many questions that need answering, I agree.
I have a marketing background, and I would be able to share some of the ideas I have to get the word out to the community. If anyone is interested.
I plan to make use of my time today to see if I can get some questions answered, as well.
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
anyone interested in this can meet reservist outside the public library, thursday at 6
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
a quiet group out side the courthouse in broadday light would cause the contented security guards to think they have a 'situation' outside.good idea though. there should be some way to follow the money trail and see whos getting the kickback to this. maybe find out how the federal dollars are distributed when a community is declared a resettlement area. i dont have alot of ideas
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What slipandslide said bears repeating here: "said Renee Hively, public health manager for the Flint Hills Community Health Center. “... But really, it’s going to be up to the community to decide what’s next, where we need to go.”
did the community get a say in this to begin with?" Right on slipandslide.
In the meantime, like the rest of you, I too am frustrated and heartbroken about this. Here's my contribution for a motto, but its just a temporary one because we're going to conquer this.
Full of Stink-
Out of Sync-
On the Brink-
Rinky-Dink!
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One thing I've been doing is this -- copy and paste this URL into an e-mail and send it to others you know in the city. They can read for themselves how upset we are and you won't get hoarse like I did yesterday.
Good post, ksfarmer.
I'm getting my sign ready in case we have to march.
Posted by Observer (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No loose dogs in PUs,
No stray cats upon the prowl,
Send Somalis elsewhere,
No matter how they howl.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's my billboard:
Hate Democracy?
Tired of majority rule?
Then come to EMPORIA,
where your vote won't mean SQUAT!!!
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Emporia is "GROWING down fast!"..
create..I sent an e-mail yesterday to jerry moran....Is this the Rep. that is coming to Emporia the end of November that you were telling us about?
Posted by mulberry (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is definately time for Tyson to leave Emporia. At this rate, Tyson WILL turn Emporia into a 3rd world country, and the only people left in this community will be the employees there. There are many families that are already talking about leaving Emporia for this very reason- including mine. This will definately push more of those families out of town-including mine.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Renegade, yes, the U.S. Congressman for our district is Jerry Moran. He will be here at the American Legion on November 29. I'm awaiting a call on the time. Might be a good time to get a group together; however I definitely don't want to rob the VA of any of the precious time they need since it is their meeting. In the meantime,
www.jerrymoran.house.gov
Salina Office:
phone 785-309-0572
fax 785-827-6957
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Create...Maybe we could ask for a separate meeting with him, while he's in town for the American Legion meeting? By that time we should have all our facts straight, and maybe we can find a location to use to gather interested Emporians?
Posted by tosie (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's sad to see my hometown going to crap.....I left Emporia because there was nothing left for me there, as far as a career goes, after graduating at ESU. I was sad to leave, but now I'm glad I left. Once again, let's help the refugees....forget about the people who have been living in and supporting Emporia for all these years. What a darn load of crap. Emporia will never get better or have any kind of a positive image until Tyson leaves and the refugees follow them out of town.....
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just spoke with an intern in the Salina Office. I explained briefly what we are experiencing here then e-mailed him everything on this URL to corroborate. He says he will make Congressman Moran aware of what is going on.
Another point is Weitcamp, the director of refugee and migrant services for Catholic Community Charities in KC,Kansas. According to the article, he said this:
“I definitely want the input from the Somali community,” he said of the hiring process. “It’s so easy for an outsider to make a mistake, and I would be that outsider.”
Nowhere in the article does it state that anyone wants input from Emporians. Maybe we need to contact Weitcamp.
Everybody, you need to keep e-mailing Moran so we can convince him how serious this is.
Posted by pizza (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I've never seen so many pages of comments on a newspaper article and I agree completely. A couple of points I have never understood is why outsiders are permitted to just come in and take over our community and then, often times, charity or government agencies give them money and grants and free services to make life even easier for them. They just expect it and we sit back and let it happen. Yes, we need demonstrations, parades, news conferences and anything else we can think of to "say NO". It is a war from within and we don't even have an army.
So many of these big changes are encouraged and financed by some government entities and all is done very quietly. But the one really major thing I cannot understand is that none of our elected leaders are doing anything. Several of our elected city officials have long time family commitments in Emporia. Several have long time successful businesses, nice homes, retirement plans, children, grandchildren etc here. Their "world" is in Emporia. Why in the world do we hear nothing from them about all this Tyson pollution, the degradation of our community and the general decline of civilization in Emporia as we knew it. If the present trends contiue there will be no new homes built, no new cars sold, no market for their businesses or their homes. I cannot understand why so many intelligent people simply sit on their hands and watch it happen. Surely they will not give up that easily.
Posted by blulitespecial (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Think- Chinamart pulls a good $15 mill a year out of the local economy.And you want more big low wage stores selling import junk?Then 1,000 refugees have local jobs at taxpayer expense.And then you get 4,000 more?Not much left for your kids,when you add it all up.
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
create...I posted to "equality" and asked if he was weitcamp....saying we were insensitive and uneducated. Remember he is the one that said he was "overwhelmed" when he got a sense of the potential impact the Somali community would have on a town the size of Emporia....He also said, He expected Emporia to become home to a pretty "substantial community of refugees."
Weitcamp is in Kansas City....where he gets to go to when he finishes his sneaky private meetings in Emporia.
I keep reading the news article where it says...a "diverse committee of local, state, and "private" leaders are working to prepare for the refugee camp". WHO are these people?
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The meeting time for Congressman Moran's Veteran's Forum is at 8:30, American Legion, November 29.
This forum has contained so many, many good ideas and excellent and informed comments on this issue. Keep it up. You will be glad to know that this URL has just been received in Congressman Moran's office in Washington, D.C.
Posted by Blackshirt (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 11:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As I sit here reading through these posts I am reminded what the city of Emporia was when I first moved there in the late 80's. It was a nice town with lots of nice people, businesses downtown and stores in the mall. Then I think what it was like when I left about a year ago. A mall with a handful of stores and a dilapidated downtown area. The Somali insurgence was just begining when I left but even then I could see where it was headed.
They drove their country into total anarchy and when the group that they supported lost, they called out that they would be slaughtered by their rivals if they were not relocated to America. Not that they would have treated the defeated any differently had they won.
They have no desire to become Americans, they want America to become the new Somail-land for them.
It seems obvious that the leadership of Emporia is not going to do anything, it is goign to be up to the people of Emporia to stand in the face of this leagalized and subsidized invasion.
I hate to say it, but I am glad that I and my family are not there for all of this.
Posted by Observer (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bravo!!!! to the overwhelming numbers of posters. This can be more than a mere blog page, but the ignition spark which lights a fire in the hearts of those who cherish and have deep roots in the Emporia area.
Well done create in your contacting Jerry Moran's office!!!!!!!
It is activism and justice which will persevere and illuminate the wave of denigration which would be foisted upon the Emporia community.
Just as the Patriot Guard and the American Legion Riders, proudly displayed Old Glory against the Apostle of Hate and the Phelps lemmings, you too can stand bravely against the insidious corruption being "welcomed" into the community.
Bravo!!!!!!!
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
From http://www.thepigsite.com/articles/7/mar...
pay special attention to the last line:
"This contraction in plants and workers decreased wages, especially for meatpacking and meat processing employees whose wages dropped by about one-third. Workers in other industries realized little change in real wages. Overall, average worker compensation, deflated by the consumer price index, fell 25 percent. This drop in wages, combined with the gain in output per worker, means that labor costs per unit of output dropped dramatically.
Although the associated cost reductions were likely passed along to consumers in the form of lower prices, the price impact was probably small because labor costs are only a small part of the cost of food processing."
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And from
http://www.knowledgeplex.org/news/734591...
"A number of social problems have been documented in meat packing towns, including increased crime rates and child abuse cases, higher housing and rental prices due to shortages, and added strain on social services and the healthcare system"
"in the 2001 bestseller Fast Food Nation. Eric Schlosser paints a grim picture of the effects of a new meat packing plant on Lexington, Nebraska, including a dramatic rise in the immigrant population, crime, and demand for public services like Medicaid"
"We find that as the meat packing and processing industry's share of a county's total employment and wage bill rises, total employment growth increases, while wage growth slows relative to counties without the industry. Income growth, which approximates local aggregate output growth, is not significantly affected. These findings suggest that the negative wage effect, a proxy for worker productivity, approximately cancels out the positive effect of rising employment"
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And from
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2005/usa0105/...
"In the 1960s and 1970s, meatpacking workers’ pay and conditions approximated those of auto, steel, and other industrial laborers who worked hard in their plants and through their unions to attain steady jobs with good wages and benefits. Meatpackers’ wages remained substantially higher than the average manufacturing sector wage—15 percent higher in 1960, 19 percent higher in 1970, 17 percent higher in 1980"
"New companies became industry powerhouses, especially Iowa Beef Processors (IBP). IBP overtook old-line producers by automating more of the process, squeezing skills out of the job. IBP reduced every stage in the process to mindless, repetitive cutting with the same hand and arm motion in what the industry calls a disassembly-line process. IBP and its copycat producers stepped up line speed and cut wages to levels far underneath union-negotiated standards. In 1983, meatpacking workers’ pay fell below the average U.S. manufacturing wage for the first time. Since then, the decline has accelerated—15 percent lower in 1985, 18 percent lower in 1990, 24 percent lower in 2002."
And, most telling of all...
"Unlike workers in many U.S. manufacturing sectors, most meat and poultry workers do not face employers’ threats to move their plants to other countries where wages and workers are suppressed. Some analysts argue, however, that this fact has not blocked a “Third World” strategy by the U.S. meat and poultry industry. They contend that instead of exporting production to developing countries for low labor costs, lax health, safety and environmental enforcement, and vulnerable, exploited workers, U.S. meat and poultry companies essentially are reproducing developing country employment conditions here."
Equality, do you still think it is WE who need more "sensitivity trainning?" (I'll spell it like you did, since in your mind I'm probably not educated enough to know the difference :). Sounds like it is Tyson who needs a little more compassion and sensitivity, and others lining their pockets in concert with Tyson.
Posted by landinkansas (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Contact Jerry Moran via his Web Page. I just did. Let him know how you feel on this issue. Give him the ammunition to fight this. He has a quote on his web page - "I WILL ALWAYS PUT KANSANS AHEAD OF THE PRESSURE OF WASHINGTON". This is his opportunity as this is clearly a Washington created issue.
Keep it up Emporia!
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As it becomes more and more "obvious that the leadership of Emporia is not going to do anything", it should become more and more obvious to them, at least the elected ones, that re-election for them is going to get alot tougher.
Posted by boomer46 (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't forget Mr. Zimmerman, you are selected by the commissioners. You can go too!
Posted by ozma (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As a constantly nice person, I have never been treated anyway but rude and cold by the Samolians. I think that the government (or whoever it would be) should send them to Detroit. There are complete houses, 3 bedrooms and up for sale for under $15,000.00. In Detroit, they could almost have a small city area for none but themselves. The way they want it. They can have their own business area, schools, places of worship, playgrounds and parks. The buildings, housing, and empty schools are there for the taking. GO TO DETROIT. And if the Samolians don't like Detroit, send the illigal Mexicans there. They too can start their own "little mexico" with each other for neighbors.
Posted by jackslap (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nothing like getting a bunch more of stink bombs that can't drive.
Posted by tosie (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 1:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The answer is clear.....Clean up Emporia! Get rid of Tyson and send the Somalians back to where they came from!
Posted by so_sick_of_tyson (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, I do believe this is the longest blog I've seen yet in the Gazette and well deserved....I agree with the meeting, if we all just sit back and complain we are doing absolutely nothing for OUR community...Please enlighten me with more ideas on how we can get the illegals and refugees the hell out of our town, I don't say Tyson because I do know there are locals that have worked there for years and are probably counting on that retirement (if it ever comes) but let's get Tyson to help the local community not every damn illegal that will work for less and Tyson will hire them, always trying to make that almighty dollar stretch. I personally am sick to death of seeing these refugees or listening to languages not my own. I don't care what the hell you do in your own house (as long as I am not paying for that too) but when you are out in public remember you ARE in AMERICA not mexico, not somalia but EMPORIA FRICKEN KANSAS and I will spend my last breath reminding your ass of that too!!!! I don't want people to turn renegade but damnit what the hell are WE going to do to get our damn city back? And if you are one of those bleeding hearts that give your heartfelt opinion on how we should all be treated equal, remember who gave you the right to speak your ignorant ass mind!!!!!
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If Tyson raised their wages, they wouldn't have any of this "problem" of getting plenty of local help. Since they are over twice as big as the next competitor, I doubt they would be squeezed out. And, as I've shown, it wouldn't affect prices much. Same thing goes for illegal immigrants working on vegetable farms. I've posted on other threads studies showing how labor is one of the more minor parts of the overall cost, stopping illegal immigration and raising wages to where it would be more attractive to Americans is NOT going to affect the price of food nearly as much as people fear. Just means the top brass might have to trade their 150-foot yacht down to a 130-footer. Oh, the humility.....
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Like I mentioned before - any elected officials that are pushing/allowing this need to be gone next election. Until then, we need to make ourselves heard, and not just on this board. Suggestions? Writing the reps is good. Buy some ad space on the Gazette? Demonstration? I quit buying Tyson products way back when the Somalian died of "latent" TB (which I knew about SEVERAL days before it hit the news). Maybe an anti-Tyson ad...... hmmmm....
Posted by boomer46 (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I’ve read enough! I can’t keep quiet anymore. I moved here from a town 100 times larger than Emporia. Over the years I sat back and watched as an entire town went from approx. 40% to 90% minority. I was in a position that required me to help minorities with their rights. I was happy to help, because that was my job. It was all about their rights. As time went on, billboards in the town were put up in another language; grocery store ads in another language; all paperwork from the school district were required to sent home in another language; and so on and on… For a long time, English only was spoken in the workplace but soon it was their right to speak their language anyplace they wanted to and I couldn’t say anything. The job announcements were required to say “bilingual preferred” but soon “bilingual required” was established. This means that I couldn’t apply for my own job if I were to leave – which I eventually did. As an article says, “Somalis will fill the positions at the new center.” Another job or two or three lost to minorities.
For those who think this “refugee” issue is small and there will be no problems for you, guess again. This Alliance that was formed to help with the Somali’s rights, doesn’t even know how many refugees are here now, how could they possibly keep track of the additional Somali refugees coming (sneaking) into Emporia? Keeping track of the information a grant requires is a very time consuming and detailed job (I’ve done one or two), it would be easy for a few (hundred or thousand) to slip through the cracks.
While some of you think it won’t affect you and your high priced homes, you are wrong -- many minorities buy large homes and have 3+ families living in them with only one social security number for all. Don’t think this can’t happen? WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! I dealt with it everyday for 25 years.
I am so upset to think I may be watching this happen all over again in another community. I sure don’t want my family and friends to know I moved to a “Refugee Center”. As I wrote earlier, I worked to help others with their rights, now it’s time for me to say…WHAT ABOUT MY RIGHTS!
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks for joining in Boomer46.....I know there are a lot of people in Emporia that are thinking about posting but haven't done it yet.
Just FYI to EVERYONE....I HAVE A MEETING WITH MR. ZIMMERMAN, our City Manager... TOMORROW...(TUES)....IN THE AFTERNOON.
IF ANY OF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SENDING A MESSAGE TO HIM THROUGH ME , OR YOU HAVE A QUESTION YOU WOULD LIKE ASKED FOR YOU, PLEASE E-MAIL ME AND I WILL PRINT OUT ALL EMAILS AND GIVE THEM TO MR. ZIMMMERMAN.
I will post here after the meeting and let you know what was said.
I was at the Image meeting last week, and I am wondering why we even had the meeting if the decision, as to the future of Emporia, has already been made.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out our Image will be "Emporia, America's Refugee Camp".....
My e-mail is....
im.renegade@yahoo.com
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
P.S. I'm sure Mr. Zimmerman is already reading this Forum, and will know what is going on before I meet with him. But if you don't feel comfortable posting here...or you have a question you would like asked confidentally,or something that you want to say directly to him....please just send it to me...I promise I will get all e-mails to him.
im.renegade@yahoo.com
Posted by tosie (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
just print off all the comments on this topic and it should become clear very quickly how the majority of people feel about the Refugees.....
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 2:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Tosie...You're right...and I'm sure Mr. Zimmerman is reading the Forum...If not, I can direct him to it....but, I know there are some people that may want something passed on to him....If not...then, I'll just ask him "what the hell is going on!"...:-)
Posted by stavros74 (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am encouraged by the many and thoughtful responses on this blog. I split time between Wichita and Emporia now but I grew up here. Some people forget that citizens didn't walk away from their jobs even when this mess started in 1983. They were supplanted by illegal immigrants from a third world country. Now Tyson appears to have a contingency plan now that ICE is cracking down on Illegals, to supplant them under the guise of political sanctuary.
I am active with the organization Numbers USA and they have really written the book for Emporia and how to deal with situations like this in an informed, data driven matter. Anecdotal evidence is fine if your pulpit is a bar stool (where some of the best original thought has come from), however it means very little to a politician under the watchful eye of hostile, PC insane media. Numbers USA uses facts and figures to support their activism in addition to flooding their representation with the will of the people. The message needs to be sent that the surest way to make yourself temporary in Lyon county politics is to even entertain notions of making the county into a third world county.
Renegade,
I am happy to assist you in any kind of organization effort mounted in the name of Emporia citizens. I'll e-mail you my information.
Thank you everyone for your passion and thoughts.
Check out www.numbersusa.com for some solid ideas on how to organize.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First, tre, thank you for the Weitcamp information. Let us all correspond with e-mails to inform him, intelligently and firmly, how we feel. Intelligently and firmly. Openeyes, lots of good, thought-provoking info, especially on meat packing towns. We can also send him this URL so he can see for himself how so many of us feel.
Second, thanks for the kudos, Observer, I appreciate it, but I just love my chosen home town and want to protect it as best and as legally as I can. Actually, with the number of posts on this thread, we all deserve a pat on the back because so many concrete ideas and intelligent discussion has surfaced. Well done, everyone.
Finally, I have just learned that Jerry Moran will be in attendance at a second meeting on November 29th. This will be from 12:30 to 1:30 for the Kiwanis Club meeting at the Emporia Country Club. So now we have two opportunities on the same day to plug our plight.
1. American Legion 8:30 a.m. Veterans' Forum
2. Emporia Country Club 12:30-1:30 Kiwanis Club
Again, we don't want to tread on the toes of the Vets or Kiwanis, but our being there is sure to get the Congressman's attention. He will know about us beforehand because we are e-mailing his office.
And Renegade, thanks for meeting with Zimmerman. Don't forget to ask him for a public answer, maybe in the form of an op-ed piece in the Gazette. That way, they can't accuse you of passing hearsay to the rest of us. Good go. I agree with tosie about printing off this forum. Highlight the many good questions and comments to be ready for your meeting. This is great! It's a start!!!
I can hear the theme song from "Rocky" playing. Can you? Best yet, no lyrics to make trouble. :)
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
create...Thanks for your support.. I will make sure he sees this Forum...and, make use of the great questions that have been asked.....and, yes, I will ask for a public answer...and/or op-ed piece in the Gazette.
I have sent an email to Weitkamp too.
Are we allowed to attend the meetings that Jerry Moran will be at on November 29th?...or, do we need to ask for a time, and place, for our "issues" with the Refugee Camp?
Made me laugh about the music from Rocky....
I think the response from our community is amazing, and I hope that we will hear from more Emporians.
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
heres a new group name somalian, hispanic immigration turnemback
Posted by Flips (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you don't live in the City of Emporia & you don't think this effects you also-----then you---need to wake up & smell the coffee------this effects EVERYONE IN THE STATE OF KANSAS either directly or indirectly!!!!!!!!!
Posted by 4th_generation_Emporian (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have lived in Emporia all my life and so has my father, my grandfather, my great-grandfather, and my great-great grandfather. I always envisioned raising my family in Emporia. I remember growing up here and thinking what a wonderful community this is. Boy was I wrong!!! I am absolutely disgusted by what this town has come to. I am not prejudice, but why the hell are we bringing in so many immigrants and allowing them to live and work here without making them learn English??? At our schools, they read the announcements in English and Spanish. Are they going to start reading them in Somali too? I have a 3 year old daughter, and there is no way in hell that I am going to stick around here long enough to put her in this school system. We go to Wal-Mart and my daughter has to witness Samali men grabbing themselves as they look at her own mother! HOW DISGUSTING! They are rude and do whatever they want! I can't tell you how many times I have almost been hit by a Somali driver. For pete sakes, my 15 year old cousin can drive better than them! If they are going to be here, then why not make them conform to our norms? Make them work to live in our community that we have all worked so hard for!
Posted by boomer46 (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Because THEIR rights are protected and catered to. If they don't WANT to speak English, they don't have to. Schools and businesses will hire someone to translate for them to make their life easier.
Posted by reservist (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 5:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If anyone else comes up with more meeting times please post them asap on here. If their is a large number of us at the meetings one the 29th of November can we block the congressman from leaving untill he answers our questions? I believe most vets wont mind, they may even get alittle sympathetic to our cause. We should also remind him that he is an elected offical that works for us, and getting reelected depends on our votes. Own town leaders maybe deaf but they cant also be blind. The more of us that show up at meetings and let them know where we stand should put some type of pressure on them. A few years ago the county tried to pass a sanitation bill and enough residents showed up to fill the Anderson building at the fairgrounds to standing room only. Only people at the meeting in favor of the bill were the ones that worked for the city. The bill eventually passed but it was totally different than the county wanted it. Ill be outside the public library on Thursday around 6, if anyone wants to show up and put ideas together and dicuss strategy for stopping the refugee center. Look for the white dodge pickup with veteran tags in the parking lot. Ill be standing next to it. If people start to see faces and numbers they are more likely to become involved. One or two people having meetings with city officals doesnt scare them much. When the whole town shows up to support the one or two people talking to the city officals, the officals start counting potential loss of votes and get scared. Once they are out of office the gravy train stops and they will have to find an honest jobs that may require them to get their hands dirty the correct way.
Posted by boomer46 (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I’m mad as He\\ and I won’t take it anymore! Sound familiar? I’m thinking about hitching a ride on that helicopter from the hospital or, better yet, I’m thumbing my way on one of those obnoxiously loud trains from “halfway to everywhere” to anyplace where I can speak English, feel safe, and enjoy my life.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 5:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Problem is, we need to vote these I'm-lining-my-own-pocket-to-hell-with-you politicians out before the Somalian population in Emporia becomes the majority.
No, wait, that's not right. All we need is 1 activist judge who legislates from the bench against the will of the majority. Or get the governer of NY here, who is giving drivers licenses to illegal immigrants despite NY polls showing the people are 80% against it.
Like I said before, enjoy your July 4th, I don't think this country has too many of them left. I'm sure someday soon some illegal immigrant, or refugee from a country that hates the US, will decide our Independence Day offends them, and they'll get the ACLU to have us rename it something totally different, like Christmas In July.
Disclaimer: If you think this post is dripping with sarcasm, then you read it correctly.
Just had to blow off some steam :)
Posted by imgone (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 7:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Check out my user name and it says it all. I sold out and left Emporia a little over two years ago. I was not going to spend the rest of my life in the cesspool that Emporia has become.Life is to short to not be happy and enjoy life. I'm gone and I have not regretted it one minute.I truly feel sorry for all you unhappy people in Tysonville.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Kstr, InEquality said in an earlier post that he saw is as an "all about me" society. On that point, I have to agree with him. Anything to make a quick buck, to hell with what I do to the neighbors, the community, and everyone else. Looks like Americus trailer park owners are not immune to that disease, either.... :(
Posted by reservist (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 7:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I say the men and women who have served this country wouldnt want to see it over run by thoose who have fought agaisnt us. Friends of mine out of state are upset to hear this news. I hate to see our rights and way of life I swore to protect go down the drain, and not be able to do what I was trained to do and stop it. Catholic charities helping Isalm, didnt the church try to destroy the followers of Isalm for 1,000s of years? Hypocritical isnt? We need find out away to stop them from being allowed to come here. Depending on Tyson to shoot itself in the foot isnt a basket Id like to put all my eggs in. This Weitkamp does he have any skeletons in his closet that can discredit him? Saying he would put Somolians in charge of the program he plans on starting be discrimination? Giving special incentives to Somolian refugees, isnt that discrimination? How about everyone on this post go down to Tyson apply for a job on the line, and when a great majority of us dont get hired sue them for discrimination.
Posted by Paccifier (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 8:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who is funding ERRA? Tyson, or the Health Dept.? Are public funds being used? If so, that might create an open meetings issue. No point in continuing the image discussion- not until this is resolved. Sorry I was so slow getting back in. Hate to say it, but I wish the Tyson plant was back to the feed lots that use to stretch from the Guion's store out to almost past Graphic Arts Rd
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 8:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does seem like some government funds are being used to support and favor one specific religion here... we don't dare use public anything to even mention the word Christmas, but we sure seem to be favoring Islam 100% here. Don't we have to import some Christians, Hindus, and Jewish workers to not show favoritism to one particular religion? Since government (public) funds and kickbacks are involved....????
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
reservist, we could go inside the library by the magazine rack where it is warm, dont matter if you are inside or outside ill be there.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 10:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gwen, if you did ever run that poll (I seriously have my doubts) - it would be nice if the voters would identify if they are Somalian or not. I'm sure you'll get, what is the figure, 700-1000 votes from the Somalis that want it to become a refugee camp. Kindof like polling ILLEGAL immigrants to ask if they approve of illegal immigration....
Posted by neighbor (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 10:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
kstre, why on Earth would they want to go to Americus? I have to laugh at that rumor, that's funnier than the one about the former rest home in Madison becoming Somallyville. The previous long distance recruits to "The Beef", the hispanics and before them the Asians, never cared for the community evidently as they never moved there. Those that did never stayed long. It costs more to live in Americus then it does Emporia now, plus the expense of driving back and forth, nope it won't happen.
Posted by ksfarmer (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 10:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Are we really paying those consultants $70k to tell us Tyson is our problem? That was a waste. Maybe that money would've been better spent years ago on a city planner to keep us from being pooped on now. Didn't Zimmerman come from a high immigrant community. He's used to all this. How many local small businesses are going to be effected when all their customers move away from this mess? "Welcome to Tysonville"
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 10:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the gazette polls are very faulty how can they base anything on that??for one it only is good for the ones who bother to read the poll questions which i have to be pretty dang bored to read those. also it eliminates the ones who only read the paper for the sports or the ones who only read the paper for the classifieds or only the funnies, you get the picture. the gazette is a local paper only good for what the locals what to read and it seems everyone ive ever met will have a favorite part they read, and then they are done with it. some of the polls are kind of humorous in the sense of "why ask that?" also the polls are usually things that not alot of anyone is interested in.and for a poll to be almost good, you would have to ask more than a one sentence question.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 10:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There will be more fallout than just businesses. I know a high school senior from out of town who has been considering ESU. After seeing that Emporia is going to become a refugee camp to a group of people who consider women to be "nothing", she's having second thoughts....
Posted by Flips (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 10:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HEY----Kstrebuchet ----Maybe "neighbor" should go to Americus & visit- &-drink coffee----& really find out what is going on -(if he doesn't believe you)----he might be really suprised what he would learn---------he might even be shocked! :)
And what Emporia business person just sold the trailer park in Americus?????
Again he might be suprised!!
Americus people aren't really happy campers right now!!!!!! And I don't blame them one bit!!!!!!!
Posted by wtrdog (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 10:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My family has lived in Emporia for decades. Most of them have worked at IBP (Tyson) at one point or another. My father was part of the construction crew that helped build the processing side. Soon after processing was opened in the early 1970s he started working there. He was employed there when the first waves of immigrant workers came to Emporia in the early 1980s. Being the hard working man he always was he put his head down, Kept quiet, And continued to do his job for fear of losing his position. As one of the previous posters study suggests, Meat processing in the 1970s & early 1980s was very profitable. However it didn't wake long before wages were cut in favor of the cheaper immigrant labor. He endured as much as he could & in 1983 he quit. My family relocated to Phoenix Az in 1984. I always had fond childhood memories growing up in Emporia. As my parents aged in Arizona, They felt the need to return home to Kansas. By that time I had children of my own & made the decision to relocate back to Kansas. I wanted my children to enjoy their childhood as I did mine. To have less crime & negative influences than living in a large metro area. In 1997 I returned to Emporia. It definitely wasn't the town that I grew up in anymore. It looked dirty & outdated. I soon found out that everything I had intended on sheltering my children from was here as well, But in a much smaller town.
As the conditions in this town rapidly deteriorate I continue to ask myself why I stay. The downtown that once offered many businesses is now just a portion of what it was. "Street scape" (The remodeling of commercial street) was a complete hoax. More businesses have closed since then than before. Manufacturing & industrial employers are closing up & moving away at alarming rates. What is going to be left? With all the employers leaving & good paying jobs being outsourced the average person can't afford to live, Let alone shop the local businesses.
To make this more relative to this article I'll get to my concerns. As many of you have already stated. How is another wave of immigrants/refugees going to impact our already struggling economy in this town? How is Tyson going to make room for more immigrants/refugees to be employed? If not Tyson then where else would the next wave be employed? What types of collateral damages can we expect from becoming a "refugee camp"?
I may not be around to see the outcome. I'm definitely not subjecting my family to humility of living in a refugee camp, or a refugee relocation center.
Posted by eattheapple25 (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 11:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The solution is quite simple. Whatever is happening will come to a head. We must walk as proud Americans. Hold your head up and do not fear to look anyone in the eye. Men protect your families, that is all. We don't have to change who we are, we do not have to roll over to and give into things like not looking them in the eye. I would laugh if they tried something at Wal-Mart, when they do, don't let them get away with it. For the women out there, do not fear them. You have every right that a man has regardless of the kickbacks Emporia "leadership" gets from housing them. Remeber getting pushed is a form of assault. Press charges. Pray for our policemen as the put up with the ensuing nightmare.
Remember what city leadership is doing about this. Just because you own a car dealership does not mean that you are going to be voted in during the next election. You will be held accountable.
Me: Knock knock
Leadership: Whose there?
Me: The voters, your customers, your neighbors.
Leadership: What do you want?
Us: We want you to know that we hold you accountable. Also we know that you have to reach your backside to wipe just like we do. Of course we use toilet paper.
eattheapple25@gmail.com
Posted by holenone3 (anonymous) on November 5, 2007 at 11:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is the limit. I was thinking about buying a newer home for myself, but now am thinking highly about moving out of Emporia, because of all of the illegal's that they allow to come in and keep our wages down, and drive so poorly that it looks like a young kid, or worse, is driving. It is time for Tyson to close down, and get this city back to being somewhat of a decent city. It is a far cry from what it used to be. One would think that our city officials would be smarter than this, but this just shows how stupid that they are. Thank you city officials for ruining this city. Hopefully leaving soon, but it won't be soon enough. I could go on and on, but I will quit here. I am getting too pissed off to even think clearly, maybe this is what happened to our city officials, because obviously they are not thinking clearly.
Posted by lookup (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 12:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wtrdog, sorry you feel streetscape was a complete hoax. you must of enjoyed those funky street lights that looked liked chinaman hats. downtown is alot prettier now with the warmer glow of the old style lights & brickwork. the closing of businesses downtown has to do with many factors, not just the remodeling of the street sidewalks, etc. the downtown of any city is considered the true heart of a community, not the developements on the outskirts. now back to the problem at hand, I feel many of our city officals aren't speaking out against this for fear of appearing racist. maybe backlash from tyson? Our little town, the good years appear to be behind us now. I'm sorry Emporia......
Posted by somali (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 1:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
For those of you who complain Somali Refugee in you're cities,do you aware what you're elected government doing in Somalia? I think it is good idea to show humanity for somali refugee who scaped from what is is going on in Somali,same of you said go back to somalia, that is ok,but can you're Government leave us alone,so we will stay in our country?
and finally ,if you want to now what is going in somalia and who distoryed my country watch latest report about Somalia,I just attached you following link.
http://www.channel4.com/player/v2/player...
Thanksa for those of you who supporting somali refugee in the United States and other countries.
Posted by wtrdog (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lookup,
While the downtown area looks better, The whole idea of street scape was to entice businesses to want to move in or stay there. Thats where the hoax was. Not that the area didn't need remodeling. However, New lights & bricks do little to cover up the problems a town has. Especially when most of the real problems get ignored.
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 7:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
whose afraid of tyson a big smelly meat packing giant that imports more people than the town can handle. whose the developer whose been looking emporia over? the one that will develope home sweet home into a refugee camp. somaolian? dont you think your friend would be alive today if the sh*t supervisor at tyson would have let him have time of to treat his illness instead of letting him die at work come here for safety and die at work if our govt is the one causing you to move why move to place that is run by that same govt? next time i see one of you yahoos coasting thru a red light down town while im crossing the street, instead of dodging you again, im letting you hit me so you find out what it s like to be stuck in our court system.
Posted by vankamp (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 7:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Somali,
If you want to fit into this country you are certainly going at it the wrong way. Don't stand in line behind me in Aldi's screaming into your phone, don't let your men push right in front of me in line at Walmart, learn to drive, learn English and lastly don't act like I owe you anything. If you are grateful to be in this country start acting like it.
Posted by Kansanbybirth (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 7:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You know, I REALLY object to whats happening here in Emporia and its NOT because I'm racist. I worked at Tyson for two years here but I didn't leave because of the Somalians. I don't object necassarily to them being in this country but they are going a little to far with this.
What bothers me most is where do they think they are going to find jobs for all these refugees? We aleady have job issues here in town. Tyson can't get enough people because they pay too little and they have a few manager there that are complete a55es - so they started bringing in people that they could force to work for less. This town doesn't have the resources to keep supporting this kind of influx.
When I moved here three years ago and was looking for a house a search would bring up about 30 houses for sale. Now the same search brings up nearly 140. People can't find jobs that will pay them well enough to work in this town where the taxes and everything else are so high. I moved here from Boise Idaho and nearly everything here is at least double what it was there (property taxes, electricity, sewer, water, trash, insurence - you name it) and yet wages here are less than they were there.
Then there is the whole TB issue. Its not a question of IF it will get spread but WHEN. There just isn't ennuf safe guards in place. Tyson is being VERY shortsided about this (which is a common big company failure). If it were me that gets sick I'd hold them directly responsibile and sue for very big money. Lets see if their bean counters still think its a bargain then. Already Reebles won't buy meat from Tyson because of it and neither do I. I wonder what kind of mass hysteria would result if the average person knew that Tyson had people with TB cutting their meat. It could well destroy that company. Specially since I know there aren't enough safe guards out there.
They really need to get buy in from the community before doing stuff like this.
Posted by midnight_rider (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
somali; wake your damn self up and the rest of your cell phone talking butt boys. Pack your crap, your stupidity, TB, coughing on people, rude ass, bad driving, woman hating/beating, stinking, uneducated self up and leave our town and country. We went to your country to feed you and you KILLED OUR SOLDIERS. If you did not like our trying to help your sorry ass out, then why did you come to our country. You might treat your women like crap but you need to leave our women and elderly alone and treat them with respect. You talk about how bad our government is but yet you have no problem taking handout from them. You come here with your dirty butts and get free money, health care, education and ruin our towns and country and think you have a right to tell us what we should do. I do not think so. The best thing your war-lords/elders could do is herd all of you out of our town. The cops in this town need to treat you like they do the mexicans and everyone else instead of turning their backs on the crimes you commit and quite turning the problems over to your war-lords/elders. It is a little know secret that any time there is a problem with a somali, the war-lords/elders show up at the police dept and the elders tell the cops that they will take care of the problem within their our community/culture. Yet our crime rate continues to climb and will somebody please tell us who is included in the Emporia Regufee Alliance (ERRA). and who are they getting their kick-back from.
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
midnight_rider....
"Google" Emporia Refugee Resettlement Alliance.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 8:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Paccifier: In answer to your question about who is funding the ERRA -- it's federal money. That's why I wanted Congressman Moran to give us a public meeting. This is from the news article: "The The grant, awarded to Catholic Community Services, comes through SRS from the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services." From the title, it sounds like it's all one federal agency.
Good point on the open meetings law. Yes, Openeyes, it does seem biased to offer government monies to one group of people. Something we need to ask Congressman Moran about.
I'm expecting more information from the congressman's office today. I had asked if they could contact me regarding a separate meeting time for these concerns. Will let you guys know.
In the meantime, keep your cool. We want to be civil at all costs. That is important or else we appear like a bunch of hot heads and that would spoil our cause. We also need evidence, not hearsay. Remember, if we do meet with the Congressman, it will be after Thanksgiving. Nov. 29th is two and a half weeks away. That will give us all time to think and talk to our families over the holiday.
What I heard from an acquaintance in Americus this morning is that she would look into the trailer court rumor. She had not heard anything so far, and she is an active person in the community.
Posted by momus (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Somali,
While I sympathize with what you consider a difficult situation, no one is leaving anyone alone in this world anymore. It's called globalization. People view (or viewed) your nation as a strategically important asset because of its geographic location. There is a power struggle going on between Islamic Radicals, African Nationalists and superpowers like the United States. Don't think that this is the first time this has happened in history. Our nation was imbedded in a power struggle between Great Brittan, France and Spain. Only when the people here decided to rise up and choose a better life did things change. Even then it took several decades, a bloody civil war and a lot of difficulty.
We know that this would not be happening without the influence of one or two companies in town. Our problem is the same as yours: people are making decisions that affect the quality of our lives without our consent. However, we in the community must decide how we want to move forward. If the organizations leading us down this path were not here, the potential residual results on employment, taxes and population could be devastating to Emporia. I'm asking you all, are we willing to take that risk? Or, is there a compromise out there that I'm not seeing? While making a drastic change may be in our long term best interest, are we willing as a community to deal with the short term negative implications of the course of action I hear many suggesting?
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
go back to the reebles meat counter and see the tyson meat, right next to it are better brands, farmland and pilgrams pride, but the tyson stuff needs to go in the trash
Posted by boomer46 (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Momus,
Thanks for the words of wisdom BUT...this is a hypothetical question. What if... the one or two companies in town weren't here, would Emporia have grown differently? These "short term negative implications" will grow into a long term negative for Emporia.
Next it will be prayer rooms in our public schools. Remember...it only takes one parent to complain their needs are not met. Been there, done that! Because the schools are paid for by government money and we need to meet ALL the needs of the children - that's what the Alliance was formed for.
I do agree with making sure we have all the FACTS. As we all know, facts can be twisted beyond belief, BUT, so far nobody has come forward to dispute anything was written in the Emporia Gazette. I have read and re-read the article, including the ones in August. If the facts aren't correct, then somebody needs to inform the public that the article was twisted and biased.
Oh wise ones, please come forward with the facts and put our minds at ease.
Posted by sadinemporia (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SERIOUSLY!!!!!
Listen to the citizens! Emporia WILL become a ghost town!! Sell your house while you can and get out of here. What does it mean to be an American? Think about it!
THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!!!!
Posted by Flips (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
create I tried to e-mail you through the gazette & it came back------
Posted by boomer46 (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would LOVE to sell my house and get out, but, the line is to long at the real estate offices.
I'm biting my fingers from really putting my feelings down about what is happening to Emporia. I see the writing on the wall and it's not good.
Let Mr. Nye's surveys come out now!!! Am sure the answers will be a whole lot different than they would have been a week ago. Lot of money down the drain.
Posted by Blackshirt (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Take a look at the statistics from Lewiston Maine. In the early 2000's Somalian refugees began moving there to escape the crime in Atlanta. In 2006 50% of the refugees were still unemployed and placing a heavy burden on the town.
This is your future Emporia!
Posted by Weltha (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I heard this morning and wanted to share. Its been a long time coming.
Artist: Murray Anne
Song: A Little Good News 1983
I rolled out this morning
Kids had the mornin' news show on
Bryant Gumbel was talkin' 'bout the fighting in Lebanon
Some senator was squawkin' 'bout the bad economy
It's gonna get worse you see, we need a change in policy
There's a local paper rolled up in a rubber band
One more sad story's one more than I can stand
Just once how I'd like to see the headline say
"Not much to print today, can't find nothin' bad to say", because
Nobody robbed a liquor store on the lower part of town
Nobody OD'ed, nobody burned a single buildin' down
Nobody fired a shot in anger, nobody had to die in vain
We sure could use a little good news today
I'll come home this evenin'
I'll bet that the news will be the same
Somebody takes a hostage, somebody steals a plane
How I wanna hear the anchor man talk about a county fair
And how we cleaned up the air, how everybody learned to care
Whoa, tell me
Nobody was assassinated in the whole Third World today
And in the streets of Ireland, all the children had to do was play
And everybody loves everybody in the good old USA
We sure could use a little good news today
Nobody robbed a liquor store on the lower part of town
Nobody OD'ed, nobody burned a single buildin' down
Nobody fired a shot in anger, nobody had to die in vain
We sure could use a little good news today
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kstr - when I found out about the TB death in Emporia (several days before it was made public) - I fired off emails to every investigative news, radio talk show host, and news org I could think of in the midwest. Nothing. Nada. A few days later, it hit the news, and we had tiny little blurbs on TV that lasted all of 15 seconds. Quite the contrast to the guy that flew on the plane with contagious TB. Nobody cares about little old Emporia, that's why we're being DUMPED ON.
Good luck with the emails, I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but not holding my breath..... :(
Posted by MelissaE (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
blackshirt--
I was actually living in Maine when the influx of Somalis happened. I attended a college in Lewiston....night classes. There were many warnings to walk to your cars in groups.
I love Maine--but Lewiston is seriously an armpit. It's an old mill town and because of "globalization" a lot of the workers are now out of jobs and it was getting worse by the day. At one time, the place was charming.....now, not so much.
And it is true--many of the refugees are still without jobs.
Refugees without jobs and locals without jobs.
Nice.
M
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I pray that things you say here on this forum are not what you really feel in your heart. For the God that I truly love and worship would shed a tear for all these words of hate. To make this community a better place for all of the people that are here, we must be in constant prayer that God will mend our hearts and mind and souls . Yes they are different from most of us. But what do they control , nothing . They are not part of the problem , We are , just listen to the words that I see coming out of your mouth. No matter where you run it will always be something else that you do not like. The way someone smells, look, act , the car they drive the house they live in etc.... There is not a perfect place here on earth, only in Heaven with our Lord and savior. The same energy you are using to talk hate , use it to spread Love. I guaranteed you will feel much better. It is a shame to see us divided like this , but the truth is the American dollar is at a all time low and it is not because of the Somalians or the Hispanic community. We are losing jobs overseas , and spending billions on a war that is making certain people richer and richer. Truth is a lot of people are angry and they are blaming the wrong people. Emporia will get worse if we continue to point fingers at people who are trying to have a better life. Time to use Jesus greatest Gift , LOVE .
Posted by boomer46 (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
UsayULoveGod...
I pray for the strength to say what I mean and mean what I say...
I love Emporia, I love Emporia, I love Emporia...
Not working!
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
its easy to think about loading everything up and leaving as soon as possible , but remember, this problem can also affect the next town you go to. think tyson is too big to get rid of? think about the recent news of the new jersey meat company that went out after 60 because of one meat recall, and menu going out over a bad batch, the big ones are just as easy to topple as anyone.yeah emporia puts a cap on anything negative about tyson, but tyson is a well known brand, cant we think of someway to really mess them up? create web sites aimed at destroying them (free speech) every website no matter what it is will get visitors, play on peoples latent fears of latent tb and watch the meat sales go down. you know how the emporia economy shutters when tyson cuts back a few hours a week, give them a reason to cut back more.christmas shopping season is here, lets sieze up the local economy by doing our shopping online and out of town.think this wont work? it may not be as much fun as literally chasing them out of town, but we can cause them alot of hardship.
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel for the plight of the Somalis. They've been through hard times. But the vast majority of the questions being asked have nothing to do with people here being racist. Most want to know who is going to fund the influx. Who is going to pay for the social services? Is anyone going to bring the Somalis from the point of total dependence to indepence and contributions to the community?
From what Catholic Charities and SRS is saying they're going to become dependent on the community for their support. We're going to provide the services they need and it appears that the plan is to keep them there. In fact it appears that Emporia is going to become a refugee resettlement center.
There hasn't been any community involvement on this issue. The Somalis are being dumped, as they were in Maine, Georgia, and Minnesota. Government beaurocrats and out of town charities have no real plan, so they send them from pillar to post.
Emporia already has a poverty rate of 15% or more. Emporia already has the lowest per household income of any "first class" city in Kansas. Wages here are extrememly low already. That has meant that for what middle class there is that property taxes are extremely high to provide to provide services that those benefiting from them can't. People who can afford to leave this city are already leaving.
This has little to do with Emporians being heartless. If our government officials, from the State Department to the Administration want to solve the problem then they need to show us some good will and honesty. They're the ones who need to sit down and figure out what really needs to be done, to think through what is best for the Somalis and also what is best for communities like Emporia. But I don't think we're getting the sense that's happening. The administration people involved spend their evenings eating steak tar-tar and sippining fine wine somewhere in Foggy Bottom. The folks at Catholic Charities are a hundred miles away and have convinced themselves that Emporia is just the perfect place for this. And SRS and other social welfare agencies? They welcome it because it expands the size of their fiefdoms.
From what I've seen this is not a good for the Somali people, nor is it a good for the people of Emporia. If someone would show us a plan that would benefit all of us, the people of Emporia would buy in. In fact, if someoneone would show us any plan at all we could begin the dialogue. But, unfortunately, all we've gotten is beaurocratic arrogance.
Posted by jaxson (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
THE BOTTOM LINE IS!!!!
Emporia is going to have to do something about Tyson's hiring practices!! I realize there is a lot of good people working there, but this company is the only reason we have so many illegals and refugees in this community.
The refugees and illegals are "ghost" consumers. The only business they support is wal-mart. I truly will be amazed if this city allows the addition of a large population of somalians.
We are not alone. The majority of the community including the city officials feel the same way. Everyone is so careful to be "politically correct" in what they say about these issues they remain quiet. Can you imagine what would happen if at the next image of Emporia meeting a city commisioner stood up and expressed his concerns about this? He would be labeled as racist and would be "tarred and feathered" by the media!
PLEASE DO YOURSELF AND YOUR COMMUNITY A FAVOR, VOICE YOUR CONCERNS TO OUR CITY OFFICIALS!
Posted by neighbor (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Flips,
I've drank coffee in Americus many times in the past. The only thing you hear is whose kid is doing what to whom, what teacher is worthless because she is flunking Billy Bob(never mind BillyBob is the village idiot), whose husband is doing so and so, fishing lies, or be forced to hear what a few of the regulars who mistakenly think they are somebody important think that it will take to solve the world's problems. If you put any credibility to the gossip that is discussed in any small town coffee shops, I'd have to think you are probably one of those who believes everything you read in the National Enquirer.
Without submitting myself to coffee shops lies, and opening myself to becoming the latest rumor target at Breckinridge Cafe or at Suzy Q's in Americus, I would be willing to bet that Ken Talkington, the former barber on Monday's in Americus, who also happened to own the only decently kept trailer park in Americus, who runs College Barbershop right behind Emporia's Muslim center, would be the one that was rumored to have sold his trailerpark in Americus to someone wanting to build low income housing for the Somalis.
How's that for a start?
Posted by Flips (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well since you seem to have the rumors correct-------do you know if it is a fact?????????? Or only rumor????????
Posted by neighbor (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's small town gossip and paranoia(and a dash of lack of intelligence).
Posted by Flips (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let your city officals know what you think!
http://www.emporia.ws/Web%20Page.nsf/668...
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
UsayULoveGod....
Do ya wanta buy my house?
God Bless You!....
Don't judge me!..I am not a racist. This is not what I am about.
I am angry because I bought a house in Emporia a few months ago. I knew about the Somali's and I knew about Tyson...I DID NOT know that we were going to be the "Refugee Camp of Kansas" That might have stopped me from signing those papers to buy this house. Regardless of how you slice it, or say it....being known as a Refugee Camp is not a positive image....unless you are looking to become a ghost town...or a 3rd world community in Kansas.
And, as far as I can figure out...there are a lot of people that weren't asked about it.
And, even if they were asked, maybe they didn't want to say anything because they didn't want to be called a racist, or feel like they would be chastised for their feelings. Or be told they are going to Hell..if they don't like it. I have never said a bad word about anyone's race...I just feel that we have been back-doored...by someone that knows the community would not want this.....If there's nothing wrong with it...and the majority of Emporians wouldn't care...then WHY isn't it common knowledge that Emporia was to be chosen as a Refugee CAMP.???And, where are the people that support this? There are over 150 posts on here, and only a couple have been close to even accepting the additional refugees.
Maybe we should let those that support the Refugee camp post here , as well, without going after them.
Please just post and tell us WHAT GOOD CAN POSSIBLY COME FROM MAKING US A REFUGEE CAMP?? How can we benefit from this, as a community?.....
I'm listening....
Please don't preach to me though....I'm a Christian, but I'm honestly not in the mood to hear about how unrighteous you think I am.......
I'll have my own personal talk with God, thank you.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
tre, the answer you got from Congressman Moran's office is just a stock answer that the computer spits out. I got one too. I think if we are patient, we will hear something. I actually talked to the intern in Salina yesterday and he sent this forum and all the threads as of about 10:30 yesterday morning to Washington. He e-mailed me back and told me he had done that. I'm glad you e-mailed those news stations.
In the meantime, even if we don't hear anything, at least we know for sure that he will be here on November 29. American Legion 8:30 a.m. and Kiwanis meeting, 12:30 - 1:30 at the Emporia Country Club. We can show up to those meetings if we don't hear from him otherwise. He's not going to run from us, especially if he plans on running for Senator next time. Let's be patient, speak softly, and carry big sticks.
I wonder if Nye is reading all this?
UsayULoveGod...Please read carefully what netloafer has to say. He is always succint in his posts. We are not racists. We welcomed the Somali people into Emporia to begin with and were willing to work with them. This news of more, however, is an onslaught that endangers many things. Please read our posts more carefully. Most are not racist in nature.
Flips, the Gazette may have misspelled my e-mail address. It's strange spelling so be careful. Here it is:
kaneohegal@sbcglobal.net
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
somali, looks like it is the Taliban that have destroyed your country. From your comments, I take it that you are sympathetic to them. So our government is bringing in aid, bringing you here, giving your our jobs, our taxes are subsidizing you, and you complain about our government?
We have a saying in America: Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
And that is exactly what many of us feel you are doing. If you don't want us to meddle, then why don't you stay in your country and fight for what you believe in? If enough Somalians resisted the Taliban and kicked them out, our country wouldn't be "meddling", as you put it. But instead, you want to bail out of it and take free handouts from us, and then complain about it. You don't want to assimilate in our society, like other immigrants have. I have many good friends that are Mexican, they came here legally, and they did not abandon their own culture, but they did not try to force it on us, they adopted our culture as their new home. You don't seem to care to do that. Everything I have seen makes me tend to believe that you are sympathetic to the Taliban side of things. And our stupid government and businesses are ignorant enought and greedy enough to turn a blind eye to that.
To UsayULoveGod: I'll give you another bible quote:
A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.
I'm not advocating hate - but I am angry with our so-called leaders for dumping or allowing this to be dumped on us without our input.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good post, Open_eyes: Exactly! "We need to keep this in mind. I'm not advocating hate - but I am angry with our so-called leaders for dumping or allowing this to be dumped on us without our input."
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As I said earlier I feel for the plight of the Somalis. One of the things that seems evident to me is that our State Department and other government agencies, including local agencies, had/have no plan.
I don't think they've considered anything but dumping them and creating a perputally dependent sub-group of people.
If the State Department were really serious about solving the problem from the beginning they would have thought creatively. For example, there are a lot of towns with military bases that have been shut down. In many places the base buildings are still sitting there. Why couldn't the State Department have worked with the military to retrofit some of those facilities, house the Somalis, take the time to teach them about how America works (our customs, government, social fabric, economic system), teach them English, and put them on the path to contributing citizenship. Then, when that was complete why couldn't they have thought of ways to assimilate them into America. For example, New Orleans is still in desperate need of restoration. FEMA has spent needless billions on trailers that are still sitting empty, senseless projects, etc. Couldn't this have been an opportunity to inect some labor into a situation where it was desperately needed?
This country has done those types of things before. Hoover Dam was built like that. So was Welch Stadium. These were cooperative ventures between government and private industry that benefited everyone.
These things could have been done and could have been done without additional capital outlays. There is enough fat in any government budget and there are enough dollars being wasted jet-setting beaurocrats around the world to more than fund what should have been sensibly done.
I'm sure it would be easy for someone to object to ideas like this. There are always reasons not to do the right thing the right way. If my ideas are bad or aren't viable I'm sure that someone in some government catacomb should be able to come up with something better than what they're currently doing. I'd like to think so. After all, isn';t that what we're paying them for?
The problem with this situation is that all that is being done is taking a group of people and setting them up to be perpetual dependents in an already poverty plagued area.
As far as I can see there is no real win-win in this equation. This is just a lose-lose. It's not fair to the Somalians and it's not fair to the people of Emporia.
Posted by momus (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is an immigration forum on November 14th, 7:00 p.m. at the Emporia Public Library. Maybe some answers to some questions can get resolved at this forum. For more info:
http://www.emporiakschamber.org/custom.a...
Again, I'm not sure if this forum will answer all (or any of) the questions people have here, but it might be a start!
Posted by Montag (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Many of the comments here seem to reflect a lack of both depth and breadth in the gene pool that contributes to populating Emporia. This is, truly, a nation of immigrants. But some of the descendants of those who came here in previous generations seem to believe that the golden door should've been shut the minute their ancestors hobbled across the threshold. How sad.
I remember, a few years back, similar comments being voiced loudly about Latinos coming to Emporia. Did the foundations of the Republic shatter as a result? Hardly. Did Emporia change? Sure it did. If you want to live in a static environment, find a fly to sit down beside on a tree oozing sap. In a few million years, you, too, can be trapped in an amber prison.
Instead of whining about the influx of Somalis, deal with it by looking upon the new arrivals as presenting us all with opportunities. (Especially, if this blog is any indication, for personal growth.) It's called growing up.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 12:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
netloafer, those are excellent ideas, but sadly, it is pure $$$ that is driving this. Tyson wants cheap labor, as was stated in a link on one of my earlier posts, they can't move the operation overseas, so they have to recreate 3rd-world conditions and wages here.
Montag, I figured we were about due for someone to remind us again that we're all immigrants. If you would read these posts a little closer, you would have figured out by now that we are all well aware of that. And that the vast majority of us welcome people who actually thank the government for giving them this opportunity, and TRY TO ASSIMILATE. Instead of complaining about our government, and not trying to fit into our culture. Apparently the "lack of depth and breadth in YOUR gene pool" has affected your reading comprehension.
But we were not asked, informed, or prepared in any way for a mass influx that will forever change this community. Nor do we care that a company turns its back on local help so they can load up with cheap, subsidized labor. If you truly cared about the Somalis, you would be protesting for Tyson to pay a decent wage and improve the living standards and conditions for its employees. But you'd rather sit back and take pot shots at people that have legitimate concerns, and that are and have been directly affected negatively by this. You would like to perpetuate 3rd world conditions and wages in this country. How sad.
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Montag
It's easy to take the part and make it the whole.
A lot of us came from immigrant stock. My mother came to this country from the Canadian Maritimes and began carving out a life for us. It's a gene pool I take great pride in.
I take offense at your comment. The best that could be said about it was that it was in bad taste. Most of us here don't pretend to be part of America or Emporia's elite, but we care about our country and our community and our families.
There are a lot of us who don't want to shut down the golden door. We see that this country has some responsibility for the Somalis. But we're tired of beaurocrats assuming that they have a golden goose by the neck and every time they squeeze it money magically pours out.
There are a lot of us who don't hate the Somalis. We don't like the idea that they've been shunted around this country by government fat cats any more than they do.
What many of us object to is the lack of any plan.
Perhaps you're right. The foundations of the Republic may not shatter. But I can tell you one thing. There are a lot of middle class Emporians who are already over-taxed who are going to wind up funding this. There are a lot more Emporians who are going to wind up on welfare rolls because of this.
When all is said and done a lot of Emporians will be poorer, the Somalis will become a permanently dependent class, and government beaurocrats will tout the great success they've created.
I like your ideas of opportunities. I've suggested some I think that governement agencies and charities should have thought about. Perhaps you have some. Perhaps you have the millions to fund the social welfare programs. If so, then belly up to the bar.
Posted by Flips (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)
netloafer---------excellent points-----------EXCELLENT!
And I think ALL of us would just love to hear about these "great opportunities" & how they are going to be funded not useing OUR OWN PERSONAL HARD EARNED MONEY!
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I view EVERY SINGLE THING IN LIFE as an opportunity for personal growth, and to grow up. That does not mean that for every single opportunity that presents itself, I should just roll over and play dead, or reach down and grab my ankles and brace myself for whatever comes. There are times to accept, as there are times to say enough. I'll repost all of the quote from Ecclesiastes here:
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.
Specifically:
There is A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
And there is A time to be silent and a time to speak.
People in this community have every right to their voice - and we have every right to protest something that will very negatively affect them permanently. That does not make us part of a shallow gene pool, immature, or people who want to spend eternity in tree sap.
Maybe you should move down to Darfur and convince everyone there that is a victim of the ongoing genocides to just "accept it, and look at it as an opportunity for personal growth". Obviously, your gene pool would be a great addition there, since it's not nearly so shallow as ours.
Posted by new_to_town_and_ready_to_leave (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am a new resident to the city of Emporia, bringing my family here due to advances in my company. I have seen similar situations play out in the surrounding communities where I am from so maybe I can help shed some light on where your problems lie.
The 3 common denominators I have seen are:
1. Politics
2. Gready big business ( Cargil and Tyson)
3. Communities not getting involved untill its too late.
Lets start with number 1.
This is an easy one, its all about the money and the politicians not giving a rats a$$ about how it effects the communities they serve. Let me guess your Board of Supervisors is made up of local wealthy businessmen? If thats not the case then your lucky, but if it is which is the norm, are they thinking with their heads or pocketbooks. Remember they are businessmen!
Number 2
Big business, good luck with this one, they have more politicians in their back pocket then they need. Why do you think this happens in the first place.
Number 3
I see a good start for emporia by what I am reading here and if you stay the course maybe some good will be accomplished by your effots, for Emporias sake I hope so.
These points all could of been elaborated on further but I know what the problems are just arm your selves with as much knowledge as you can and dont give up the fight!
As for Montag you are the one lacking just sitting idly by and watching this unfold, yes things change and always will, but as Americans we can have a say in how it changes!
And just for arguments sake what opportunities would those be Montag?
And for all of those out there that think this is a racial issue its not.
What it is is a Tax issue, Housing Issue, Health Issue, School issue, plus others.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 2:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Montag, you have a right to your opinion, just as we do, but it is obvious that you have not read our posts very carefully, or you would not have insulted us. By doing so, you have made a formidable enemy.
Sometimes we argue with each other on this forum, but this time, we are one. We are not rabbits, Montag. We are eagles -- alert, keen, and very quick.
Now Montag, tell us about all these "opportunities" about which you speak. Can't wait to hear 'em. Be specific, please, as most of us have been.
Posted by new_to_town_and_ready_to_leave (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
that should have read:
...I know you know what the problems are...
Posted by Kansan (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Montag
Aren't you holier than thou. For you to make those comments about the people here in Emporia tells me you're neither as wise nor as altruistic as you think you are. This whole refugee thing is all about $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, and how cheaply Tyson can produce its products. It has nothing to do with helping thy neighbor.
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 2:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
open-eyes
In one of your earlier posts you mentioned Eric Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation." I read it about a year ago, based on my wife's recommendation. It was a real indictment on the meat packing/processing industry and the fast food industry that relies so heavily on it for its supply. The details of ruined communities is absolutely hair raising.
I just started reading Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle," which was an early twentieth century indictment on the meat processing industry of that time and its negative impact on the Polish and Lithuanian immigrants that took jobs in the plants.
It took generations for those immigrant communities to overcome the abuse and neglect they'd been subjected to and it took generations for the communities where they lived to overcome the economic and social effects of the neglect. Even today there are vestiges of the dependency system the politicans and social welfare agencies of that time set up. It's called the patronage system and it's still alive and well in Chicago.
What I really don't like is hearing people like montag accuse the community of being racists or lacking in compassion. I'm sure there are racists here in Emporia like there are everywhere. But the vast majority of Emporians are people of good will. I know that for sure.
I also object to the false sense of compassion that people like montag seem to represent. I grew up living within the welfare system. I can tell everyone here that it is the most damnable system ever devised by man. Operating on the pretext of compassion it does little more than create generations of perpetually dependent people. Those of us who escape it do so by sheer force of will. We get tired of being degraded by those who consider themselves our betters. We get tired of being told that we must remain dependent because someone "compassionate" is going to take care of them for the rest of their lives. We get tired of being told that our lot in life is to be their dependents. We get tired of being treated as trophies to the goodness of some noble beaurocrat. We get tired of hearing that "these people" need us in order to live. We get tired of it all and decide that all we want is opportunity. Given that, we see that our supposed betters are no better than us. They're neither smarter, nobler, wiser, more industrious, nor compassionate.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. I support the aims of the Somali community, particularly if they include taking advantage of opportunity. But I do not support what I believe to be a pernicious attempt by some to feel noble at the expense of the entire community, Somalis included. If they insist on building these monuments to their goodness and nobility they are in for a rude awakening. This "plan" is not good for the Somali community and it is not good for Emporia. All it's going to do is create more poverty, blight, neglect, and ill will.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just for the record, I spent the first 2/3 of my life (so far) born and raised in Emporia. I managed to turn my "shallow gene pool" (my parents don't really care for that remark) into a degree Summa Cum Laude from ESU (apparently, however, I'm still among the "less educated") and got a good job a couple of hours from here, assisted along the way by working at IBP when they actually paid decent wages and had very little problem finding help. But I own property here, and, of course as a result, pay taxes here. My family and many friends are still here, I still spend alot of time here, and have always figured in not too many years this is where I will return on a more or less permanent basis. So, even though this is not my official residence, I have always and always will consider this "home". And, as I said, I own land and pay taxes here, so I DO have a vested interest in what happens in this town.
As create said, at times we argue with each other on this forum. At times, I've spouted off remarks which I immediately or later regretted, I think I've always apologized for my rashness when it was warranted. Yes, there are some posters on here you could consider racists. They are far and few between. But insulting people's intelligence or gene pool, which indirectly is insulting their family/parents/grandparents/etc, when you do not know that person AT ALL, is NO BETTER THAN RACISM. Apparently you consider yourself "above", or "from better breeding" than us, sounds pretty biased and bigoted to me.
I'm with everyone else. I'm eagerly awaiting these "opportunities" of which you speak. And we already know all about learning about another culture/diversity/etc.., I've beebopped (I like that word, if it is one :) around the world quite a bit, and for the 17th time, I've enjoyed learning and experiencing other's cultures, but never once thought of imposing my culture upon any of the people in any of the countries I've spent time in. Also I've done quite a bit of "learning" about the Somali practice of removing a young girls clitoris. I don't care if someone has a cultural practice of cutting a chickens head off and drinking the blood straight out of the spurting neck, or tatooing themselves silly, or whatever, it may seem barbaric to me, but that's their right. However, I DO object to practices that infringe on anothers basic human right, especially one too young to know that the practice will negatively affect her permanently. Is that the compassion and understanding you refer to?
So give us some opportunity ideas other than cultural learning - something concrete that can bolster Emporia and Emporians. Some business opportunities? A chance for Tyson to give some huge raise increases to boster the local economy? (Har!). Housing/political/social ideas? Right now, I'm ready to change my handle to open_ears....
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Exactly, netloafer. They are more than happy to let companies such as Tyson cut wages down to the point many local people cannot afford to work there, thus lowering standards of living. And they don't care if we recreate 3rd world conditions here, as long as the price of beef stays low. And then sit in an ivory tower and spout a "holier than thou" attitude.
Posted by somali (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For all of you who wrote hated comments against Somalis, I think you are worried because you believe Somali people will takeover your benefits or if you working your jobs, I know Somali people are hard workers and they will take all available jobs, but they will pay you tax and you will receive your social welfare and disability living allowance, so please stop worried about you’re disability living allowance, I know those who wrote hate comments are all disable either fiscally or mentally, Somali people would surely have done everything in their power to find work and place to stay, maybe same of them are still need support while they learning the language, and for those small number you’re not going to pay them you’re disability allowance, but they will get pay by taxpayers who work hard.
Finally all Somali people who are in the united state will be American citizens soon or later, and they will have some rights that you have, on the other hand I know you knew where you’re from and when you came to America, keep in mind Somali people did contribute a lot in united states, and will contribute a lot in Emporia, so I advice you short you’re mouths and watch them in the near future, believe me they are not handicaps, they want be good citizens.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
new_to_town: I enjoyed reading your interesting post. Good ideas, especially this one: "And for all of those out there that think this is a racial issue its not...What it is is a Tax issue, Housing Issue, Health Issue, School issue, plus others."
And thank you for the motivation. Keep coming back, please, and welcome to Emporia.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
somali - advising Americans to "short their mouths" - is not going to endear you to locals. That's not the attitude my ancestors had when they came here. As for $$$, we are subsidizing this - so what good does it do us to get $1 taken out of our pocket for every $1 put back in? (metaphorically speaking). Plus, this allows Tyson to keep local wages lower, so, as the studies I posted earlier show, everyone loses.....
Posted by landinkansas (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've been very diligently reading everyone's comments. We've been drifting a little so I went back and read the original story again to refocus. Does anyone know Stephen Weitkamp? The story/intent is worse the second time around. This guy acts like he's running for office. He's full of himself. From Kansas City, Kansas? Does he really have as much power & persuasion as he lets on? Can we get him to Emporia for an open forum? I'd very much like to talk to him. A lot of what he is proposing is not legal with public money.
Posted by boomer46 (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
laninkansas,
FYI...
Stephen Weitkamp
Director of Refugee and Migrant Services
Refugee & Migrant
Services 220 S. 9th Street
Kansas City, KS 66102
(913)621-5774
Refugee and Migrant Services
Volunteers prepare Refugee Welcome Boxes with supplies for the kitchen bathroom and bedroom, and they lay in a full week's supply of groceries. They collect donated items, locate housing, furnish and decorate in advance of arrival, greet refugee families at the airport, provide transport to appointments or job interviews and provide English tutoring.
Refugees are expected to quickly become contributing members of society. Self-sufficiency and welfare avoidance are goals.
Migrants:
Migrant Services, funded through the Kansas Department of Education, targets educational support to school-age children of migrant families. Through after-school tutoring, use of the computer lab, and participation in enrichment activities, migrant children overcome language, educational and social deficits to advance academically with their peers.
Service Area:
Refugee and Migrant Services are offered in Wyandotte County.
For more information, contact:
(913)621-5774
Or email us at info@ccsks.org
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
boomer46
Does Catholic Charities think that giving the Somali refugees a week's worth of food and and someone greeting them is giving due dilliegence?
Does Catholc Charities realistically think that the Somali community is "quickly" going to become contributing members of society?
Does Catholic Charities really expect us to believe that two of the goals are self-sufficiency and avoidance of welfare?
Does Catholic Charities really expect us to believe that this venture isn't going to be funded by the people of Emporia?
Does Catholic Charities expect us to believe that Emporia was the optimum place for resettlement? Does Catholc Charities expect us to believe that Emporia, with its extremely low median incomes, high poverty rates, and inner city blight, was the ideal place for this misguided social experiment?
Does Catholic Charities have any respect at all for the integrity of the people of Emporia?
Does Catholic Charities think that a grant of $104K is sufficient to fund the needs?
According to the original piece, the goal of the new office is to acquaint the Somali community to the services available to them. Does Catholic Charities expect us to believe Catholic Charities that is going to fund this? Or is it going to be the people of Emporia, who are already over-taxed and over-burdened?
The treatment of the Somalis and the communities they're dumping them in by our government agencies and NGO's and non profits has been just awful.
Posted by boomer46 (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 4:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
netloafer,
I have the same questions you do. The information I posted was from Weitcamb's website.
Posted by Flips (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This not only effects Emporia but effects this whole state of Kansas AGAIN!!!!!!!
I'll repeat those who don't live with in the city of Emporia need to get involved-----this doesn't just effect the CITY OF EMPORIA!!!! The strongest effects will be felt by the city of Emporia--- but it does in fact effect everyone in Kansas & especially those in the Emporia area!
If you live in Kansas or have investments in Kansas --you need to listen up here as to what is going on & get involved!
Yes one person can make a difference! Are you that one person??????
Posted by ladybug1 (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why do you think Tyson is bring the people here? Do you want to work at Tyson? I think not! If this town didn't have Tyson and the people that worked there this town would go under and take everyone with it.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Somali, I don't think you fully understand this issue. We are not disabled people worried about benefits. We are hard-working people with jobs, with careers, with professions that require us to have exprience or education or both. Some of us own businesses. We have families, we are not only worried about ourselves, but about our entire community.
As citizens, we are worried about housing, taxes, schools, public health. We are paying the taxes that are supporting you and your countrymen. I myself am a retired educator of 22 years who is also a property owner. My property taxes support schools, and many other public agencies that you yourself and your countrymen are using now.
Remember, most of us did not complain when Somali people first came to Emporia. We welcomed you and were happy to learn about your culture. We sympathized with your plight. Can you also understand that while we can welcome a few of you, large numbers of Somalis would place a great deal of stress and strain on our local economy? Why can't you see that? How would you have handled it in Somalia if several villages from surrounding areas had moved in to your village? How would you feed them? What jobs would they have? How would you care for their health? What would you do if they brought diseases with them?
Can't you see that we are worried about such things as our children's health and our own health? Some of you come here and lie about your physical conditions. This has happened now more than once. What responsibility will you take if an epidemic occurs of some disease that you brought with you?
Did you know that for some of us, our car insurance premiums have been raised because of the many traffic accidents here in Emporia since your arrival? That is called the experience factor and it relates to the rates we pay. You can't keep having traffic accidents because you don't know how to drive. Insurance rates will be raised. This makes us angry. It also makes us angry that many of you lie about your driver's licenses and share one license with several people. This is against the law!!! We expect you to obey the same laws we do.
We are trying our best to understand why Emporia has been turned into a Refugee Center without no one informing us about it beforehand, because to tell you the truth, Emporia is much too small of a town to absorb this many new people. That is the crux of the issue!
If one thousand Germans or French or English people were to be introduced to our town, believe me, we would be as upset about them as we are about you. Can't you understand that? It has to do with numbers.
And be very careful about telling us to shut our mouths and watch them in the near future. Exactly what is that supposed to mean? I don't think you want to threaten us.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
create - excellent post.
ladybug1 - take some time to read back thru these posts and your questions will answer themselves.
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If they were German or French or English you would invite them in your home. But becuase they are Black you see them has a threat . Please let the truth be told . I remember over in the Country Club area that if you were Black you were not able to buy a Home , that was written in the contract . So Please tell the truth . Some of the people who wanted that are still alive today with the same attitude .
Posted by new_to_town_and_ready_to_leave (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ladybug1
So what you are saying is why have a government we have a Tyson plant?
Tyson does not control this town and it would not go under if they left, West Point, Ne. didnt go under when the IBP plant left there 365 jobs were lost. Not alot of jobs except when you figure the town is 3600 people thats 10% of the population out of work in one day. And guess what the town is still there!
Of course there were hard times but the community came together and made it through the tough times.
Its people like you that think we will spiral out of control if a company threatens to close doors or move. You give the power to these large companies to do whatever they want when you show fear they win!
Im not saying Tyson has to go, some of their practices YES.
Posted by Kansan (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
UsayUlovegod
Quit trying to turn this into the tired old worn out piece about us being prejudiced against blacks. You obviously don't know most of the people I know in Emporia. Maybe it's YOU who has issues with racism!
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey everyone....
I met with Matt. Zimmerman, our City Manager today.
He is reading this forum....
and said that he was NOT aware of what was going on with ERRA when we had our Image meeting last Tuesday night.
He said that he was at the ERRA meeting last Friday night...(which is held the first Friday of each month), & is open to the public...
He had to leave last Friday's meeting early, before he heard the information that was in the article on Saturday. He claims that he heard about the preparation for a new infulx of Samolians, the same way we did....by reading the article.
He says he has no idea of how many more Samolians they are expecting....whether it is a few hundred, or a thousand or more.
Mr. Zimmerman said that he has been making phone calls for answers as to what is going on...truth vs. fiction of what we have heard, and what we are posting about....and that he will be discussing this issue in the Commissioners Meeting tomorrow.
He said if anyone wants to they can e-mail him at:
mzimmerman@emporia-kansas.gov
He promised that he was looking into what was going on, and would make a public statement within the next few days as to his findings.
He said he had many questions that he was looking for answers too..and has made phone calls, for which he is waiting for return calls. Our friend, Mr. Weitkamp in Kansas City, is one of them.
Posted by gbdr97 (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 5:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks like all that I posted and was called an UNAMERICAN for is Happening. Guess now everyone cares. A little to late. I was the one 3 months ago when the Spring commitee came to town to ask to organize a march against them. Too bad so many people had their heads in the sand.
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know the truth hurts. but God knows and we all are here only for a short time and I know alot of people here and most of them are good people with attitudes towards people who are not in their social standards or that have different beliefs then them. Emporia will be torn apart because of the hate in people hearts and that is the truth . I went to a dinner at the 1st presbyterian church this past Saturday . There were over 90 people there from the Black , Somali , Hispanic and the White community . We had a potluck dinner to see if we could sit down and be civil to each other. We got along fine . No problems at all . So go on with your lies and hate . There are bad people in every race . No one race is perfect. If you look hard enough you will find a little evil in all of us. I see rude people in Wal-Mart who are all shades of every color. I do not have much , but I thank God for what I do have and what I can share. This is not your land , this is God's land . I pray for you and for those who try to condem people for wanting a better life. I am not defending Tyson, I worked there for 10 years and I quit due to the way they were treating people. but I learned one thing while I was there. I knew mexicans , who gave up everything they had to come here to give their familes a better life. We all want the same thing . To provide for our families and to have our children do better than us and to live ina safe enviroment .
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
UsayULoveGod - you have no idea whatsoever how many black, hispanic, chinese or any other ethnicities have been in my home, and I in theirs. We're getting really tired of the racist statements here. On both sides.
ladybug1 - 20 years or more ago, Emporia had what I called "The Big 4" employers - IBP, Dolly Madison, Modine, and Didde's. Two of those are gone. Emporia is still here.
somali - here's your chance to straighten us out on some points, if we are wrong. How do you feel about women? Why are they shoved aside rudely at Walmart? Why do you believe that you should be given drivers licenses without showing the proper skills and proficiency behind the wheel, while Americans are not allowed that leniency? Why are you angry at the US for "meddling" in your country? Is it because you sympathize with the Taliban? Do you understand how reservist feels when his fellow compatriat is killed and drug thru your streets to cheering crowds? Do you follow the female mutilation practice I have mentioned several times? Do you believe that someday Islam should or will be the law of the land? How about create's questions? You've had many chances to respond to many statements on this and other threads, and all we get is that we should "shut our mouths", and "sooner or later we'll all be citizens and then we'll have your rights too". That alone answers some of my questions about attitudes, and real reasons for coming to this country. I would think that if we were way off base, you would have immediately straightened us out, but we have another saying in this country, that sometimes "silence speaks volumes". How do you feel about "taqiyya" - that the quran teaches that it is permissible to lie to infidels to further the cause of Islam? Given that, should any of us believe anything you tell us, or even your answer to that question? I guess that might make all of this a futile exercise. Just so you know, Christianity teaches that the truth is ALWAYS the right thing to do. No exceptions.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 5:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Usay - "I am not defending Tyson, I worked there for 10 years and I quit due to the way they were treating people.".
Then why do you want Tyson to be allowed, and even government subsidized, to continue to treat people this way? Can you not see that? Do you not see the connection and the hypocrisy in your own statement? If Tyson was not allowed to treat people this way, they wouldn't have any problem filling jobs locally. And, again, those Mexicans you speak of were not dumped here by the hundreds or thousands all at once by the government, and subsidized (at least not to the extent of what we are seeing now) - and the ones I know all welcomed and embraced our culture.
Nobody that I have seen posting here has claimed to be perfect, or that their race was any better than any others, except for a very very few who have made some racist comments, which have pretty much been ignored by the majority. Just how long are you going to insist on beating a dead horse?
Posted by reservist (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Somolia, why are you here in my country when you should be in yours trying to fix it? I voluntered to enlist in the Army and I have served my country in combat. If the people of your own country cant get along and butcher one another, how is coming to the U.S going to solve all your problems? If you truly want to be an American you would not expect anything from us. You wouldnt look at America as how America can serve me? You would look at America as How can I serve America? Somolians butchered U.S soldiers and you expect us to welcome you to our country with open arms? First impressions are hard to change and the way that your fellow countrymen acted when the came to my home town has persuaded us to act this way. The U.S fired upon terroist camps in Somolia. How do we know that the refugees coming here to my home town are free of insurgents? Terroist have tried violence to destroy our country and it hasnt worked. Getting Somolians jobs at a meat packing plant were it would be easy to taint meat with mad cow disease would hurt our economy greatly.
Everyone else trying to avoid Tyson products, be aware tyson labels their food with different names. I dont know if Farmland is one of them or not. I do know Fanestill used to get all of their beef from Tyson.
Anyone else wanting to meet and have a discussion about what to do and share information, show up around 6 on thursday at the Public Library. Inside outside depends on how many show up.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
President Kennedy, 1961: "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."
How times have changed. I was watching Bill O'Reilly the other night, they went out on the street and were asking kids if they owed their country anything. It was sad, every kid thought America owed everything to them, and they owed nothing to our country. So sad.
Reservist, I can't be there, but I will be in spirit.
Posted by Kansanbybirth (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 5:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You know I really think the city and county should hit Tyson up for the increased costs of infrastructure that they are causing because of bringing in hundreds at a time. I know people at the health clinic and they say it has been a major strain on their resources to provide for all the TB meds that have to be administered each day. Who is covering the added costs to our local medical clinics?
Then there is the matter of schools. Most of the schools here in town are running close to or above max student population levels already. A large influx could require additional schools to be built - and its we property tax payers (who already pay some of the highest property taxes in the state and nation) who will have to flit the bill. There is also the costs of translators etc.
Like I said I'm not prejudiced and I don't hate the somali people but I really don't want this town turned into a refugi camp either. Its just not big enough or have the resources to support the influx of people.
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My issue is not with Tyson . They are going to make money anyway possible . When I worked there a employee arm got caught and ripped off from his body . They stopped the chain just long enough for the employee to get past the Production line. Maybe 10-20 sec and kept running like nothing never happen. They do not care about their employees only Money.
They bring in Refugees to work. They constructed a prayer room for them. I hear people everyday complain about that . I say , why be upset at the somalis , if you are to be mad it should be directed at Tyson not them. Becuase you know that tyson knew this would bring tension and it worked. They stop hiring mexcains and then they started to hate the somalis . Why , hate those who are trying to better themselves . My issue is that We are directing our disgust and anger towards those with no power. If this is the case, then we must examine the reason why. When they 1st came I read hundreds of email about them doing horrible things to our white women from raping them to kidnapping them and throwing them in the back of car trunks. Why was this started . Because of Hate not love . It comes with the fear of Change . Yes we lost Modine, Diddes and we are about to lose Dolly Madison. But none of the reasons are because of who is currently living in Emporia. We must stop fighting among ourselves. We need to seek out the answers to what can we do to make it better for all of us. Change is coming even if we like it or not, it is coming . I am going speak my mind like you are speaking yours.
Posted by countryboy (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 6:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The city of Emporia paid big $$$$ to see what they needed to do to make Emporia a bitter place to live, draw more businesses for jobs, and to draw more shoppers from the surrounding community's.
What they should have done is just ask they people of Lyon co.
I work in Emporia, but live in another county. Many of my fellow co-workers also live outside Lyon county.
The BIGGEST REASON WE DO NOT SHOP EMPORIA IS BECAUSE WE SPEAK ENGLISH!!
When I go shopping in Emporia, it is like I went to another country.
It seems like Emporia caters to NON AMERICANS!!!
Even with the price of gas, it is worth going to Manhattan, Topeka, Wichita, and Kansas City.
I have no trouble with anyone that comes to the USA legally, speaks English, obeys the laws, and don't cry FOUL if I say Christmas, say a prayer at a restaurant, etc.... .
First Emporia bends over backward for the Mexicans, now it is for the Somali's.
Is Emporia going to build them a park so they can do whatever they want, when they want.
If I was to have a lets say a wedding party at Peter Pan Park.
We know what would happen if we was there after 10pm., or if there were people drinking beer out of their own coolers, etc.... Emporia P.D. would haul us all off!!!!! AM I RIGHT ABOUT THIS?
I AM WILLING TO BET WITHIN 5 YEARS ALL HELL WILL BREAK LOSE IN EMPORIA, AND IT WILL LOOK LIKE A BAD GANG WAR. (ok maybe not that long)
I am so glad my children do not go to school there, or live in Emporia!
If you are an HONEST AMERICAN living in Emporia ya ought to get out before the housing market drops to the bottom of the bucket.
Posted by reservist (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 6:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
open eyes, first thank you.
My goal is to get a diverse and civil group of Emporians together in which we can try to influence the city government to make the right decission. A few middle aged men wont be enough. We need eldery, middle age, young adults, high schoolers, males, females, European Americans, Mexican Americans, African Americans, mothers, dads, grandparents, singles, factory workers, business owners, veterans, and anyone else out their that I may have forgotten. I also hope that I can get enough support that we can have many meetings or smaller meetings during different times of the day so that their would be sometime that anyone who would like to get involved would be able to do so. We must be careful in the way we act and what we say. Most Emporians feel the way we do and we do not want to do anything to lose their support.
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 6:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
boomer46
Thanks for the clarification. Forgive me for assuming that you were supporting the Catholic Charities point of view.
The questions do need to be answered.
YouSayULoveGod
This is not a matter of race, as you are portraying it to be. We all understand that there is racism here, but this is not what this forum is about.
Our home is host to many of this city's minorities and ethnicities. We host a Vietnamese student. We've had a student from South Korea, another from Moldova. We host dinners are get-togethers for Tanzanians, Palestinians, Pakistanis, Indians, Taiwanese, Mexicans, Chinese, South Americans (Brazil). The church we attend claims a significant number of Hispanics and African-Americans as members. These are matters of faith for us!
In the same way, this current situation is as much a matter of faith as it is politics for me. I do not believe that it is right to treat a minority group like the Somalis as chattel so that a large corporation like Tyson can profit. It is unfair. It is un-American. It is un-Christian.
This city is close to being overwhelmed by poverty and neglect. The signs are everywhere in the core of Emporia. We have slumlords taking advantage of the poor, Hispanics, Whites, Somalis, students. We have crime on the increase. Do you think that the drive by yesterday was an isolated incident? It's becoming more and more frequent. Late in the spring and early in the summer the sound of gunfire was becoming a nightly occurence in our neighborhood. The police told us directly that it was part of a rivalry between competing groups from Tyson. It's going to increase.And,it's not the fault of most Somalis. It is a by-product of taking ethnic groups and pitting them against each other in the search for low wage labor at Tyson.
None of the agencies has given any consideration to the impact this will have on an already poor community. Poverty rates will increase. Taxes will increase exponentially, particularly for what's left of the middle class here. We moved my wife's mother down here a year ago so we could provide support. She's an 88 year old widow who has a developmentally disabled son living at home with her. She lives on a fixed income. Her property taxes have gone up from $1000 a year to close to $1700 in the space of a year. They're now higher, in raw dollars, than they were for here in Shawnee, KS. And her home there was valued $50K higher there than here. Where does she fit in this scheme of things? Who is giving her any consideration?
I do not believe that it is right for any social service agency to be a party to such a reprehinsible bargain. Many people have said in this forum that this is primarily a vehicle for Tyson to be the beneficiary of cheap labor and Catholic Charities and the U.S. State Departments to soothe their consciences.
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 6:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've read in this and other forums that there is interest in forming a public advocacy group. About 8 months ago I did all the paperwork to get a grassroots 501c3 started. It's been approved. I've never done anything with it, because there did not seem to be much public interest in change.
Perhaps it's time to dust it off. My wife and I called it C.A.R.E. (Coalition Advancing Represtation for all Emporians). We have the paperwork filed somewhere upstairs and could dig it out.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 7:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First, Tre, thank you for the repost. I appreciate the compliment. Hope it works.
Renegade, great job with Mr. Zimmerman! Way to go, girl! This is our very first positive bit of information from a public official. It is gratifying to know that he is reading the forum and will inform the rest on the commission that we are all bent out of shape. Our words are not falling by the wayside. I will watch for his public statement. Can't wait.
Usay, yes, you have a right to speak here, but you know what? You don't have a right to call us names. Have you noticed that we don't call names?
And what is this you said, "Emporia will be torn apart because of the hate in people hearts and that is the truth ." Are you cursing us? You sound like Fred Phelps. KNOCK IT OFF!!!
I'm sorry everyone for getting off track with this Usay character. No more.
Again Renegade, nice job. Let's move forward.
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 8:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Create...It's a start! I think we'll hear more from Matt Zimmerman.
Who's this Fred Phelps,... create? This is the 2nd or 3rd mention of him on here. Never mind...maybe I shouldn't ask here. You have my e-mail, if you want to tell me about him.
netloafer...Your grassroots 5013c..C.A.R.E. is a great idea!!!
You have my interest...If I can help you with it in anyway...please e-mail me...I support you.
(p.s....the ERRA is a grass roots organization too).
im.renegade@yahoo.com
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 8:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I vote for netloafer or open-eyes. Netloafer, you are very calm. I am an underlying hothead and don't look good on camera. Please, both of you, go for it and represent us. You can use any of my notes you want, but you won't need them. Please do it. Soon. Strike while the iron is hot. I'll stand by and cheer you on.
Posted by gbdr97 (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 8:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey editors of the Gazette why not instead of a Poll on Uniforms you do a Poll of the people online or by Phone and find out what Emporians really think about what we are having forced upon us. It seems that we have no rights in our own city\refugee camp. Where are our State Reps when we need them? and Senators, let them come here and answer our questions. Why isnt there a reporter out there that is willing to Cover us the people, instead of what they are given at a Press Conf. to tell us. Isnt there such a thing as an investigative reporter anymore? Unless we have information on the plans that are obvioulsy instore for Emporia we will still be Powerless to do anything about them. Thats why everything is such a surprise to everyone. WE NEED TO KNOW THE PLANS as they say there is always a Plan, nothing like this is done without a 5 year plan Someone already knows what is going to eventually happen and that is what we need to know. Our Reps need to summon Tyson and Spring, and the Catholic Society into the State house and disclose these to the Public in an Official Enquire. Unless this can be accomplished all we are doing here is Blowing Smoke
Posted by reservist (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 8:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Kstrebuchet, If you need people to be interviewed Ill go on camera. I can keep my calm. My email is tractortrav@yahoo.com
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 8:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Renegade, in a nutshell --
Fred Phelps is the preacher at Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka which is made up largely of family members. They preach hate towards almost everyone, but in particular they are anti-homosexual. They have been traveling all over the country to picket at the funerals of military men and women who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. They believe that these men and women deserve to die because the United States has liberal policies with regard to homosexuals. "Phelps and his congregation have protested at the funerals of Matthew Shepard and Al Gore, Sr. They frequently visit towns across the country to picket progressive churches and communities, carrying signs that read "NO TEARS FOR QUEERS", "GOD HATES FAGS", "THANK GOD FOR AIDS", and other equally repugnant phrases." If you google Fred Phelps you'll get a ton of info.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 9:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL Tre. No kidding, I am no longer the lithe and beautiful maiden I once was. All that beauty, however, has been replaced by brains and irascibility. With an MA in English, I can write myself out of a paper bag, but I'd have to wear the bag over my head, you see. ;)
Posted by jasonandashley (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 9:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to say that agree with almost everyone on here...that is, I agree with the ones that are totally AGAINST this whole issue. Now, I don't live in Emporia, but we used to and I'll tell you something....we don't regret moving for one minute!!!
Let me tell you something EQUALITY; You don't live in Emporia so you have absolutely no business telling these people what to think and tell them that they should be ashamed of themselves for not "giving this culture a chance"? Give me a freakin break!! You don't even know first hand what it is like to be around these people, let alone live in the same apartment complex. I'm usually easy to get along with and I don't judge people, but these people did it for me. They have made a name for themselves, and it's not a good one. My boyfriend and I lived in an aparment complex on the east side of town that eventually became over run with them. WE WERE SURROUNDED!!! The smell was awful and seemed to come through the walls of the apartment. They yelled across the parking lot at each other at all hours of the day and night. It never got quiet until 4 or 5 in the morning, and by that time it was time for us to get up for work...so much for sleep. And to have loud banging on your front door at 3 in the morning and open it to fined two somalis outside, who can't speak English, and are trying to find the right apartment. And rude???? YES!!!! I have never met so many disrespectful people in my life!!! And I'm not even 30 yet!!!! I don't know how many times I would come outside and find these people sitting on my car! Not leaning against but sitting on the HOOD of my car! I when I asked them, nicely, to move, they looked at me like I was crazy. The sad part is it seemed that our landlord, 'couldn't really do anything about it'.
I have had many encounters with them at walmart...and they weren't good ones. And, the worst experience I've had, i was unloading my items at the cash register and two somali men got in line behind me. The one leaned onto my cart and looked over the items i still hadn't put up on the belt yet and looked in my purse that was still sitting in the basket of my car.....and you want to tell me that's not being rude and disrespectful...please.
I'm glad I moved, and I feel for those of you that are still living in Emporia and have to deal with the day to day chaos. I know we'll probably never be able to do anything about it now, but you watch, after all this takes place, the city will take a big hit and will have MAJOR problems with decreased revenue and everything else, not to mention and increase in disease problems. I'm a nurse, trust me I know what I have seen and I know what will the eventual outcome will be.
What are these people bringing to Emporia? New skills, technology, profit??? NO THEY'RE NOT BRINGING A DAMN THING!!!
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 9:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
great job treb!!! i vote for any of you! maybe all of you at one time? anyone who is going to the library on thursday, in case you havent been to this library, they allow drinks inside at the reading area by the magazines for those who are getting off work that time of day, you can bring your after work drink with you. the kids part of the library is within earshot of the magazine area, so if you bring kids, they can entertain themselves without getting bored
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 9:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
create...OK..Now I know who he is. I just never paid attention to his name...and I was paying more attention to his scary wife....Thanks create...Sorry, they aren't even worth wasting space talking about.
Ktre...good job with the t.v. stations...Create is right...we need to strike while the iron's hot with the t.v. stations.
Good job getting a response from them.
Have we heard from anyone in Emporia media about all the posting on here? What about Bobbie Mlynar.?...She seems to have disappeared. I thought by now she would have tried to contact someone to talk about the reaction from the community to this article.
Posted by Flips (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I contacted the Right People who knew the
Right People---please read this article:
http://blog.americancongressfortruth.com...
www.americancongressfortruth.org
http://www.americancongressfortruth.org
I'm not through contacting people yet-------- Flips!!!!
One person can make a difference------are you making a difference??????? Lets ALL work together to make a difference!
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 11:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've spent the evening hacking away at 1 of my computers that downloaded a virus while trying to look up some info - dang! Go figure....
Anway, Kstr, I'm amazed you got a response. Congrats! As for me being level-headed and well-spoken, LOL - I usually type everything twice - once the first hot-headed thought that comes to mind, and then I read it and calm down and rewrite a somewhat milder version, harhar :)
Seriously, even with the people I sometimes disagree with on these boards, I have much respect. As I mentioned earlier, I do live out of town aways - probably won't make it back till the holidays coming up. And in this case, I'm thinking that people who are local/live very near Emporia would be who the reporter(s) would prefer to talk to. Yeah, I know, sounds like I'm turning tail, but there is one thing that does come to my mind - I have friends & family that do/did work at Tyson, that is where I get alot of my info - I would not want them to be targets of Tyson mgmt or anyone else by association. I've seen some of Tysons dealings with people lately, I don't trust them one bit. (Long story in itself right there). I'll contact some people back there in the next day or 2 and see if any of them would be willing. That probably goes for us all - there are probably plenty of people in Emporia that would be willing to talk to a reporter - not just people that post on this board. Spread the word!
The CARE group sounds like a good idea - contact me thru here if you'd like, I'd like to help if I can. And any other (at least most of the time) long-distance help that I can provide. Don't know right off the top of my head what that would be, but I'm willing :)
Reservist, thanks for stepping up. You have my support in whatever way I can.
Posted by ksfarmer (anonymous) on November 6, 2007 at 11:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good info FLIPS! blog.americancongressfortruth-----type in 'somali refugees' in the search..... read all about Emporia/tyson
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 12:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Flips, I would like to say that was an eye-opening article, but I've had my eyes_open for quite some time now :)
somali, KUFan, any other Somalian posters who have been on these threads: I and others asked a bunch of questions several posts back. You are welcome to answer at any time.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 12:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just thinking up a few more random questions.
How do you feel about Jews? Do you think Israel should be annihilated, as Iran's leader would like?
How did YOU feel when the American soldiers were killed and drug thru the Somalian streets to the cheering crowds? Was that a good thing, do you think they/we deserved it, or did you find it despicable?
What do you think about what happened here on 9/11?
What is your opinion of Bin Laden, Iran's leader, Karzai in Afghanistan?
I don't think these and the questions I asked earlier are unfair questions. I would really like to know how the Somalian community here feels about these things. There is alot of mistrust on both sides that could be cleared up, instead of just telling us to shut our mouths. And, I am very aware of what "taqiyya" means.
Posted by lovshistry (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 12:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dear people of Emporia: I am responding to this editorial and I was so ah strucked that I did not know really what to say. Now I know. I guess my biggest question is why Emporia? It all stints from the title "reffugee". According to a dictionary, a refugee is or are people who has lost their home or land but wants to rebuild it and go back home. My question again why here when they, somalians, don't want to be here anyway. our government claims that to become a U.S. citizen, one must obtain a state drivers licence. Our govenment has made it possible for these people to take a tes without words. Again, I do not understand. Why is my son in school learning how to read and write? According to our government, he does not need to. We can let him grow up illiterate and we shall take care of him. He can now get a drivers license, live off welfare, get free health care, have kids and teach them to live off the system. But since he knows how to read, he must get a job, pay taxes and have it given to people who does not care about him. Now we have 3 individuals, Stephen Witkamp, K.C., Lewis Kimsey, Topeka, and Jerry Moran, Salina, telling us that we MUST house them, give them free medical, free food and are paid without taxes taken out. If the somalians would just say thank you and become U.S. citizens and pay taxes, I would not be writing this. Instead, their attitude towards us, U.S. is less than thankful. Instead they disrespect the people around them, they make a mockary out of our safety laws on the streets, they make our neighborhoods slums and they laugh at our society. And our government wants us, U.S. to pay them for it. I'm sorry, I still do not understand this. Maybe we all should relinquish our citizenship, apply for welfare, and then we wouldn't need to pay taxes. I guess I am too honest. We can do something about it. Sign a potition to vote in new city council members under a "no confidence" standing. They are the people who are supposed to be our voice in this matter. We are paying them too you know. Remember Tyson is getting rich off of this.
Posted by bdprotheroe (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 5:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow! Hands down. This news story wins with having the most posts.
I'm going to stay out of this discussion. Believe me, I understand how frustrating this matter is for everyone. I'd like to just add one suggestion, if I may.
As everyone adds their comments to "Emporia readies for more Somali refugees," I'd just like to remind everyone to remain as civil as possible. I'm not saying anyone here is a bigot or is racist, but one poor choice of wording can give anyone the wrong idea. This is the world wide web, and anyone from anywhere can read these entries. I would hate for a major news network in New York, DC or LA to pick up on this and give Emporia a bad image.
So, please, carry on with your discussion, just be cautious of the words you use.
Brian Protheroe
San Francisco, CA
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 5:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the idea of media coverage is good. I would do it, but my wife and I are going to be in Mexico on a missions trip from tomorrow through about the 20th of November.
I would suggest that we concentrate on a couple of things to the media. First, People and agencies in other cities seem to be making these decisions for the community. Second, this is every bit as bad for the Somalis as it is for the rest of the community. They're being treated like chattel so that Tyson can profit. Third, if this city becomes a refugee center it will compound an already serious poverty problem. Fourth, I doubt that there is any serious intention on the part of Catholic Charities to continue their involvement with the Somali community, particularly to bring them from dependence to independence. The plan seems to be, as it has been in Maine, Georgia, Minnesota, to dump them and let the chips fall where they may for the communties they're dumped.
Other here may come up with additional information, but I think those would be good areas to concentrate on.
Posted by landinkansas (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 6:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with gbdr97. I'd like to see the Gazette run a Reader Poll on this issue along with maybe a phone poll. Let's get a broader perspective. Give more people an opportunity to get involved & state their position.
Posted by marebear14 (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I haven't posted on this aticle yet but have spent the last couple of days reading all of the posts. One of the reasons I hadn't posted is that I don't live in Emporia but I think you all are coming up with some great questions that deserve answers. I have talked to several people who live in my community and most have quit shopping/going to Emporia because of the way they are treated by the Somali men. It's easier to go to Newton or Wichita.
Those of us that live in the outlying communities are behind you 100%. I have personnelly been treated like crap by Somali men and I think I deserve some respect. Just the fact that I'm human should be a reason to give me respect. I am also a veteran and a mother so I feel I should have some respect for those reasons also.
Before anyone like usay says that I'm a racist, I don't think this is a race issue at all, and I would have to say I don't think I'm a racist as my husband is a different race than me and so my children are of mixed races.
I do believe this is a tax/money issue.
Posted by glarson (Gwen Larson) on November 7, 2007 at 7:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To all the posters to this thread,
Thanks for all your comments and your grassroots action. Yes, The Gazette and especially Bobbi Mlynar are watching this thread. And we do plan follow-up articles.
Unfortunately, we are a bit shorthanded right now (remember the identity theft article?). We have a new reporter starting on Tuesday, which will ease the load on our current reporters — Bobbi and Brandy Nance. At that time, we should be able to pursue these longer, in-depth stories.
In the meantime, we would welcome hearing from anyone who would want to be interviewed. We don't always insist on camera time, but would prefer on-the-record interviews.
If you're interested, you can contact me directly at larson@emporiagazette.com or Bobbi at mlynar@emporiagazette.com.
Gwen Larson
Managing Editor
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It wasn;t a matter of staying anonymous for me. My wife and I are going to be on a church missions trip starting tomorrow and will be gone till about November 20th. I wouldn't like the idea of being called a racist, but I don't fear it because I'm not a racist.
I think the idea of community involvement is crucial. I think the Gazette needs to pursue this story with vigor.
We have questions and we really want answers. We care about this community!
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tre, you're right about the reasons why some don't want to appear on camera. I'll just speak for myself here. We've already seen on this post how some have accused us in bitter, hostile ways of racism and called us names, even after we have outlined our reasons so intelligently and succinctly. As a long time educator, I really don't want to be labeled something that is clearly not true. I hope you all understand. I think Reservist will take us through this. See you at the meeting on Thursday at the library.
Posted by bmlynar (Bobbi Mlynar) on November 7, 2007 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hello, Netloafer,
Would like to talk to you about your 501(c)(3) and its relationship to the current situation. The Web site is not allowing me to respond to you directly, so am using this forum as a contact point. Please give me a call at 342-4805.
Thanks,
Bobbi
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would also point out the hiring practices at Tyson for anyone being interviewed.
Just how does it benefit the local community, when they will not do rehires? IBP did not have that policy. And since ALOT of Emporians have worked at IBP/Tyson at one time or another in their life, that eliminates a pretty significant part of the local workforce. People say Tyson is so vital to the community, but as people leave (attrition will always happen in ANY business) - none of those jobs seem to be going to locals. I also have heard that nearly the entire maintenance staff on slaughter side is gone, and that they are "outsourcing" it to a separate organization. Don't know for sure if that is true, but it bears looking into - if it is, again, how is that benefitting the local economy? Tyson obviously couldn't care one lick about the local economy or Emporia. Their obvious goal is to eventually replace every last employee with cheaper labor, be it refugees or outsourced labor. Which will also keep other industries from having to raise their wages to competitive rates. So, I ask the question again, just how is this benefitting Emporia?
Posted by boomer46 (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kstrebuchet,
My exact thoughts.
I'm sure those who knew about this were in "emergency meetings" yesterday to get their story straight. Give me a break, Mr. Zimmerman didn't know anything about this???? How can a City Administrator NOT know what was on the Agenda of a meeting he attended. There is a representative of the City on this Allience, was that person present? Did Mr. Zimmerman meet with the representative on Monday to find out what happened after he left? Didn't he call Bobbi Mlynar to get the information that was written in the Gazette and make sure the FACTS were printed as presented at the meeting?
How about taking the money we've spent for Mr. Nye and change the survey to how the citizens of Emporia feel about being know as a "Refugee Center". Now that's a positive Image!!!
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
netloafer, if you are leaving town is there a way you can leave the 501 with reservist or someone else before you go? it sounds like it will be put to good use have a good trip and drive safely
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey everyone...
I've just been reading the article about the gunshots yesterday...
I am not familiar with all the areas of Emporia, but I heard that the shooting was in a largely Somalian area.
We need to make sure that our community understands that our issues, on this forum, are NOT racist.
There are people that will try to make anything they don't like, appear "racist" ,as a way to try to stop it...or, to intimidate others into not saying anything.
I know people that would post here, but are afraid that someone might recognize who they are by what they say, and cannot afford to be thought of as a racist in the community.
For myself...the reason I'm so upset about what is going on is that I have been involved with the "image" of Emporia meeting...and I don't feel that making us a Refugee Camp is positive.
I can tell you honestly..if a group of refugees from any country came to Emporia, and effected us, as I believe the additional Somalians will, I would say exactly what I am saying today.
The color of their skin is not an issue with me.
My husband and I have worked all our lives for an early retirement, and we have invested a lot of that in Emporia, already.......We hope to get back some of what we have put into it, and leave some to our children and grandchildren.
So, I will continue to stand up for what I believe.
I also have issues with Tyson and what they are doing to our community...starting with the air pollution, and their hiring practices.
I was told by someone that they are looking at the Somalians to work there, because they can't find people in Emporia that can pass the "drug tests"....or pass the physical (?)...or, have the work ethics they are looking for.
And, the reason they have the policy of "no rehiring"...is that they don't want people to work for a few weeks..and leave and return over and over. though)....This is a quote from someone that spoke with a Representative from Tyson's..and repeated it to me.
(this is a "reliable source" :-) .....but, I cannot say where I heard it. I promise I am not just gossiping.)
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
boomer46....I am only repeating what I was told..I am anxiously waiting to hear from Mr. Zimmerman. He promised he would make a public statement soon.
So, we'll see.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Renegade, I totally agree. As for the rehiring policy, what does that have to do with people who worked at the plant way back when it was IBP? Seems to me, people with prior experience wouldn't need nearly as much time and money spent on training. At the very least, they should put some type of statute of limitations on it, like, no rehiring within 6 months or 1 year. But a decade or more? Gimme a break...
Work ethic. I've heard Tyson employees complain about how a disproportionate number of the Somalian employees seem to be on "light duty" all the time. But, I guess if someone is cheap enough, you can afford to hire 2 or 3 of them to do the work of 1 more expensive employee.
It's all about the $$$$. (For those who think we have separation of church and state in this country, you're dead wrong. Every politician prays nightly at the Altar Of The Almighty $$$$)
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you open_eyes...and I agree with you. 100%...especially about the politicians :-)
TO: Reserve....
I know there are a lot of good Americans, and others who have served in the Military posting here, but you came forward and told us who you were from the beginning.
You also volunteered to represent us with the television media.
I want to thank you for what you are saying and doing for all of us. I am proud that someone that has fought to give us the right to do what we are doing in Emporia is speaking up, and representing us in the media.
You have my support...and I'm really proud you are speaking up for us.
Although,I know there are so many in Emporia that have fought for us as well...and have family and friends that are still deployed to other countries.
Thanks to you Ktre..for contacting the t.v. stations, and getting a response...
and Netloafer, thank you for stepping forward with the "grass roots" paperwork.
I just needed to say something positive this morning....Good Luck reserve.
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 11:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Reserve
Someone asked if I could get the info on the 501c3 that my wife and I set up. I found out from her this morning that it is actually a 527, which is somewhat different.
What I'd recommend is that when we get back from our missions trip is to sit down as a group and discuss the group. We originally set it up after the city commission campaign. Its original purpose was to get the community involved in issues, particularly in the areas (downtown, east, and south) that have been under-represented in the business and politics of the city. We were going to work on voter registration in the Hispanic community, do volunteer work, raise funds so that we could produce advocacy ads that are relevant to issues, not candidates. In other words, we would produce content on issues like the current one. The reason we didn't pursue it much after the campaign was that there did not seem to be much public interest. The campaign was over and everyone settled in for the status quo.
If people are interested we can arrange for a meeting after we get back. From there I can see the potential to raise some $ for advocacy, doing petition drives (signatures), and making Emporians aware of the issues and hurdles we face as a community.
Godspeed on your venture with the media. I pray that it will be fruitful.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 11:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Check out the reader poll!!!
Posted by Observer (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone is invited to have lunch with the City Commission today at the Ayan Cafe 728 E. 6th.
Plenty of advance notice.
Posted by boomer46 (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What a slap in the face!!!!
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 11:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
**************IMPORTANT NEWS*************
This is an e-mail I received just a few minutes ago from Congressman Moran's intern in Salina.
"The meeting scheduled at the Kiwanis Club at 12:30 on the 29th is a town hall meeting open to everyone. It is a part of the annual 69 county tour. I would encourage you and any of your friends to attend that meeting. Congressman Moran is always willing to listen to your concerns and take ideas back to Washington.
Thank you for bringing this issue to the Congressman’s attention. The website has provided an insight into your situation. It is good to see so many differing opinions and ideas.
Please let me know if there is anything else that you would like to communicate to Congressman Moran."
That's it. Okay, we're making headway, everyone. I just called the Emporia Country Club and they have him scheduled to eat lunch at noon, then an open meeting at 12:30. We need to be there. The Club manager said we do not have to be members to attend this meeting.
In a few minutes, I plan to communicate some important points to the Congressman, particularly the fact that we are not racists and do not wish to be villified as such. They have all our posts, but I just want to emphasize a few points.
Again, Tre and everybody, I apologize for not wanting to be on camera. I'm not afraid of public speaking, not after 22 years of doing so, but my strength is working behind the scenes.
REMINDER: EMPORIA COUNTRY CLUB
NOVEMBER 29
TOWN HALL MEETING w/ JERRY MORAN
12:30
Posted by Blackshirt (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You can certainly see which side of the debate the city commission is coming down on!
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, it's easy to see where this is going. Strange that there was no advance notice on this lunch meeting at the Ayan Cafe. Could it be they arranged this once they heard the TV cameras were going to be rolling into town? A real city planner would have had such a meeting on the calendar.
REMINDER: EMPORIA COUNTRY CLUB
NOVEMBER 29
TOWN HALL MEETING w/ JERRY MORAN
12:30
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As to Lewis Kimsey
QUOTE: “The biggest thing that’s going to sell it is activity here,”
Boy was he right!!!!!
REMINDER: EMPORIA COUNTRY CLUB
NOVEMBER 29
TOWN HALL MEETING w/ JERRY MORAN
12:30
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ps: Did anyone contact FOX?
http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When Weitkamp made the comment that this "explodes alot of stereotypes about Muslim women" I went hunting back thru some of my older posts for this video. The original link I had posted no longer works, but I found another one. I strongly urge everyone to watch this video all the way thru. I don't care what label anyone "brands" me for posting this, as long as people are informed, then I've met my goal.
This is by a Somalian woman, author of the book "Infidel"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyvH2Ll2v...
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm apologize for hounding on this again, and I don't mean to start straying down on a tangent, but there were links to other videos of the Somalian woman I was watching, some are just great. I particularly like this one as she was being interviewed by someone who was obviously very left-wing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08EYqwyns...
Ther very, very end of it was just great: She told him "You grew up in freedom, and you can spit on freedom, because you do not know what it is like to not have freedom. I haven't. I know there are many things wrong with America, and I know there are many things wrong with Americans. But I still believe its the best nation in the world."
Usay, she is welcome in my home or to immigrate to Emporia ANY time!!!
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just watched the city commission meeting. Most feel we are misinformed. Kessler says, "Rumor and false facts gets everybody stirred up." He says we have overreacted because of miscommunication.
Longbine says the commish needs to do a better job of educating the public.
The mayor says having public meetings will be difficult because of the holidays.
Kevin Nelson says "A public meeting would be tough" He prefers the airwaves.
Agler says people would rather stay in the background than find out the facts. "The public is hunting for things to jump on"
The mayor wants us to submit questions to the City Commission website if we have any so they can provide answers.
Agler says he is not a "big fan of anonymous. If I can't tell you who I am then I ought to keep my mouth shut. It's not the American way to do it. It's the cowards way to do it."
Fine, Mr. Agler, when do you plan on sponsoring a public meeting?
Posted by Paccifier (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't rush to blame the city commission to fast about lunch- Read the thread following the lunch announcement- The Gazette says that the meeting had been scheduled for some time, and it was lunch with the Human Relations Commission today, they (the Gazette) just issued a reminder this morning and the Gazette says it regrets the confussion. These lunches happen- it was the Planning Commission last week over the Comprehensive Plan. Not defending anyone- just no point jumping all over someone for a long planned meeting- that comes poorly timed.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
But of course. I'm gazing into my crystal ball, and predicting, that any time the city commish discusses this, those that disagree are going to be "misinformed, rumors, and cowards who should keep their mouth shut." Keep our mouth shut....now that sounds familiar, just where oh where did I hear that recently....???
I'm sure Tyson would just LOVE to find any within their ranks who aren't "with the program" and somehow find a way to weed them out.
Posted by boomer46 (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Paccifier,
I'm not rushing to judgment BUT, where was this lunch annoucement posted? If this was a public meeting, shouldn't there have been an agenda? If so, where can I find this agenda? Who told the Gazette to put a reminder in the newspaper? A reminder to committee members usually is not written up in the newspaper - a reminder notice or phone call would have done it. Since when does the Gazette post reminders of Commission meetings - somebody from the local government must have told them to put the article in the paper.
My feeling is that this reminder in the paper was definately a slap in the face of those Emporians that care what is happening in our community.
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 4:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OK..Where are the ERRA representatives? How can it be possible that they are doing so much, and our Commissioners, and our City Manager, have no clue about what their "grass roots" organization is doing.
Mr. Agler.... I did not speak with Mr. Zimmerman under the name of Renegade. ...and, how rude to dismiss all of the people that have been posting on here, and call us cowards, because we don't post with our real names. And, you say we should keep our mouths shut because we don't use our real names?
I'm sure you just lost some votes today...with your arrogance.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For a public servant (choke) to call people cowards, and tell us that instead of our right to free speech, as is guaranteed in the Constitution he is supposed to uphold, that we should keep our mouths shut, I think is pretty belligerent and arrogant. But, I think it pretty much shows who he is beholden to. Even borrows phrases.
Ok, so you say there are alot of rumors and so forth going around. I've posted quite a few questions here directly to the Somalian community, there is the chance to dispell some of them - as long as they don't take it as an opportunity for "taqiyya" - and there has been nothing but silence.
Posted by micki (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 4:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Agler sounds like he has let the position that we the people of Emporia have allowed him to retain go to his head. Mr. Agler, It would be in your best interest to start showing some concern for the people and or the future of Emporia as we the people are only concerned about what is and has been shoved down our throats. If you cared about the people of Emporia then you know what you were talking about and in this case you obviously do not have a clue. To prove that.....come to the not so (anonymous) meeting. We the people are sick and tired of the private meetings and decision being made without our knowing before hand so that we can have a choise in the matter.
Posted by The_Professor (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 4:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hello...and wow!
I am a former US Army officer, a former police officer, and am currently a college professor here in Kansas. I graduated from ESU in the late 80s. All my memories were very fond...even that nasty smell brings back memories, but hey, back then we were all in the same boat.
Not so much now, eh?
I'm writing b/c several of my friends still live in the area and my wife and I were considering moving to Emporia so that our parents could be closer to their grandkids.
I would like to emphasize that we "WERE" considering moving back.
Recently we were in town to see one of our friends and check out houses (I had been considering a position at Emporia State as a professor). I have a wife and two very small children to consider. By my resume you may - appropriately - guess that I've "been there, seen that"...and I have.
But what I see happening to Emporia sickens me. There are 'enemies foreign' and 'enemies domestic' and great civilizations are not conquered from the outside until they have collapsed from the inside. Right now it's clear to me that Emporia is being set-up as center stage for an all-out clash of civilizations. In short: you're being infiltrated...right in front of your faces.
Part of what I teach includes "terrorism" and "Islamic studies" and I'm telling you all right now: that Islamic Center directly south of the college is the source of poison for your community.
Hypothetical scenario: The Beef (now Tyson) could be ground zero for terrorists to stage a biological assault on America. Think that couldn't happen? Think 9/11.
The Koran teaches "Kill the infidel" and in the event that you're not current on world politics: that's you and me.
I don't have the time or space to educate you all, but look at this: a beef processing center and an Islamic center...10 blocks from each other in the same town in the heart of America. Thinking about it, yet? Think 9/11 was impossible? The events of 9/11 were MUCH more difficult to orchestrate than a simple bio-weapon. You think your community values are in danger...it's worse than that.
Coming to Emporia? We're not.
Good luck. I hope I'm wrong.
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The_Professor is right!!!there is so much to say!alot already being said.i think they need a face to face meeting!make it more personable.this situation is after all very personal.as far as aglers comment.huh.....id be happy to meet with the gentlemen for a talk as im sure alot of others would.just ask for my info.and id be happy to meet with you!!!!until then this public forum is a great way for people to express opinions and personal feelings otherwise often unheard.i am very much against all of the somalis coming to emporia.1st step=WE NEED TO GET RID OF TYSON!!!!!me and my family are not buying any tyson products nor many friends!!!i think thats a start.dip in there pockets!!!!
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 4:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have a story I've mulled around as to whether or not to relate, but in light of the way things are progressing (backwards), and the dead silence from the Somali community to my questions, I'll go ahead and tell it here. Reason I've hesitated is, other things I've posted, I've heard from people I trust and they pass along things fairly reliable. This came from a complete stranger, so take it at whatever value you want.
A few years ago I was in a foreign country on business. Islam is not the major religion there, but it was growing at a fast rate. My driver was relating to me (this was all his story, he just volunteered it to me) about how Christianity had turned his life around and saved him from being a total drunk. (Not the crux of the story, just giving the background). We drove by some Muslim women wearing burquas where you could only see their eyes. He remarked that Muslims were not very well liked in his country. I asked why. He said everywhere they go it follows the same pattern. They move into a community, and at first they are the nicest, friendliest people you would ever want to meet. Then, as soon as they get their numbers in an area up, everything changes. They start wanting all the laws changed to suit THEM. And they band together against everyone. His scenario was, "a muslim man could rob a store or shoot someone in plain site of a hundred people, but he Muslim community will band together and defend him against everyone - everyone is against them (the Muslims)." He shook his head and told a few more stories.
Now I've tried to be open. I've said a thousand times, people that come here and want to fit in I welcome. And it isn't racial. My driver wasn't my race, and I struck up a good friendship with him during the months I was there. I would be proud to have someone like the Somalian woman from the videos I posted in Emporia. But I don't go for this "they don't know our customs" crap. If they came from Nebraska, they had plenty of time to learn you don't shove women around at WalMart. I've asked questions and gotten no answer except "shut your mouth, we'll soon be citizens too". I'm not a paranoid conspiracy person. But I'm not a Politically Correct Idiot either. There's a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing. I have tried to embrace and gotten treated like crap. I'm withholding embracing until I get some answers, and answers that satisfy me.
Posted by vankamp (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The_Professor...Please tell us more. I found your article very interesting and very scary. You have probably made a lot of people think.
Posted by Paccifier (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
boomer46- There is enough to be concerned with this without springing up the accusation mill. A lunch meeting with the Human Relations Commission, given recent coverage in the Gazette, will probably deal with the rental housing issue, since we just had a public meeting on that in the past few weeks- that was the plan- public meeting, Human Relations internal meeting, then joint meeting with the City Commission. I think that was even announced at the end of the last rental housing public meeting as being part of the process to work that through. Do you rememeber Netloafer?
I agree with Renegade- and have said so before. Who is ERRA. Have they announced any of their meetings in the paper? I think you (Renegade) said they had regular meetings, do you remember when/where?
Can't see why there is anything wrong with showing concern over an issue that will affect, and maybe change, our town for a long time. Amazes me that someone (ERRA or CCS) couldn't have seen this train wreck coming and gotten out front with more specific information rather than being so careless with generalities as they did. Poor Management- Maybe that shows Mr. Weitkamp's real arrogance. How many days has it been since the release, and there is still nothing known about the numbers and timing they are talking about?
Who follows the Somalians? Myanmarese? Where are any of these folks going to live? we have a less than 4% rental vacancy rate. Any rentals in NW Emporia available?
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 4:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
open_eyes that does do just that.and just for the record im sure all men would agree(even agler)if that were my wife ,friend,daughter whatever that he pushed, that damn somalian would have been on the floor picking up his teeth.i sure we will see alot of this to come if this does pass.it would be very unfortunate to see the community come to this but im SURE it would be no diffrent if the shoe was on the other foot!
Posted by boomer46 (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 5 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Paccifier,
Thanks for the information - I appreciate the response. So much information in Emporia is reported after-the-fact. Just want to keep informed about what's happening in the Emporia. Sure don't want to accuse anybody of anything.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
brad, there WAS an incident around Christmas where a guy DID deck the Somalian for throwing an elbow at his wife as he shoved his way. I know the guy. Don't give a crap what agler says, it happened.
Posted by Paccifier (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 5:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe everyone concerned ought to e-mail commissioners directly through their city e-mail addresses- with their names- and request a direct response to each e-mail then maybe they (commissioners) would be happy that we were not just annonymous folks to be given no ear
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 5:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Somalian this Somalian that , thats all everyone is saying and then in the next breath oh , I am not a racist ! I have yet to say this but YOU ARE A RACIST ! Put all of this energy into
something positive . It's crazy bringing up 9/11 with the Somalians ! Just like the Peck issue , He went in there with a loaded rifle and he gets to go to Camp ! If it would have been someone Black robbing a Kwik shop he would have gotten 5-8 years in Prison .
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
we could just leave our names here!i have no problem with that!!!!i love our community and dont want my love for emporia to turn to hatred because of bad decisions and money!!!!!
Posted by Paccifier (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
boomer46- I'm just hoping the content of the lunch meeting was rental housing as I thought- We better hope it was, because unless things change, it sounds as though there may be a bunch of units needed. The City Commission still has it's job to do, and I hope that they are making progress on the rental housing regulations. Even if this migration, or what ever you want to call it, is stopped, housing in this town will remain an issue to be dealt with. About 46% of housing units in Emporia are rental at present.
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 5:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
UsayULoveGod is very confused.9/11 was a good example of what people are capable of.furthermore i dont understand where racism comes in at????w.t.h.
Posted by micki (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 5:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My Family & myself are taking that 1st step.....
NO MORE TYSON!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 5:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
micki good for you!!i hope alot of emporians follow!!!!
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have heard people post stuff like they stink , they are rude , they did this ,they did that, I even heard at work today that they were the ones who shot up the apartment complex and they were ther the one's that broke into the House in Americus . When will this madness end ! Problems exist because people from different racial backgrounds remain separate and our knowledge of each other is filled with inaccurate images in the media and by separate socialization.
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We must fight prejudice and refuse to tolerate racist behavior and build relationships based upon respect and understanding across racial lines
People of all different racial and ethnic groups need to work together on projects to improve the community and to solve common problems.
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
UsayULoveGod lol!!!!so what!! im sure we have all heard stuff like this.big damn deal!!!!ON THIS FORUM i have not read anything that sounds racist.sounds like you might have issues with that yourself.THE ISSUE IS EMPORIA AND THE FUTURE AND WELL BEING OF EMPORIA.thats it.
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"build relationships based upon respect and understanding"UsayULoveGod thats what you just said!where has this been on the part of the somalis?i have and i know alot of people have tried to show respect and welcome them.they show none of this!!!
Posted by micki (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
UsayULoveGod, you are so off track?????????????
TYSON AKA IBP STINKS!!!!!!! The only person calling people names or comparing colors........IS YOU!!!!!!!!!!
Quit scanning and read before you point fingers.
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 6:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Paccifier....I was told yesterday by Matt Zimmerman, that ERRA holds it's meetings every 1st Friday of the month. I don't know the location, and that's something I've been trying to find out.
According to Matt Zimmerman, today...they skip some 1st Fridays....I really want to talk to a representative of this group, and find out what they are all about.
Apparently this organization is just Grass Roots, and goes about its merry way doing whatever it wants, and reports to no-one . Nice work, if you can do it.......I'll bet if we asked certain people at Tysons they could fill in the blanks on the organization.
Mr. Zimmerman said he was going to be gone for a couple of days, but he would re-arrange his schedule and attend the meeting at the Library tomorrow night....Did you notice that no one else was interested in going?....and they didn't want to make any plans for the next two weeks because of the Holidays....and, they just really aren't all that concerned about a bunch of people "blogging"......especially Mr. Agler...
I want someone to guarantee us that this will not be any kind of Refugee Camp...and, the only Somali's coming in are family of those still here..and some of them will go back to Minnesota or wherever they want to live....
I want someone to ask this Grass Roots group...ERRA, to let the Emporia community know what they are doing...We deserve answers, even if our political leaders don't care what they are doing.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 6:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tre, that was a very important statement made to Agler and bears repeating here: "...you may want to remember that "anonymous" IS the American way, Everytime I vote, my Vote remains anonymous. "
Mr. Agler, your arrogance is unbecoming of a government leader. You need to understand that free speech and anonymity go hand in hand; in fact, through anonymity, people can channel their opinions, even controversial ones, without fear of reprisal. In some countries, however, anonymity is against the law, and people are tortured and even killed for their opinions. This is the United States of America, Mr. Agler, and we have certain inalienable rights, one of which is free speech. Calling us cowards was a bad move.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 6:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Usay - here's another Bible quote for you.
Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing.
There is a time, and a place, to be prudent and watchful.
You mentioned 9/11 - I propose that before 9/11 would have been a good time to be more prudent about who we let on planes. I propose that the 1930's would have been a good time for Europe to not open Hitler with open arms. I propose that handing Iran nukes is not a good thing. But, I gather that you believe there should be no security on planes, everyone in Europe should have welcomed Hitler with open arms (which they did, unfortunately), and when little Hitler in Iran says he wants to wipe Israel off the face of the earth we should all just look the other way with love and understanding. Sean Penn and some models went down to Hugo Chavez with lots of TLC. Today protesters against his government were shot and beaten.
I'm not calling all the Somalis evil. I AM very wary of their religion. I've asked alot of questions and the only answer I've gotten is to shut my mouth.
Only a chicken brain welcomes the fox into the henhouse with open arms, love and understanding. Do you understand that the aim of Islam is to wipe out every other religion, and to force everyone to conform to theirs? Now, there are moderate Muslims who do not believe that, I even know some. I'm just waiting for a sign from these people that they are moderate. From their actions, words, and practices and treatment of women I have my doubts. But I've tried very hard to give them the benefit of the doubt. All this is in ADDITION to the fact that a huge influx of dependant immigrants, of any race or religion, is going to be very detrimental to Emporia.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 6:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Usay, don't take my word or anyone else's on this board for it. Educate yourself. Watch the link to the video I posted by the Somalian woman. I think she knows the situation much more accurately than you, me, or anyone else on this board. Do yourself a favor. Seek knowledge. Learn. Open your eyes to what is going on in the world. Where's the love and understanding for the local person who needs a job but can't get hired at Tyson because he isn't the right skin color or nationality? Where's the love and understanding for the person who dutifully passes all the requirements to get a drivers license, only to be nearly run off the road by a group of people that aren't held accountable to the same standards? Where's the love and understanding for everyone who's rights are shoved aside and trampled on so that this group can get given to them what the rest of us had to work hard the old-fashioned way for?
Posted by Observer (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 7:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Many moons ago I watched an impassioned speech given by a man dedicated to equality for all peoples. The most telling line was when he declared that one day he dreamed that his little children would one day be judged on the content of their character not on the color of their skin. This was in the hot summer of '63 when Dr. Martin Luther King spoke so eloquently. It still reverberates within my heart.
The Somali is not being judged by the color of their skin, BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.
It is not racist to desire decency and respect for all, and the Somali fails to show decency and respect for others.
It is not racist to request that any one who drives pass a STANDARD drivers license exam. The Somali is administered a different exam.
Islam in NOT a race but a religion, and Muslims come in all colors and races. There is a deep and abiding concern in regards to a religion whose verses speak death to the Infidel, and whose Imams preach Jihad from the Mosques.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/25/n...
Abdullah el-Faisal, 43, formerly the imam of the Brixton mosque in south London, was placed under police guard on a flight to Kingston, Jamaica, the Home Office said. He was also barred from returning to Britain.
Faisal had been convicted in February 2003 of soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred in English and Arabic-language tapes of speeches urging people to kill Hindus, Christians, Jews and American citizens.
He was deported after his seven-year sentence reached a point at which he could have applied for parole. John Reid, the home secretary, said in a statement that "foreign nationals who abuse our hospitality and break our laws can expect to be deported after they have served a prison sentence."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Many of us old timers remember when Armour built its meat packing plant in the east section of the old Anderson Cattle Company. We remember them shutting down, and we remember the plant being purchased by Iowa Beef, who opened in 1969.
Many of our College Grads did a stint at the "Beef", and are now in the professional segment of society.
Tyson now refuses to rehire ex-Beefers, and is importing federally subsidized slave labor, and is unconcerned how it impacts the surrounding community. It is the corporate bottom-line which is the impetus.
Emporia is at a cross-roads. Is wisdom and vision formulating proposals or is a large dollar sign driving shallow reactions?
History will relate how Emporia chose their path. Did they seek to preserve the character of their community, or did they sacrifice the community soul for the sake of a carrot-on-a-stick?
Posted by reservist (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 7:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Im getting ready to email the tv stations. Since my face may be on the new my name is Travis Guthrie. Setting up group meetings in the present and future is a great idea and I hope many of you will attend the meeting tomorrow at 6 at the public library. I want to get alot of information, so when and if I get interviewed I will raise many concerns in the community. I want to make sure I am prepared. Netloafer I look forward to talking to you once you get back from Mexico. Anyone who would like to contact me directly my email is tractortrav@yahoo.com Thanks to all for getting involved!
Posted by micki (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 7:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 7:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Excuse me, I should have said Radical Islam in my ealier posts. I'm still waiting to find out exactly where these people lie within the various factions of that religion.
reservist, feel free to use anything and everything I have posted - links, etc... and good luck!
I've let some people back home that weren't aware of this thread about the meeting at the library. Sent this thread to one friend who emailed it to Michael Savage, the talk show host. I don't know if any of the people I've talked to can be at the library but I hope at least they spread the word.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 7:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Pacifier, what an idea. I was just thinking of doing just that ---
e-mailing all my comments to a city commish with my name, of course. How long before we would be accused of harassment? Now if all of us were to do that, particularly with this long posting, the city server would crash, wouldn't it? Just thinking.
Renegade, yes, I noticed that as soon as Mr. Zimmerman offered to attend tomorrow night's meeting at the library, and to even offer his own recent research at the meeting, the commish all had reasons why he should not attend. I found that strange.
By far, the silliest comment was that the holidays were near. Hello? This is only November 7th. Thanksgiving is three weeks away.
Posted by jasonandashley (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Usay: WAKE UP AND SMELL THE SOMALIANS!! This has nothing to do with being racist!!!!! If these people had come into this community with a different attitude and been more willing to learn, then I'm sure we have a different feeling and we would be more open to them moving into the community. But they came in like hell on wheels and I don't know how many times the cops are called out to deal with them and their horrible driving skills. You wanna know how many times I've seen them run red lights while rushing to work at tyson??? YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW!!! I don't think one person on this forum has said anything about "we don't want these colored people here". The concern is they are moving in, not abiding by the law, coming and going as they please and because they think it's right to do it in their country it is okay to do it in ours! WRONG!!! If you travel to a foreign country, you are expected to know some of the language so you can at least communicate where to find a bathroom and grab a burger and in foreign countries you ARE expected to abide by their laws....guess what the same goes for the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!! You come here you better damn well know the law.
As for MR. Agler......buddy, I hope you read this post. You're not going to like what I have to say, but guess what I have the right to freedom of speech and right now I'm exercising that right.....You are nothing but a coward, when things get too deep for you, you turn and run before the puddle even turns to mud. Just like when you're son had problems with the dealership in Burlington.....he had to run while he could....wonder why he had to get out of that??? And another thing....we as American citizens have a right to remain anonymous...but you know what....I'll give you my name and I'll tell you why I moved out of emporia. If you wish to schedule a meeting with me, then I WILL take time out of my oh so busy schedule and I'll tell you exactly what I think. Ha!! And guess what else?! I didn't vote for you in the elections either!!!
I suggest you consider holding a public meeting Mr. Agler and don't be surprised how many people come wearing name tags to let you know directly who they are and to let you know that they posted comments on this issue right here, right now, TODAY! I'll be the first one in line.
P.S. Renagade-the shooting did happen in a heavily populated area with somalians, but there were no somalians living in the building and was believed to have been related to another crime.
Posted by midnight_rider (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 8:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I find it interesting that the final Immigration Forum is November 14, 7 p.m., at the public library - when i never knew there were any before. Why were the earlier forums not publicized. (maybe there were and i just missed them.) It would be interesting to know what old RODGER BROWNRIGG from tyson has to say about all of this.
Posted by koach52 (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I want to support this forum. In my opinion the right steps are being taken. The first is to get educated about the facts involved, and I think the meetings, the contacting of media and invitations for community leaders and Somalian leaders to speak out are all essential parts of that. I am a life-long Emporian, an educator and I care a great deal about this community. This community is undoubtedly getting ready to write its next chapter in history. I will not rehash the many good points that have been made in this forum and there have been many. It is important that we continue to move forward,to protect this community from anything that might threaten the future. It should be expected that a good community that cares would want to be cautious about any drastic changes in its population. It does need to be done in a peaceful, non-threatening way. I have to believe that it can be halted if handled properly. There is one industry in this town thats existence should be placed before any others. That is the University. In my opinion this CAMP TYSON would do nothing to promote or enhance Emporia State University or the towns image. If this is a good thing, then let it be some other cities ...good thing. There are many valid questions that have been asked .......and they deserve swift and complete answers, This is my first post, but you can count me as one that wants as much information as possible and I will help organize the necessary meetings that are needed in order to gain the facts and let the people have a voice in our future. This is our chance to do something positive for this community, if we are unsuccessful with that... many people will vote with a moving van. This has been a great small city to live and raise a family. I pray we can rally once more to make this a town we can get back to taking pride in. Let me know what help is needed.
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 9:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was at the meeting this afternoon and was bitterly disappointed in the leadership response.
I harbor no ill will to the Somalis or anyone else in Emporia. I'm concerned about this city's future and the approach that leadership is taking. I do not believe that this city's leaders can continue to live in a state of denial. The crime, the poverty, the neglect, the profiteering at the expense of the poor are clear and convincing evidence that something is terribly wrong in Emporia.
I sent the commissioners a long e-mail and let them know how I feel. I hope they'll read it or respond, but I don't hold out hope. I've done this before and seldom get a response. The ones that do on occasion are Jim Kessler, Jeff Longbine and Julie Johnson. I rarely get a response from Bob Agler and have only gotten one from Kevin Nelson.
I'm not sure they really want to listen. I think we do. We want answers to the questions we've raised and all we've gotten is a rhetorical slap in the face.
Posted by Paccifier (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 10:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe at this point they (Commissioners) have no answers either. ERRA and CCS may have slapped them as hard as they slapped us, Mr. Zimmerman did tell Renegade that he had no answers and had not been called back by Weitkamp- maybe he talked to early and now can't talk to anyone since he let the cat out of the bag before it had legs, and we are all in the dark. Poor attitude by our elected city officials though. But, I think to his credit, Mr. Zimmerman is trying- and we need to support that as someone to work with-he is coming Thursday night from what I've heard here.
Posted by reservist (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 10:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If Mr. Zimmerman does come tomorrow we should all let him know that we appreciate him coming. By showing up to the meeting it leads me to believe he does care about the needs of the citizens he represents. Also shows that he is brave for coming to talk to us on his own free will. Are the others scared of the ones that voted them into office? Don't acouple of the other Commissioners own bussiness in this town? I figure they have alot to lose if they are to busy or just dont care about the people of Emporia. Mr. Zimmerman you if read this I look forward to meeting you tomorrow evening. You may find out what we have to say concerns you to as a fellow Emporian.
Posted by Bjnemp (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 11:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I moved my family to Emporia over 12 years ago. As an "outsider" looking in I have seen problems, but nothing so serious as to sway my positive view of the community and it's majority population of good people... until now. What the heck is going on in our once safe, friendly, proud city? We have become a "sanctuary city" for illegal immigrants who refuse to assimilate into our culture or learn our language, abuse our social systems, drain our economy, and then disrespect us by displaying their native flag on cars and homes, instead of the stars and stripes. And now Emporia is allowing some deluded and misguided do-gooders propose Emporia as a "National Refugee Center" for rude, arrogant, disrespectful, unappreciative Somalis? And this news comes in the same week city leaders are seeking ways to improve our city's image and attract older "Baby Boomers" to settle here! If we allow this to happen, it's our fault. What we condone, we allow. What we allow, we deserve. It's time to get vocal and voracious. Emporia has already lost much of it's former appeal and "hometown" status. Our city is rapidly becoming a third-world ghetto. Not only do people not want to move here, those who do live here are wanting to move out! If you are in our country LEGALLY, learn to speak our language, work and pay taxes, obey our laws, and attempt to assimilate into our society and culture, I, and all Emporians, welcome you with open arms. If you expect us to adjust to your culture, your language, your religion and moral values, and then treat us with disrespect and disdain, move on, Pilgrim. Wake up, Emporia. Stop the insanity.
Posted by Gilbert_Craig (anonymous) on November 7, 2007 at 11:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Would it be possible for someone to film the meeting? I really want to be in attendance but I have prior commitments for Thursday at that time. I still wish to show my support and very much want to see and hear all that is discussed there.
I feel very strongly about this issue at hand.
I am the friend that "The Professor" comes to see here as he mentioned in his earlier post. I have encouraged him and his family to return to Emporia, my lifelong home, since he graduated from here years ago. Now, after all of this talk about what may happen to the community that I have been so proud to call my home, I'm not sure that I wish anyone that I care about to come or stay here. In fact, I've even thought about where I might wish to go to get away from this mess if it cannot be resolved in a manner that is beneficial to the community.
I am a very proud alumi of ESU and care very much about it's image and growth. I am also an avid supporter of the athletic programs of the university. I am very concerned that if this possible refugee problem actually happens, the university will without a doubt suffer. This will also affect our community so much. There are a lot of dollars brought here from out-of-town and state by the students during their time here.
As far as the comments of the commissioners are concerned, I find myself ashamed to know that I voted for nearly every one of them that currently (supposedly) represent us. Mr Agler I am also ashamed to think that I thought I knew you better than this, as I used to work with you several years ago. I hope you don't think I'm a racist or a coward, even though I'm pretty sure now that you are. I just want what is best for my hometown pround neighbors. I I'd sure like to see you (and the others) at the future meetings.
Godspeed Emporia.
GC.
Posted by blulitespecial (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 12:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bjnemp in a post just above had some good points- I sure like it here,but it's becoming a third world country.My family came here in a covered wagon.Many are no longer living here.It makes no economic sense to them,and they made a choice.I'm afraid I'll have to make that choice,too.No way to avoid it.This is an economic decision,but I won't say that's the only reason.Don't much care who ya are,or where ya come from-just do your best to belong here! I'm not interested in living on the outskirts of a refugee relocation facility,nor a rest&recreation stop for illegal "immigrants".The socialists already got your Christmas program.The Fourth of July is next.
One thing this country can't do is remain the same,or return to a simpler better time.But the powers that be have brought on more change than the community can absorb.There's much more on the way.
Posted by Paccifier (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 6:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
From listening to the radio this morning, I guess the lunch did cover this issue, sorry, I was hoping that I had been correct- the rental housing issue is important in all this too
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 6:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
im curious pacifier, where do you work? the RDA or the chamber of commerce? i get the impression the commision wasnt take off guard by this, they dont even seem like they want to be the one s answering questions, would rather put it on the air waves.
Posted by Paccifier (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Do not work for either- usually end up on wrong side of RDA and Chamber. Just trying to see through the fog most of the time. I think the commission just had time to get their thoughts together, rather than taking off to the races. They just kept quiet and tried to see what Zimmerman could see. Again, I'd be interested in knowing who was on ERRA, especially from the City if any, please ask tonight if you can. Still, am disappointed with Commissioners responses at meeting.
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 8:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i think one of the long range plans should be to pass strick immigration laws in kansas.i m not against people leaving bad things in their country and coming here to get a better life,if they have any ambition they would try to better their lives, but we cant let places like tyson keep importing their cheap slave labor at the price of letting our town go into ruins. we cant handle the influx dont matter what country they came from, i for one am glad i will no longer have kids in the schools here in the near future, i plan to move so my kids will have a better chance to at the good life, but we wont be able to do that here. maybe the rest of this letter should go under the sound off emporia section, but ill put it here for convenience, there are some many better things to buy and better selections outside emporia, we havent bought clothing at walmart or jc penny in years ( except socks and things) the clothes are skin tight and the jeans look like they have been worn already, the kids wont even wear them long enough to try them on. the toys at walmart are all noisy plastic toys, how about some educational stuff? good microscopes, "how to learn science, electronics" kits ect? i went to flint hills music it local so i went, i was over charged and i might pay a higher price for something, but only once, i ve bought a second musical instrument, good brand, elsewhere and the next one im getting for my son, is being bought online, when a business is the only one of is kind in town, dont mean overprice thinking its a captive market, i dont belong to a captive market.
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
slipandslide....I don't know where Paccifier works, but my husband and I met with Mr. Zimmerman on Tuesday. I know he has been reading this forum, and he was asking a lot of questions and making a lot of phone calls on Tuesday...He said he was preparing for his Wednesday meeting with the commissioners.
And, apparently, before the t.v. airing of their meeting, they discussed this topic "over lunch"....
I guess after a big lunch, and planning what they might say in the "on air" meeting, they did look prepared.
What I saw was a group of commissioners that thought we are a cowardly, bunch of anonymous, over-reacting people, that should keep our mouths shut!!!!!! and, they had more important items on their agenda...including making plans for the Holiday break.
The reason I have been wanting to talk to someone from the ERRA is.....
They "hosted" the dinner meeting at the Ayan Cafe on Friday night.
They invited the Gazette
Our City Manager was there
A representative of the Catholic organization
Tyson
and, others.
I understand that the ERRA, has no power, and no obligations to report to our City Management, or anyone else for that matter......But, I believe they could answer some of our questions......
I am not accusing them of anything....I think they are local people, being involved in our community.
I do have one question though...for anyone that can answer it....
Why all the meetings for dinner and lunch at the Ayan Cafe?
I think that meeting yesterday was an "in your face" meeting to all of us.
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I sent a long e-mail to the commissioners this morning. I'm going to post it here. It will probably come in two parts
I re-read my e-mail from yesterday and need to make one correction. My question about Amtrak was meant to be about private financing, not public. I know there is no money in the public coffers for such a venture.
Mr. Zimmerman mentioned yesterday that the total Somali influx will only be about 1000 when all is said and done. That may or may not be a correct number. I don't think anyone really knows. But, assuming it's accurate, I did a comparison with Lewiston Maine which had a heavy influx of Somalis a few years back. I'm providing a link to Lewiston demographics for comparison sake:
http://www.city-data.com/city/Lewiston-M...
In terms of population and income it compares favorably, if that's the right term, with Emporia, with a population of about 35K and income of $35K. Housing values are higher, but that's the east coast effect. One of the interesting things is that, like Emporia, Lewiston's demographics are below state averages, as are ours.
I'm going to follow with a couple of links. The first is from an advocacy group called "Mainers for Immigration Reform." They are not a group of racists, rumor mongers, nor are they xenophobic. They share some of the same concerns a lot of us here in Emporia do.
Read the piece. I think it's enlightening:
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/i...
Next there is a link to a memo the mayor of Lewiston sent to the Somali community:
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/i...
In the letter the mayor made a plea to the Somali community to stop the heavy influx. He did so because it was straining the city's finances, services, etc.
He was denounced by the Somali community as being a racist. Read the letter and see for yourself whether or not he was a racist or a bigot.
One of the interesting things that converge with Emporia in all of this is that the Somali influx in Lewiston was estimated at 1000, the number that Matt Zimmerman seems to believe is manageable here. Some of us aren't sure. We still have what we believe are legitimate questions, like how will this impact Velma Catron and others living on fixed incomes here? We have questions like who is pulling the strings and pushing the buttons? From all appearances it looks like a group of people sitting behind a curtain like the Wizard of Oz. And now that Toto has exposed the wizard(s) to be not much more than snake oil salesmen dressed in suits, they've decided to attack the public.
(Part 2 to follow)
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
(Part 2 follows)
This situation could have a good outcome, but it certainly won't when city leadership continues to berate the public. The people of this city have an enormous reservoir of good will. They feel for the plight of the Somalis. They're not racists or xenophobes. They love this community and they don't want to be a party to having it become something they never bargained in for when they came here. If you say you want a good outcome to this situation then I say you need to come to the entire community. If you say you want to lead then bring the Somali community and the public together. I hope you can see that this issue is not going to go away. This situation has the very real potential of spiraling out of control. As leaders, your job is to see that the interests of the entire community are served. I can say categorically that you are failing in that regard.
I think one thing you could do to re-gain public trust is to apologize for your ill-timed and self serving response to the public outcry. I'm sure that not everyone who has expressed concern about this possibility is altruistic. But in doing what you've done you've lumped the part with the whole. And that is far from the truth. I've gotten to know the people of this city in the short time I've been here. The overwhelming majority aren't racists or hate mongers. They're not given to rumor. What they are looking for is transparent and honest leadership and based on what they've seen in the past week or so they're not getting it. You would do well to consider this in your deliberations. You would do well to serve their interests as well as the interests of the Somali community. If this social experiment is ever going to work it will take all of us. You need to clearly understand that!
Phil Dillon
919 Neosho
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bjnemp i agree 100%!!i also agree with the way oklahoma has delt with some of these problems!!oklahama is looking really good about now!!
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Re: Mr. Zimmerman at the meeting tonight.....
Mr. Zimmerman asked the Commissioners if they would like him to attend the meeting tonight....However, he said, he had plans to be out of town today and return tomorrow....but, he said those plans could be changed.
He did ask if anyone else would want to attend the meeting...and as far as I could see...no else else volunteered...and I didn't hear Mr. Zimmerman say he would change his traveling plans to be at our meeting.
I agree Paccifier. I think Mr. Zimmerman is trying to be fair.
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
very nice, netloafer. Thank You.
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Renegade
I do agree that Matt Zimmerman seems to be the only one in city leadership who wants to solve the problem.
Posted by stavros74 (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Usually when a sane government body endeavors to do something of measurable consequence they plan it out to excruciating detail. Feasibility studies, impact studies, etc. are typical types of diligence when planning a new building, service line or capital works project. I wonder if anyone on this ERRA, or any powers that be, did any diligence along the following lines.
Healthcare/Health Status: Are the refugees screened in any meaningful way? Who does the screening? I believe Lougene Marsh (who I trust implicitly) said they were in a gazette piece a few months ago. Is Emporia equipped to handle an outbreak of diseases commonly associated to third world countries? Is the city commission, ERRA or Tyson in an actionable position if someone dies from TB infection? Epidemiology is a branch of medical science that deals with the incidence, distribution, and control of disease in a population. These factors can be determined and models can be constructed based on known population and disease patterns.
Economic: Does Emporia have jobs for them to do without significantly affecting the indigenous population? Will their presence affect the living wage for citizens in the city? Do we not know our unemployment rate, type of labor needed and an overall picture of the local economy? From which, can’t we determine the net effect of a relatively large group of uneducated, unskilled labor will have on our local economy? What is the plan if we are wrong in any case?
Legal: Are refugees screened for their criminal background and how reliable are other countries’ methods of keeping records on criminal backgrounds?
Defense: A threat assessment should have been done on how prone ANY country’s citizens are to terrorist activity. No racial profiling, but we know which countries are friendly to the US and which are not. The International Crisis Group identifies two terrorist groups operating in Somalia. One is al-Qaeda and the other is a group of local jihadis, mainly former members of the now-defunct al-Itihaad al-Islaami, a Somali terrorist group. Are refugees screened for alliances with these groups and how reliable is the third world output?
Mr. Agler, ERRA members, Catholic charities, can any of you answer any of these fundamental questions with an honest answer supported by data? I'd be interested and pleasantly surprised if you can.
Posted by bmlynar (Bobbi Mlynar) on November 8, 2007 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hello, Posters,
I need some information about the meeting planned for this evening. I'm the only reporter The Gazette has in town until Monday and I have a major conflict of times/events this evening.
The geneaology society has reserved the meeting room at the public library, so I know that is not available tonight. The posts seemed to indicate meeting outside the library, but I may be misinterpreting that, since it will be dark and cold by 6 p.m.
We would like to cover this, but need to know exactly where and when the meeting will be -- or has it been cancelled to wait until Matt Z. and the commissioners get back from the League of Municipalities meeting and can attend?
Thanks,
Bobbi Mlynar
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Renegade, I believe you're right about yesterday's commish luncheon meeting at the Ayan Cafe being "in your face" to us. That was more than obvious once the discussion began on camera during the regular meeting. That could hardly be considered good leadership. These are the people who promised to serve, and serve they did -- a huge helping of condescension.
However, I do believe that Mr. Zimmerman has done a good job of researching this. He seems to have a good grasp of what needs to be done and a GENUINE interest in providing information and looking for a way to assuage our concerns. I can't say the same for the commish themselves. Even the mayor herself treated us so offhandedly by saying this was "too difficult because of the holidays." We are eagles, Mrs. Mayor, not turkeys!
I hope we can see Mr. Zimmerman tonight.
Posted by Flips (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Stavros74
Excellent post with excellent comments & information & questions!
We will ALL be thrilled if these questions can be answered!
Any one going to address the news media---might also like to ask these same questions of the media & see if they can also receive any answers to these questions as I know we all would like to have them answered!
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Alot of good - no, great questions here. We're all awaiting answers. I've asked many point blank questions of the Somalian community, some may think they are improper or have no relevence. I disagree. I would very much like to know the attitude(s) of the Somalian community, what "brand" of Islam they follow, why they are here, how they treat women, how or why they justify the treatments we have seen before. In other words, an insight. A chance to affirm or disprove some stereotypes.
And I continue to get.....
Silence.
Which, to me, answers alot of my questions.
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone....
Mr. Zimmerman will NOT be at this evenings meeting. He is at a City Managers meeting, out of town. He mentioned that in the meeting yesterday.
I verified this with his office a few minutes ago.
I did not hear any Commissioners volunteer to attend the meeting either.
Also, does anyone have an answer for Bobbi Mlyner from the Gazette?
Will the meeting be held outdoors? Or, have other arrangements been made?
Posted by bmlynar (Bobbi Mlynar) on November 8, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Stavros74, I'd like to talk to you if you wouldn't mind. Please e-mail me at mlynar@emporiagazette.com. The "contact" function isn't functioning within this story's postings so I've been unable to reach you electronically. Thanks, Bobbi
Posted by Flips (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Open_eyes & netloafer & Renegade & create & so many many-- many --many others I won't list them all have asked some really great questions that ALL of us would love to have the answers & I agree "silence" is what we have received & "Silence" is not going to make the problems go away!!!!!!!!
I truly wish those who have said --well just love everyone & hope they love us back---etc/etc/etc/etc/-----could answer these questions also----------or are these questions a part of "reality" to those who are so naive to see the real problems we are facing-- let alone solutions!
Love is a great thing------but the "reality" is look at the questions being asked & they are not out of line questions!!!!!
They are Reality & what is going on here & now!!!!
And people need answers IF there are to be any solutions!
Silence & just ignoring the problems is NOT going to make them go away!
And changing the subject is not going to make the problems go away---we ALL need answers to find solutions to what are problems NOW & what coiuld be problems in the furure!
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To Bobbi Mlynar and fellow Emporians:
The group did not reserve any particular space at the library. And since the large meeting room is to be occupied with a meeting of the genaeology society, we can't just stand outside in the cold.
It is 10:30, and right now, the library is in contact with someone at the city to see if the city can spare us a meeting room. She will call me as soon as she hears something. If the city can spare us room, we can just walk across the street. As soon as I hear something, I will let you know. If we meet elsewhere, I will see to it that a sign is posted on the door of the library to direct folks to the new meeting place. I will also post something here on this forum. This is all I can think to do at this late time.
Reservist, please contact me. I had e-mailed you last night so you should have my e-mail.
Also, I have been contacted by Congressman Moran's office by phone just this morning. (voice mail) The intern said they are interested and will get back to us with suggestions on dates and times for meetings. When they call back, I will do everything possible to keep times after work so that more people can attend. This sounds like it will be beyond what his regular appearance is on November 29.
Will keep all of you posted.
Posted by stavros74 (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bobbi,
I sent you an e-mail from my yahoo address. One last thought for today.
Education: What diligence was done in regards to confirming the education level, literacy rates, language ability and what cultural barriers to learning exist to someone REGARDLESS of where they are from? How reliable is the screening if it was done? Does Emporia have the educational resources to accommodate Somalian refugees now? How much will it cost? Who will pay?
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tre, Calm down!
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tre, here's something I received in an e-mail from a friend yesterday after I suggested that this must be what Paul Revere felt like as he waited to send the signal that the British were coming by sea or by land. I think it's quite poignant and relative to us all. Just for you tre, now be patient.
"Not sure about how Paul Reveere felt........I can relate more to the horse. He knew he had a heavy load to carry and understood the importance and the urgency of his actions. The bit that he held in his mouth kept him from saying all that needed to be said, and this made it even more difficult. He was not sure of his role, or if he could even get there in time. His back though had begun to sag from having carried many others that had chosen not to walk on their own. He, although uncertain of his mission, the route that he would take or his final destination, knew that not only was this a hill that needed to be climbed, and a fence that needed to be jumped, but that it was a chance to run and make a difference. Until that time he had only been able to stand in his stall and watch the crap get deeper.
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Go down to the Cafe to get answers !!!!!! Some people have been shooting them with paint pellets , breaking their windows on their cars , passing by in cars yelling things like get out of town dirty ni--ers , slashing their tires . You guys are doing a great job. I went to a panel at the 1st Christian church and some of the somalians had stated that they have been all over the USA and this is the worse that they have been ever treated , here in Emporia . Sad very sad !!!!!!!
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just got an e-mail resposne from Jeff Longbine. It's too long to print here.
I believe I made a bit of headway.
I think we need to keep up the direct pressure on the commissioners. They are going to have to listen to us. Tell them we want answers.
They say they want public input. They may get more than they bargained for here.
If we get past this situation intact, then I think we need to keep up the community activism. If/when the lion roars, the commissioners will listen.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tre, Yes, there will be a town meeting with Congressman Moran on Nov. 29 at the Emporia Country Club, 12:30. This we know for sure.
If he does want to meet beyond his regular appearance, I thought we would try to accomodate that as well. Okay?
Thanks for all that you are doing, my friend, contacting TV stations etc. You are government in action. We all are. This is big stuff, folks, stuff that we ordinary people don't always get to experience.
All of this is being done anonymously, Mr. Agler!
Can you hear the 1812 Overture playing?
Posted by tosie (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
UsayULoveGod,
I'm tired of hearing how badly the Somalians have been treated here.....guess what.....we don't care!!! If they would have come here and been civilized human beings, working, attending school, learning English, abiding by our laws, and learning the American ways (instead of telling us how we are to conform to them) in the beginning then maybe they would have received some respect. You've got to earn it and they blew it!!!!
Posted by somali (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Someone asked me why I'm here in the United States? first of all I am not stayed in you're country, and I will never interest staying your country forever, for other Somali people who stay where you called my country they want do what you did, so before you point you're fingers to Somali people read your own Histories and let me know when you came to America and your origin.
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
UsayUloveGod
Damn hick towns. LOL!!!
PS : I thank I know you?
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Usay - it works both ways. This is the worst WE have been treated also. Please don't complain to me when you discover that the fox you invite into the coop has eaten all your chickens.
So somali, again, no answers to any of my questions. But, you obviously very strongly object to the US fighting the Taliban and the Muslim extremists who were taking over your country and giving haven to terrorists. I take it you are a big fan of Bin Laden and his policies? I think you just answered alot of my questions. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
Posted by jasonandashley (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
UsayUloveGod~ so you heard that this is the worst that they have ever been treated huh? Well maybe the citizens in this town aren't afraid to stand up for what they believe in and what they know is right. Everyday we wake up, we are expected to abide by the rules and laws of this town. It is the same everyday, nothing changes, the law still exsist.
I think most peoples feelings on this issue stem from the fact that we know and are expected to follow these rules, but these immigrants come in and believe it is okay to break a rule here and there. But it's not okay. So many people have lived in this town for a very long time and at one point I'm sure they really did believe in improving the image of the town. But by making this a relocation site for refugees is not the way to go about it. If you look at it overall, it hasn't really brought more business to town, and it's caused a lot more headache for the police department i'm sure because they are frequently being called out around town to deal with domestic violence issues among somalis. The first 3 weeks or so that they were in town, there was a stabbing right out in front of our apartment complex on East st. You know what, One somali had stabbed another somali in the gut. And this wasn't the only incident. they live in different groups and one day one group will drive by the complex and honk and shout things in their language to other somalis and flip them off. And this is an area where children get on and off the bus! You can't tell me that they are trying to adapt and set a good example for themselves.
I hope the citizens of emporia really can get somewhere with this issue. And even though we don't live in Emporia any more, and for obvious reasons, we don't live too far away and you have our support 100%.
Posted by neighbor (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at noon (Suggest removal)
Keep in mind folks, this is nothing new, it has been happening here for 40 yrs since "The Beef" came to town. They've brought in quality citizens, low life dead beat citizens, violent criminals, drug dealers, fugitives, immigrants from Mexico, South American, and Asian Countries, illegal immigrants from the same countries, alot of the growth to Emporia, and brought in alot of urban decay. Your concern is honorable and I will be supporting the efforts you are putting forth.
Those that say we need to protect ESU at all costs, and the comments from the professor that Tyson and the Muslim Center are potential seeds for the next terroism attack, well, you folks need to not throw stones while being in a glass house. The seeds are there at ESU now, and they have been being brought here to ESU for a long time. There are many students that have or had very radical religious beliefs and a strong dislike for America. I give as examples; Cheu Phon Ji and Petru Oprus as two examples. Both were brought to ESU by Government student programs, thru a Church, or thru other student exchange programs. Ji was convicted for killing a member of, and attempting to kill the entire congregation of the Calvary Baptist Church. Oprus was a very emotionally disturbed violent criminal from Romania. Both ESU recruits were former members of the military in their home countries, Ji was a high ranking officer. Many students from ESU go to the Muslim Center. ESU is not innocent, they too feed off government monies that encourage "cultural diversity".
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
UsayULoveGod with all do respect you need your head examined!!!what the hell does that have to do with our concerns for the community????can yo answer that?
Posted by jasonandashley (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GO BRAD!!!!
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
UsayULoveGod and mr. somali here need to have coffee w/ one another this afternoon.you are a pretty good match!
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe the usa Americans should move to somali land, raviolia o what ever lets go u can stay (somali) the USA can fix any thing.!!!!NOT
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
it would be alot cheaper to buy them all 1st class tickets back than paying for them to be here.lol
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
UsayUloveGod
From what you've posted I assume you are a person of faith. I share that faith with you.
I doubt there are many people on these forums who support criminal behavior. They are few and far between. The majority of us support criminal sanctions for the type of behavior you cited.
I don't know for sure, but I suspect you are probably young. There is a fire and passion in what you write. One of the things I think would benefit you would be to not misdirect your passion and zeal at the wrong targets in this equation.
For me this is as much a matter of faith as it is for you. This is going to impact our family. It already has. In the neighborhood I live in we've been subjected to gunfire in the streets. We've seen the Tyson effect on this city. Poverty rates here are higher than just about anywhere in Kansas. Taxes are astronomical. We know. W'eve seen the effect this has had on my wife's mother, who we moved here a year ago. She's a widow living on a fixed income. Her taxes have almost doubled because the city has to provide more and more services for people living at the poverty level or below. Adding more poverty to the equation so that Tyson can profit is un-American and it is un-Christian.
You say you have compassion for the Somalis. I believe you. So do I and a lot of other people posting here. A lot of us don't believe it's Christian for a corporation to profit on the poverty of a group of refugees.. A lot of us don't believe that the Federal government giving them 2 days of orientation on American customs, language, government and then dumping them from city to city in this country is the American way to do things, nor is it the Christian way..
The truth of the matter is, there is no plan. If you can visualize this as a series of in and out boxes you will see that government beaurocrats and social service agencies have gotten something in their in basket. The State Department got the Somalis in their in basket, gave them two days of orientation, a hundred dollars, and put them into their out basket destined for social service agencies and eventually to American cities without regard to the communities where they were dumping them. The result has been chaos everywhere it's been done. Right now Emporia has become the convenient out basket for the Feds and Catholic Charities.
This is a leadership failure, plain and simple. Leadership has failed the Somali people and it has also failed the people of Emporia and other communities.
I believe it's really easy to play the racist card when the effects of failed policy come to roost. The government and agencies fail and when the failure becomes evident the beaurocrats start screaming that anyone who has legitmate questions is a racist. That, I submit to you, is bad social policy. It's even worse Christianity.
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok so why is it that the Christians and Somali people get together anyway ? ITS DIFFERENT FAITHS.
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
you put that in a wonderful manner netloafer.
Posted by abby_normal (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We need to not only worry about ESU but also Emporia High. EHS is already loosing its accreditation due mainly to the amount of non-English speaking students.
My family has been in Emporia for years. I was born and raised here, and figured I would expend my last breath here. I was wrong. After seeing this story, I will be moving.
Somali... No interest in being here? Then get out.
USay... What are you going to be saying when the Somalis stop you from being able to show your faith in public? Being racist and wanting to protect your community from disease, rapist, MURDERERS, and whatever else they are bringing with them are completely different things. I hate to insult someones intelligence but yours, USay, is very questionable.
Posted by Flips (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Netloafer!!!!!!!!!!
You say things that I feel & I would love to be able to express!
Thank you!
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
O where do I find a "SOON TO BE FOR SALE SIGN" for my house?
MABY TYSON WILL BUY IT?
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 12:46 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by tosie (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
KSTRE.....I'll put in the $$$$ to send Mr. Somali back as well.....hey Mr. Somali, are you ready to board the next plane out of Emporia? We're ready to buy you and your friends some one way tickets to GET OUT......or could you understand what I was writing since you don't know English very well, or maybe you just can't spell....it was hard for me to understand your last post since it was written in Somalish....
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://blog.americancongressfortruth.com...
We are in the American Congress for Truth.......unbelievable!
Posted by Weltha (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish I had known Dell was involved in this 3 weeks ago. Damn.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Folks, I think it's important that we keep ourselves in tight rein. Some of us are getting a bit reckless and beligerent, even somewhat threatening. Please be careful with your rhetoric. Remember, that is not the spirit of our intent as civil people interested in information. If we become reckless and indiscreet, we are risking the value of our credibility. We are making national news, let's be calm, please. Others out there believe in us; let's not give them reason to start calling us a bunch of Kansas hot heads. We can be passionate and discreet at the same time.
Again, it bears repeating here that we are fair-minded, civil people, not a bunch of rabble rousers. We have welcomed the Somali people in the beginning, but we are interested in keeping the numbers of refugees down to a fair amount of what our town can support. We are much too small to absorb large numbers of people, and we want the national and local agencies to realize that. We are frustrated because no one consulted us beforehand about large numbers of newcomers. And that is the crux of the issue. We must keep that in mind. Remember the spirit of our intent.
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is currently 500-700 Somalis here now , if you run into one that is rude , you telling me that one person represents their whole clan of Somalis . What group is next . I have been in conversation with a lot of Somalis and the majority are good people . You go ahead with all of this hate. When you are this angry towards a certain group , your treatment will not be fair. They are spending money here in Emporia. Helping out our economy . Illegal mexicans put in Billions into the Socaial Security that they can never tap into . They work hard just wanting to be treated with respect and provide a decent living for their family . What a World we could have if we truly loved and treated each other with respect and kindess. See you at the Library , I will be there !!!!!!!!!!!! .
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I thank u emporia gazette. For the freedom of speech on your forums!!
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://blog.americancongressfortruth.com...
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
someone mentioned martin luther king earlier, kings nonviolent approach to having a better quality of life was to use an economic boycott. when the businesses got tired of being broke, they gave in, when we spend our money in town, it eventually benefits the banks, the city and of course tyson, for a city that relies on immigrants for cheap labor and federal kickbacks, not shopping locally is a good idea.
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I will be there on the 29th to ask a question that I will not post because as we all know they are reading these texts. And >>
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
UsayULoveGod i have no idea why you are here.you make these crazy comments and dwell on racism that have nothing to do with this forum but yet your going to represent.represent the community or the somalis?your last post was insulting in the way of our intelligence.do you honestly think we dont understand there are good and bad people whereever you go?your wasting your time my friend!!!you still havent answered my question from earlier today???
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 3 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I will never spend another dime.
Posted by Bjnemp (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 3:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said, UsayULoveGod, but inaccurate. I don't see the vast majority of the above comments as being racist. I see them as legitimate concerns for the well-being and preservation of our community, safety, and way of life. A way of life my relatives and friends died defending. The "majority" of Somalis you claim are "good people" daily endanger my life and property on the streets of Emporia with their atrocious driving skills and have been rude and threatening to a friend's wife because she "dared" speak to a Somali male before being spoken to. This is America, Usay. We built this naiton on immigration---legal immigration---by people who learned our language, adapted to our culture and customs, assimillated, contributed, obeyed our laws, and treated our nation and it's citizens with respect. I can tell you prefer to see the bright side of things, but I believe the illegal immigration issue is so bright it has blinded you. Where did you get that "Billions" figure paid into social security and never used? According to government figures, every illegal immigrant in this nation---man, woman, and child---costs our nation 19 million dollars per year in services. I must be missing all the expensive homes and new schools being built in the prosperous communities catering to illegals. This isn't a racial issue. It is an issue preserving our culture, tradition, way of life, safety, values, and health. I don't hate Somalis. I don't hate anyone. I do, however, dislike people who haven't the spine or, worse yet, the patriotism to preserve and defend their nation, their community, and their freedom. Keep America, America. Welcome anyone willing to share it as is and reject anyone unwilling to do so. God bless the USA and God save Emporia.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
***************** IMPORTANT ***********************
Everyone:
There is a change in the meeting place for tonight. If more than ten people show up at the library, the city has offered us the Little Theatre. It is safe to assume that the Little Theatre is where we will be.
Go in through the front doors of the Civic Auditorium then go upstairs on the elevator or stairs. City people will open the building at 6.
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bjnemp.....Usay is trying to get to you....Don't let him.
It's 4:00...time to get your questions ready for the meeting tonight. I hope we'll see you there. :-)
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Please everyone...try to be at the meeting tonight. We have a lot of people that have been posting here, and if even half of us show us...we will have a good representation.
It's so important for Emporia that we show them we are real people, and not cowards under a phony name.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Usay, your statements about favoring ILLEGALS I believe is a very racist comment. Jesus exhorts his followers to obey the law. You exhort people to break it. I'm confused. On the one hand, you complain against people doing violent unlawful acts against the Somalians (which you should) but on the other hand, you believe poeple should be allowed to break this county's laws and come here illegally. You obviously don't do your homework on how much illegals cost this country, either. Do you believe it is your right to pick and choose which laws people should and shouldn't obey? As a person who claims to be a man of faith, that really surprises me. Read the verses I posted earlier again. Watch the video I posted. I have the feeling you haven't. That's ok, believe as you will. At least try to be consistent. Either everyone needs to obey the law, or it's ok for all of us to break it.
Somali, I've asked several times very nicely for you to answer some questions about your views. Quite a few muslims across the world are big fans of Bin Laden and the Taliban. I'm just trying to find out where your beliefs lie. Simple questions, really.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Usay, you are welcome to the meeting tonight. I for one do not plan on getting into any arguments with you because that is not what this meeting is all about. Again, this meeting is about the fact that our town is much too small to accommodate the growing numbers of refugees that the ERRA and Catholic Charities has decided to attract. Period!
Posted by mulberry (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I stumbled across Bob Agler's personal email address on the net today in case anyone would like to make a comment that you don't want him to miss.
bagler@seamless.net
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 4:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thank you so much mulberry!!!
Posted by think (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Emporia as a refugee CENTER, that is the issue. Refugee Center, not there will be some more refugees coming to work at Tyson, no a Refugee Center!!
(Emporia has a great oppurtunity to become the midwest's Refugee Center, what a cue for us. This oppurtunity is going to create lots of new jobs, the housing market is going to soar, new revenue for businesses will be outstanding. We fought very hard to qualify for this fantastic oppurtunity and we won!! Our budget problems are over, property taxes are expected to drop, at last. We are so proud that we have been chosen to be the number one REFUGEE CENTER in the Midwest!!)
Just kidding, but seriously does anyone, politically, government, or humanitarian think that this town is large enough to support the influx of refugees and that the town will not suffer??
I think ESU has worked very hard to become a notable university and that they should be concerned about a refugee center town surrounding their campus.
I am not prejudice to foreign people, but I do not want to live in a refugee center. Let's face it, sense of community pride is not fostered by refugees who wish they could go home, but can't.
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
youre exactly right THINK!
Posted by Gilbert_Craig (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Can someone possibly record the meeting? I won't be in town to make it to the meeting, but surely would like to see and hear all that goes on there.
You have my support in spirit.
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yeah that would be great!!!i really want to go but im not able to.but alongside gilbert ill be there in spirit!
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 4:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was going to come but I don't think I can change your Heart !
Truly I doubt that you have any idea about the history of the United States . I beleive most people of every race and religion are good people . I will never judge a group of people because of a few or because of the media .
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL@UsayULoveGod!!are you mentally challenged?im thinkin so!
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 5:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not sure who you were referring to, but I know my US history very well. I am trying very hard not to judge a group of people, that is why I am asking questions. It is not judgmental to say if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck that it is a duck. But I will not be blinded by the media either. I don't let a biased media glossing over things or putting their own spin on things blind me to the truth. I'm sure lots of people in the 30's said the exact same things you did about Hitler. So I'm asking questions. I'm asking direct questions. I'm asking questions that I believe it is every person's right in this country to know the answer to.
So far, the only answer I've gotten is to short my mouth. Just how long should I grope blindly in the dark?
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
im thinkin your right greenday!
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gilbert....We'll make sure you get notes from the meeting.
Thanks for asking....
I'm leaving now....and, I am looking forward to seeing so many of you that have posted on here....and many that haven't posted but have been reading this for days. :-)
Over 400 posts so far....wow!
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 5:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The "Council of Islamic Courts" has come to control large parts of Somalia, installing a Taliban-type government, and welcoming Al-Queda militants into their ranks. The US has backed the Ethiopian governments armed conflict against the Islamic Council.
So, Usay, why don't you quit answering for somali and let them answer for themselves. Do you support the Islamic Court and Al-Queda/Bin Laden? Is that the philosophy you follow? Or is there some other reason we are not aware of that you are against what the US is doing? Please enlighten us.
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 5:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Emporia has been dying for quite some time and it has nothing to do with the Somalis or the Mexicans or blacks. Companies are closing and leaving . The Somalis are here because they were in Refugees camps and most of them do not have any family because they were KILLED in a war and they are here to be in a safe and welcoming community. You don't get it and by reading this Board , you never will. I talked to one Somalian and his entire family was killed before his eyes . He is here in little old Emporia for Peace not hate . He grew up in hate and he loves being in America !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 5:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
so USAY youre saying they have no financial impact on emporia?thats a sad story but again your off topic!W.T.F.?
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I used to work in close proximity to a Muslim man. Great guy. He was not given any special considerations for his religion nor did he ask for any. He respected my religion as I respected his. Currently, one of my best friends at work is black. So Usay, your constant harping on racism and hatred is really wearing thin. You seem to have issues. Especially confusion over 1 set of people can break the law and another set cannot. I hope it all works out for you.
The way I see it, there are 2 central issues here. The first is the sheer numbers and impact on Emporia. Regardless of race, religion, whatever, "dumping" another large group of people to let the Emporia taxpayer subsidize is going to be very troublesome at best. Tyson lies probably at the heart of the problem. Their sneaky ways of putting up rules around their "hiring practices" make it nearly impossible for any local to get a job, and from what I hear, their spiraling downwards treatment and benefits make it very unattractive as well. So of course they have the excuse to bring in outside, cheap, subsidized labor. They created the conditions.
Second problem I see is a group of people who do not seem to want to adopt our culture and fit in. They can't wait to leave, or they tell us to shut our mouths they'll soon have the same rights. Furthermore, they come from an area which alot of Americans very rightly have suspicions of. We've brought relief help to that region, and battled against militants, we got killed and drug thru the streets to cheering crowds. Currently we are battling a group of Taliban like Muslims trying to exert power in that region, who also give welcome and give aid and shelter to Al-Queda members. What little respons I've gotten on this board is the the somalians here are against what we are doing. I've asked many questions to clarify this second point for alot of people and I get no answers. I only get Usay continually harping about racism, but from his remarks about Illegals, it is obvious he does not do his homework.
So good luck in the meeting tonight, again I will be there in spirit.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 5:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's the question I'm trying to ask, Usay. Was his family killed before his eyes because they were sheltering Al-Queda? Or was it the militants that killed his family for refusing to joing the Taliban? I've asked this question a dozen times on this board and all I get is what the US is doing is wrong. Since we're battling Al-Queda there, what do you think this would lead any normal sane thinking person to believe? Again, why don't you let them answer my questions? I've built up quite a list of them back thru my posts, I'm awaiting answers from some NON-Usay somalian....
Posted by jasonandashley (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know this question has been asked be for....but I'll ask it again....
If the Somalis take great pride in who they are and their culture then why aren't they fighting to get their homeland back?? Why don't they stand up for their country?? You can't show support of your country by hiding out in the United States.
Everyone has a right to fight for their home....just like the people of Emporia are fighting to keep their town from becoming overrun with refugees.
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
good point!!
Posted by jasonandashley (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks!!! I thought so!
Posted by kohoutekdriver8 (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 5:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not from the region, but was e-mailed this story by a friend who grew up here. It sounds like the immigration people shipped all the illegal Mexicans back where they belong, and since Americans won't do poultry processing for the wages Tyson is willing to pay (which is why I have boycotted that company for as long as I have known this), they have to bring employees in from SOMEWHERE, and hey, the Somalis are ripe for the picking.
I certainly believe in legitimate immigration but this is another story altogether.
Here's another perspective that some of you might find interesting.
http://allnurses.com/forums/f35/somalian...
Des Moines, where I have relatives, got a lot of Bosnian refugees in the mid-1990s. A lot of them went back when things got better, but some didn't, and Des Moines has a huge problem with Bosnian gangs. We think of gangs as being a black or Hispanic issue, and they know this and that's why they're so dangerous - they aren't obvious.
Northern Minnesota has received a lot of Bantu refugees, from central Africa, and their language does not contain words for things like "ice", "snow", or "frozen." And they don't know how to operate things like flush toilets ("Where do I go bury it?") and telephones, and we expect them to fully assimilate in 9 months, which is how long the services last? Ripe picking for the unscrupulous, to say the least.
Posted by been_there (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 6:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I realize that most on this forum are strictly discussing Emporia becoming a refugee center but it seems to me that most of your concerns should be addressed at a higher level. If you don't feel that our local commissioners, which WE voted in are going to help with this cause, then why stop with Jerry Moran. The biggest concerns are with our federal government and why they are allowing so many people into our country without knowing exactly 'what' they are bringing with them. I totally agree with the comment that was made that there should be some sort of assimilation period in a controlled environment where ALL immigrants or refugees can learn how to survive in OUR communities. Our government is letting people in every day and throwing them into society without any idea of how to live AMONG us. I've said before, the only way my children learned manners was because I have taught them. You only know what you have learned so don't mistake ignorance for rudeness. And I'm NOT calling anyone on here ignorant! I can tell by the posts that several on here are much more educated than myself.
Blaming Tyson for all the problems in Emporia is not exactly fair. IBP/Tyson has and continues to contribute economically to the community in positive ways. Yes, a lot of less than desirable people have come to our community to work at this plant but there is a large number of good people who work there too. I know Emporia would survive without Tyson but a lot of good people would also leave our community. We are not trying to cause more harm to our community, we are all just trying to find answers and find a way to make it better. Also, remember that Tyson has almost 3000 people employed, rumors are easily started and a lot of the information that is coming out of there is not based on fact, more from frustration. I haven't heard a word from anyone that actually represents the company on this site.
All I'm trying to say is, no one can be sure of the amount of Somalis that will/may come to Emporia and everyone does deserve to have their questions answered. However, seems like getting any FACTS from our local government is wishful thinking, after all, they are politicians. We should be thinking bigger and letting our federal government know that we are tired of being a dumping site. We need to start taking care of the people that are already in the United States instead of continually adding to the burden of our already over-taxed society.
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 8:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This came from someone Who lives in Main!!
The comments posted by readers are appalling. Unfortunately, they're not surprising.
I live in a part of Maine that has seen an influx of African refugees over the past five years or so. Personally, I believe their arrival has enriched our community. Many of my classmates are Somali and Ethiopian. Many of them, like me, are studying to be nurses. Our instructors encourage them to offer cultural perspectives in class.
Unfortunately, many of them have not received the same welcome in town. Many have been greeted by the same disappointing attitudes voiced by some of the posters on this thread -- people who absurdly equate rude behavior with ethnicity, for example, or who can't figure out why refugees from other countries come across as demanding. Could it be that after surviving rape and terrorism in their own countries, after seeing family members murdered, they've learned that the only way to stand up for themselves is to be demanding?
By the way, if behaving "like us" means sharing the ethnocentric attitudes voiced by some of the previous posters, I hope I don't behave "like us" either. When I saw the title of this thread, I logged on thinking that I would learn about cultural aspects of caring for patients from other countries. Instead, I've learned about cultural aspects of nurses from my own country. How depressing.
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 9:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://allnurses.com/forums/f35/somalian......
and scroll down it is on the end of the page !
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Freedom42
Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 302
Country: USA
Received 75 "Thank You" From 32
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Real Person
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 9:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In 2002, then-Mayor Larry Raymond created a furor when he issued a letter asking Lewiston’s Somalis, then numbering about 1,000, to advise their countrymen not to come here because the city’s resources were “maxed out.”
{snip}
Haaruan Sheekhey, a 27-year-old Somali who moved to Lewiston from Denver two years ago, said he is ready to try his luck elsewhere. His restaurant failed after it was hit by vandals who scratched a swastika on a window, he said, and employers are reluctant to hire Somalis.
“If somebody says, ‘I’m happy in Lewiston,’ they’re lying,” he said. “We’re having a hard time in this city. We’re struggling. We’re trying so hard to be part of this community, trying so hard to find a job, but nobody gives us a chance.”
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 9:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Usay, You still don't get it, do you? Have you stopped your broken record long enough to read what the mayor of Lewiston MAINE said to the Somali people? Read that letter and get off the "cultural aspects" wagon. Lewiston MAINE went bankrupt trying to be generous to the Somali people. Bankrupt for their generosity! Do you suppose the Somali people paid them back? WHAT IS IT THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HERE?????
Get off this forum, Usay, and read a little about this country's history. Did you know that the signers of the U.S. Declaration of Independence were hunted down and killed by British agents, and some of their families were burnt alive in their homes? That's just the tip of the historic iceberg. What I'm trying to tell you is this: We stayed and fought for our independence, with small arms against cannons. Our ancestors were farmers and merchants. We didn't have an army. We had to fight the British army as untrained men. The point is, we stayed and fought. We did not run to another country expecting them to take care of us. We are a very strong and proud people as a result of the kind of people we come from. We are also a law abiding people. Get a clue, few other countries would have treated Somali people half as generously as ours has. AND YOU STILL COMPLAIN!!! You don't deserve our generosity.
You don't go to another country expecting handouts and be demanding about it. That's like me going to my friend's house and demanding to be fed, demanding he pay my medical bills, demanding he give me a job. How long do you think we'd remain friends? You make me sick!
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 9:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Somalis began arriving in this city in the dead of winter in February 2001, beginning the ethnic transformation of a city that was 97 percent white. Lewiston’s Somalis now represent close to 10 percent of the population, with an additional 30 or so arriving each month. Because of the Somalis’ large families, the percentage in the schools is even higher.
Lewiston’s emergence as the city with the nation’s largest percentage of Somalis happened largely by chance.
We white American born citizens are the ones struggling to exist with this circus of black importees into this country by the state department, with the deliberate design to destroy our race and culture.
I suggest an ideal location for the Somalis vagabonds, Crawford Texas!
SAD !!!!!!!!!! Sounds Like This group !! Just a different Town but the same feelings and thinking !
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 10:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL greenday. I needed to see a post like yours before I turn in for the night. Loved it!
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 8, 2007 at 11:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
bdprotheroe...in San Francisco.....
You've been posting, giving advice, and comments about what's been going on in Emporia...Some have told you to mind your own business because you don't live here now........
Well, I want to tell you we met your parents at the Refugee meeting tonight. Thank you for encouraging them to come to the meeting. :-) It was nice to meet them.
Just thought you'd like to know.
Also, I know there are quite a few of you that are posting about what's going on in Emporia, and can't make our meetings, because you don't live here.... I want to thank you too for your support, and for caring about what happens to our community....Please don't stop.
We had a good meeting tonight....and I was amazed at how many told us they don't post on here...but, they read every day. A couple are thinking of names to use, and might join in on the blogs, like RT :-)
If any of you happen to be in town when we hold one of our Refugee meetings..we'd love to meet you in person. We'll keep everyone advised of future meetings, with dates and times, as soon as we can figure them out ourselves.
Our Reservist was great....Another reason to be proud of our Military.
All you local bloggers that didn't show up...you missed meeting Create.....too bad!...
and, Commissioner Agler has offered to give us support in the future...(unofficially sometimes)....We all appreciated him coming to the meeting.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 12:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like it was a good meeting - wish I could have been there.
Jasonandashley, I totally agree. If I had seen all my family members killed before my eyes, I would not head out to another country. I would stay and try to right the wrongs in my own country, and FIGHT if that is what it took. Because I love my country. And I would do whatever was in my power to keep it from being taken over by a bunch of bloodthirsty jihadist thugs.
Unless, of course, my family was the bloodthirsty jihadist thugs. Then I might bail out if I was losing. That question I keep asking and never getting an answer to. The longer I go asking that question and not getting any answer, the more my imagination starts running away with me. I think more and more about the story my driver told me about how everything would start out and how it always ended up. Apparently nobody is interested in "correcting" me. Or maybe there's nothing to be corrected, I honestly don't know. But I look at how my muslim friend acted at work and I look at how people in Emporia are treated and I look at the few responses we get on this board from the immigrant community and I'm not encouraged.
Jesus showed indignation and anger when he drove the money-changers out of the temple. He did not just sigh, turn the other way, and show nothing but love and understanding at that point. He overturned tables and cracked whips. His anger was not self-serving, Jesus was outraged at the unjust system. Apparently Usay is trying to tell us all that Jesus was wrong, that people never have a right to put their foot down and fight for their own rights. The mayor in Maine had no right to look out for his constituents, we have no right to look out for ours and our childrens future. His interpretation of the Bible and mine seem to differ. Oh well, my interpretation doesn't agree with Fred Phelps, either.
Posted by Russ (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 6:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was at the meeting last night as one who reads the blogs but does not post in most cases. I am posting this morning to say thanks to all who showed up to support this issue and to give my two cents worth. I heard one comment, that stuck with me, I am not sure who made it but it was said "you can not stop people from moving to Emporia, it's a free country"
This is a true, so where do we go from here? My feelings are that as long as Tyson is in Emporia,so will be the refugees. I see many posting about the city and their lack of action, I wonder what more the city could have done, Tyson is a private company and they have the right to hire anyone they wish from anywhere they wish and do not need to get the cities approval to do it. I am not sticking up for Tyson but am only saying they are trying to make a profit by hiring cheap labor, Unfortunately it wil be at the cities expense. I really hope we as citizens of Emporia will be able to make changes that will benefit our community,but I do not think we are going to stop this influx of Somalian's. maybe by banding together and learning what we can and how this happened we will at the very least, be able to stop it from happening to the next town.
Posted by Gilbert_Craig (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 7:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It may be true that they may still move some here Russ, but having a processing center located here and a refugee camp can be stopped. I think most of us agree that having some individuals here with their problems can be tolerated to some degree. What cannot be done is to have mass numbers coming here and bleeding our town dry.
Posted by Observer (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 7:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bravo!!!!!!!!!!!!
Being fore-warned is being fore-armed, and you as some of Emporia's finest citizens are sounding the alarm and getting out the message.
A deep note of gratitude to those heroic hearts who have stepped-up, organized the meeting, and have gone beyond anonymous statements.
Russ has made some very valid and telling points.
Equality under the law, allows Tyson to hire whomever they desire, and Somalis are equal under the law to move to Emporia.
Equality is both of the same measure, quantity, amount, or number as another as well as not showing variation in appearance, structure, or proportion.
Tyson, the Somali refugees, the Catholic Charities and Somali advocates, should be treated with equality under the law, BUT not more than equality under the law.
Hold each of the above accountable to the Emporia community, for their actions/decisions.
Are the laws of Kansas and city statutes being enforced in regards to Tyson, or does it receive tax-breaks, incentives, and special treatment as a powerful corporation?
Are the Somalis being treated fairly and equitably under the laws of Kansas and City statutes, or are they being catered-to and given preferential treatment because of who they are and who they work for, and who their advocate is?
Give everyone equality under the law, with consistent enforcement of all laws. No special treatment.
If a native born citizen must pass a standardized drivers license exam, then any non-native born citizen should pass the same exam to operate a motor vehicle on our streets.
If a crime is committed by a native born American citizen, which could result in arrest and conviction, then the same crime by a non-native born person should result in arrest and conviction.
Do the merchants and service providers of the community have the right to refuse service, to undesirable and troublesome customers?
Truth. Justice. Equality under the law.
Hold them accountable for the good of the community.
Well done, well commenced ye faithful and caring hearts.
Posted by ksfarmer (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 7:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mayor Johnson seems to realize there's no way to stop them, that we will all just learn to get along or else....That's how I understood her comment ..There's an economic meeting scheduled with Rob Catlett concerning the refugees next Wed. night. It's been announced on KVOE, it's at the library? It's the last in a series of three meetings or something. Are you going to that Create?
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I posted a report on last night's meeting on the other story about the meeting. However, with your indulgence, here is my post again in case anyone missed it. I don't want you to miss the part about that kid's eyes sparkling when he spoke to me.
Greetings everyone,
Attended by a group of about 35 people, the meeting lasted for about two hours during which time much active discussion took place. Travis Guthrie spoke first and introduced all of the concerns that the group would most likely want to discuss.
I am happy to report that Commissioner Bob Agler was present, and was able to not only voice his own concerns, but more importantly, to field a number of questions. He explained that he was there in the capacity as a citizen, not necessarily a commissioner. Of great interest to the group was when he explained to us that the commissioners themselves were also taken completely by surprise by Saturday's news article about the ERRA, the $104,000 grant, and Emporia's new status as Refugee Center. It would seem that they too were blindsided.
I'm not going to go into detail because the Gazette was there and the reporter will do a fine job of reporting what happened at the meeting. We will meet again. We will organize. We will have a name. We will have a web site. We will let everyone know in plenty of time so more can attend next time.
It was good to see Bob Agler there, especially after I know he had been reading the Forum and knew that some of us had attacked him. That took courage, especially not knowing how many people might be there.
We can assume that our city manager will be at our next meeting. He seems to have done quite a bit of research.
Again, read the Gazette article for particulars.
The group was surprisingly young in makeup. In talking to several of them after the meeting, I found out that they are interested because they are concerned about their futures. One young man said it would be so easy for a young person to just cut and run, find a job elsewhere, and forget Emporia forever. But he grew up here. When he said that, his eyes sparkled. Hearing that kid say that, and seeing his eyes sparkle was probably the most important thing I have heard and seen in months. It was poetry. I kid you not.
We will let everyone know when the next meeting is in plenty of time so more can attend. God Bless Emporia.
Now, everybody, have a good Veteran's Day. My own Veteran is resting at Memorial Lawn so I'm taking an apple out to him tomorrow. Semper Fidelis.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Observer, thank you for this: "A deep note of gratitude to those heroic hearts who have stepped-up, organized the meeting, and have gone beyond anonymous statements."
Just before I came forward and went to the meeting, I looked up on the wall where my Kansas teaching license hangs framed. My greatest fear is to be accused of bigotry after I have spent 22 years teaching against it. What you said brought tears to my eyes. Thank you.
But there is great value in anonymity and we need to protect that right. In fact, the tradition of anonymous speech is older than the United States. I refer to The Federalist Papers, a collection of essays urging colonists to declare independence. We now know them as Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Even the rebuttal used a pseudonym. Best yet, our right to speak anonymously is derived from the First Amendment, something that the US Supreme Court recognizes repeatedly.
Again, thank you.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ksfarmer, yes, I am going to attend that meeting next Wednesday at the Library, 7 pm. It is advertised as an "Immigration Forum." Let's all be there with our questions.
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
create, I think your link on the other forum warrants repeating here, in case any haven't seen it - hope you don't mind. Good find!
http://www.vdare.com/allen/brownback.htm...
From that article:
"At 3 percent of the Lewiston’s population, Somalis now receive 46 percent of its welfare payments"
"Of course, for a fraction of the money the U.S. will spend to move this tribe to America, Mozambique could have been persuaded to carry through on its promises. But the U.S. refugee industry needs clients! So that option was never considered.
The cost to the taxpayer of resettling this tribe in the U.S. could run into the billions.
For example, the usual HIV bar to U.S. entry does not apply in the case of refugees"
I think these are all legitimate concerns to the people of Emporia, Lyon County, KS, and the entire USA.
Posted by salomi_baloney (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have been reading these blogs and am very interested in actively becoming a part of this organization to stop the influx of refugees coming here. I want to send you all this information I received in an email from a friend just today.
Subject: Read Get Mad and pass it on
READ, GET MAD AND PASS ON.
IF THE IMMIGRANT IS OVER 65 THEY CAN APPLY FOR SSI
AND MEDICAID AND
GET MORE THAN MY MOM GETS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY, AND SHE
WORKED FROM
1944 TILL 2004, ONLY GETTING $791 PER MONTH BECAUSE
SHE WAS BORN IN
1924 AND THERE IS A "CATCH 22".
IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDES
A SINGLE
REFUGEE WITH A MONTHLY ALLOWANCE OF $1,890.00 AND EACH
CAN ALSO
OBTAIN AN ADDITIONAL $580.00 IN SOCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR
A TOTAL OF
$2,470.00/MONTH.
This compares very well to a single pensioner who
after contributing
to the growth and development of America for 40 t o 50
years can only
receive a monthly maximum of $1, 012.00 in old age
pension and
Guaranteed Income Supplement.
MAYBE OUR PENSIONERS SHOULD APPLY AS REFUGEES!
Consider sending this to all your American friends, so
we can all be
ticked off and maybe get the refugees cut back to
$1,012.00 and the
pensioners up to $2,470.00 and enjoy some of the money
we were forced
to submit to the Government over the last 40 or 50 or
60 years.
Please forward to every American to expose what our
elected
politicians (Nancy P. included) have been doing over
the past 11
years - to the over-taxed American.
SEND THIS TO EVERY AMERICAN TAXPAYER YOU KNOW
Posted by Kansan (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How does the Health Center work? Can you just walk in there and get free services? Catholic Charities is going to point them in the direction of all the services that are taxpayer funded.
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Salomi_baloney
I just sent to every one I know.
Kansan
NOT IF YOU’RE AN AMERICAN!!!
PS : I am a tax payer to the USA.
Posted by Weltha (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at noon (Suggest removal)
I don't know how it works if you are a "refugee" but for all others it is a sliding scale. Its any where from free to as much as if you went to a private phycision.
Posted by Weltha (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh and the ytake insurance.
Posted by marebear14 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was just talking with some friends of mine. We all volunteer our time on our local ambulance service. Now granted we do not live in Emporia but this was brought up. Women are not allowed to touch Somali men and your not supposed to look them in the eye. My question is if I can't touch a Somali man or look at him how am I supposed to take care of him? Are the rules different if they are injured? I would like to know the answer to these questions.
Once again I support the movement that you all are creating. I think I would like to be present at the next meeting if I can.
Posted by Weltha (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If we touch them or look them in the eye what do they do? I have met one Somali man personally and I did both. He didn't act like he was going to leave and go kill himself or anything. he sat with the rest of my group and carried on with our conversation and even drank a beer.
Posted by Weltha (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I had better clarify my previous post. When I say I did both I am saying that, I shook his hand, looked him in the eye while doing so and introduced myself.
Posted by Big_Blue (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 2:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was at the meeting last night. I usaly just read these blogs But im a little pissed at the moment!!!! I dont think it is rite for the school district to alow the samoli to have a special prayer room. But our kids cant say the pledge of elegince in school. I have a 7 year old and i could bet if you asked him to say it he would not know what you are talking about. That realy pisses me off.
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just got of the phone with the High school , there is not a special prayer room for the Somalis ! That is not true .
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
God bless you Big_Blue
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I thank there is a lawsuit initiating my rights in the USA!!
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
UsayULoveGod why YES there is a prayer room!!!!D.S.
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
U GO BIG BLUEY
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ive been trying to read all the links that are being posted on here and ive lost track of who posted the one about the homeless vets. its was a good story in the sense that i never realized how many vets make up our homeless population. why cant vets who fought for our countries, who just need a little tlc for the post traumatic stress they suffer, be given the meat packing jobs instead of importing more people? we should take care of our own before we take care of someone elses. yes big blue they should be say pledge of allegiance in school. will they just eliminate our cultural practices, so we dont 'offend' someone elses?
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This summer a school in San Diego set aside special prayer time for Muslim students. The community didn't necessarily "object", they just demanded equal time for Christian and all other religions, if I remember the story correctly. The school backed down and now their policy is something along the lines of all students can pray as they see fit on their lunch break. They have now split their schedule into 2 lunch periods, 1 during the time period in which the muslims want to pray.
"Some alleged that the school was violating the separation of church and state by giving Muslims time to pray. The district maintained that it is legally required to approve students' request for religious accommodation."
So there you have it in a nutshell what is happening everywhere in America. The AC in ACLU stands for "Anti-Christian".
The latest news from Fort Collins, Colorado:
If the city's Holiday Display Task Force has its wish, city staff will not put up Christmas trees outside city buildings or on city property beginning in 2008.
Instead, the group will recommend the city's outdoor displays include white lights, secular winter symbols not associated with any particular holiday - such as snowflakes and icicles - and unadorned swaths of greenery."
Can't put up red or green lights at Christmas, only white.
Proof that the world has finally, totally, and completely gone insane.
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the imigrants that find our culture,morals,and beliefs offensive are very offending to me but nobody seems to care!!!whats wrong with that?
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
slip, that is an excellent thought! Not trying to push vets into lower paying jobs, but if the government wants to subsidize a group, I can think of no better people than those who have served our country and are now homeless! Offer jobs, housing, monthly stipends and all the other perks to our homeless vets first!!!!!
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
very nice open_eyes!
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"The district maintained that it is legally required to approve students' request for religious accommodation."
So does that mean if students at EHS want to put on a Christmas Program, with an all religious theme, CALLED a Christmas Program, then the school district is legally required to approve their request?
Ok, sorry, this is trailing off onto the Renaming the Christmas Program thread, just answering in a way some earlier questions on this board, and the school answer got me to thinking....
Posted by micki (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
slipand slide, Sad to say It's already happening!!!! And on top of that........they have been making demands so that they can utilize their own cultural practices at Work & School. What happened to our Christmas programs???????????????
Professor: We are being infiltrated!!!!
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to have a video tape of the last meeting I have a place to put it ONLINE!!
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 3:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A Prayer Room at which schools ?
I am not going comment on the D.S Cow town.
There are a lot of people here in Emporia that do not agree with what you are saying so we are all DUMB SHI-
The USA is changing , you must come to grip with that. Emporia is over 35% Latin americans and it will continue to grow . So for those who do not want to go where they shop or eat then your best bet is to move out of emporia . I was reading the other blog about shoping in Emporia and a lot of people made hateful comments about only shopping where people speak english . This city will continue to be divided . as long has hate provails.
Simply because people are afraid to step out of their comfort zone to let people who different within their little circle . Instead of being afraid of what you think you are going to lose , just think of what you can gain through truly loving your neighbor . If the same group that met last night would go over to the Cafe and welcome those new people to Emporia with open arms and ask what can we do to make your life better in Emporia.
Things would be much better. We need to work together to make this a better Community.
I remember the Mexican March last year and this group of young adults were in the back of this truck yelling racial comments at the Mexicans marching in the streets and one of the
demonstrators went over to the truck and reached his hand out and said God loves you and so do I. I was shocked because he fought hate with Love. So I am reaching my hand Out to you and want you to stop and think about what you are doing to our New Guests, who are are brothers and sisters of Christ.
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok usay I told you I knew you know I’ve got you.
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 3:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
cowtown, we don't have a video of last night's meeting. Sorry.
Also, I did just call the high school, and they do not have a prayer room for students, nor are there any plans to install one. I hope that sets the rumors to rest.
I'd like to remind everyone to keep a list of your questions and bring them with you to the Immigration Forum, Nov 14, 7pm, library.
Veterans Day Parade Tomorrow
Visit Soden's Grove
Thank You to all who have served our great country.
GOD BLESS EMPORIA
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 3:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you create dam.
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 3:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
brad we are american, apparently we have lost the right to keep our cultural beliefs and practices, and you are not the only one who is offended.when anyone does say something we are accused of being racist, bigots and other terrible things.your not the only offended person here,seems the city is more interested in mowing us over in the name of earning federal dollars. did anyone else read the link about lewiston, maine? a city the size of emporia that went bankrupt two years after an influx of immigrants, maybe it s an indication of what we have in store for us in emporia
Posted by slipandslide (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 3:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
usay, it looks like your writing has improved, did it improve or is someone else using your account? just curious
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
By the way Usay.
I wonder how the US military will thank of what you say. Hum wounder / how’d tha get that?
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yeah ill love yo in christ USAY but your still ignorant to seeing the big picture!im not nor the others here about hate.its about the future and well being of our community and generations to follow!!i dont know about you but i have young kids to think about!!
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thank you brad!
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Military think of What ?
The Big picture is not you or myself , It is the Lord our savior looking down and thinking , I have given you enough to share and you should share all that I have given unto you with your neighbors , who are much less fortunate . Everyone keep saying they are getting this and that and failing to realize what they have been through !!
Posted by Russ (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is my second post, It seems to me that there are TWO topics going on here
1.) Somali Refugees in Emporia
2.) American Rights being taken away
There any many on here who seem to be talking more about how their rights as Americans have been taken away so not to offend others of different races. Then there are those who seem to be interested in What Emporia Can do to keep from becoming a Refugee Center.
I think the two can be and are tied together in certain ways but there Are Two Different Subjects, I would suggest that we work on the Problems facing us right here on our front porch first, those being the Refugee situation in Emporia, Once we have that where it is something we can manage, Then We can work on all the ills of society and the wrongs we have had to deal with when it comes to our rights as Americans.
The Article afterall is about "Emporia readies for more Somali refugees"
JMO
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
slipandslide you know im not a racist.but ive actually got to the point to where im so sick of everyone being scared to say ANYTHING because of being labeled by a bunch of hypocritical morans.being scared to act out free speech is whats killing our morals and beliefs.we are letting everyone run us over and do as they please.if we go to another country we are EXPECTED to CONFORM to there society.why are we any diffrent as americans?we shouldnt have to lower our standerd of living to accomadate people thats pulling us down.if continued emporia WILL be the armpit of kansas.sad but true.
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
nom ( 2 )
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Man u are right brad
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
usay why let the wolves eat your chickens if it can be prevented.your right usay jesus IS the big picture.but these subjects i believe need to be broken down for you.this isnt church my friend.this is a community trying to keep the wolves from our way of living and bettering our community.
Posted by Big_Blue (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They put prayer rooms in tyson also. They get 2 15 minute extra breaks to go pray. So why they are all in the special room they built for them the rest of the people have to work twice as hard and thats how people get hurt!!!!!!! Im not standing up for tyson but im standing up for all the other people that have to do there work!!!!
Posted by micki (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Right On!!!!! Brad!!!!!
Posted by create (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you, Russ. Well spoken. We need to stick to the subject because right now, we need all the ideas and thinking to be focused. The drums are sounding and we need to listen and be prepared.
It's good to see so many new people participating here.
Russ, I'd like to hear more from you. You are informed and well spoken.
Posted by somali (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Open eyes this is the answer for you’re questions!
You asked me several times questions to answer about my views. Of Bin Laden and the Taliban, and said you were just trying to find out where my beliefs.
First I’m going to answer questions, secondly I will explain you why so many Somali refugee are in you’re cities.
1. We all knew Bin Laden was hired by CIA, but we never knew when they sacked him, after the nine eleven 2001 first flight from united State to Saudi Arabia was special flight for Bin Laden families and friends, who was in the united states before 09/11/2001 supplied by some people you may know more than I do, and they are still you’re leaders,
2. Taliban was also created by US Government Agencies and they may still working for them, that is my views Bin Laden and Taliban, it is also views for many American citizens including the Victim’s of September 11.
To be contunue ----
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hello usay/ Christianity ageist Muslim /followers of Islam: relating to the followers of Islam or to areas, cultures, or activities in which followers of Islam are especially numerous
[Early 17th century. From Arabic , literally “somebody who surrenders (to God),” the active participle of ’aslama (see Islam).
Posted by somali (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why so many Somali are in you’re cities?
As you may aware United States Governments was evolved Somali internal fairs for many years until today they always support any one they think it works for their interest, and that is not wrong , every year united states governments gives resettlements-
Tens of thousands of neither Somali Refugees from 1991 to 2007, as Somali citizen I don’t believe such a policies will help neither United States people nor Somalis, you don’t like you’re cities to be a Refugee camp, and we don’t want to be Refugee, now do you think we are all victims both American people and Somalis victims by those who we called leaders or policy makers, if you are still reading read following information about the background of Somali problems.
In Somalia 18 American soldiers were killed in 1993 by Somali warlords, 2000 Somali civilians were killed by American soldiers in 2 days according to US government officials who were in Somalia in 1993.
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
True , But a church is not just a building my friend , it's anywhere you represent our Lord , Jesus Christ , I realize we are all sinners in his eyes , but before you say , do or think something about someone , 1st question is what would Jesus do ? If you have a problem with the money or taxes or whatever financial situation EMPORIA is in , You do not blame a certain group of people , or say stuff like this would be a better place if this or that group was not living here. I believe that most large companies do not care about the common people and they make cutbacks and give the CEO millions of dollars and the economy suffers and we do want we do now it fight and argue about something we cannot change by saying a particular group is the reason. I pay the same taxes that you pay, I pay the same High gas rates you pay , I worry about the crime the same as you do , But I will never blame it on any one group. We had a saying , you can put a Man on the Moon but you cannot stop drugs from entering the USA .
Posted by somali (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In December of last year, Ethiopian forces entered Somalia on request of the US Government and corrupted Somali warlords.
The intervention came in order to topple the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) that took control of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, and other parts of the country during the summer of 2006.
The USA gave its support to Ethiopia by sending its war planes to bomb what it claimed to be ‘terrorist targets’ in Somalia as part of the new front in the ‘war on terror’. According to the charity Oxfam, the American bombing resulted only in the death of 70 Somali shepherds who were around a fire with their animals in order to keep mosquitoes at bay.
US government supplied Ethiopian forces and Somali warlords who displaced these refugees you’re complained with Money weapons and intelligence as well as allowed Ethiopia to purchase arms from North Korea.
American-backed Ethiopian intervention in Somalia ended a short period of peace and security brought to Mogadishu by the UIC after 16 years of warlord rule in my country.
We have evidence that the Ethiopian forces are involved in war crimes in Somalia. More than 500,000 people – about 50 percent of Mogadishu’s population – have fled the Somali capital, with about 10,000 reported to have been killed between 28 March and November of this year.
US Government still backing Ethiopian force and Somali warlords’ genocide against Somali civilians.
What’s happening in Somalia is a proxy war fought on behalf of the USA, in order to keep corrupted African dictators in power.
It is the colonialist politics of ‘divide and rule’ repeated all over again. Sectarianism and bloodshed are
Far from helping my country to stand on our feet.
If you want stop Somali refugee comps in you’re cities or if you are really worried about what is going to happen, we can start dialogue from that point.
Finally I never though that so many Americans still don’t know why Somali Refugees coming year after year to the United States.
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JUST THANK SOMALI AND USAY. THANK ABOUT IT????
TOGETHER OR THE SAME????
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Russ...I'm glad you thought of a name to go by, very creative.....LOL..
I agree with Create. I hope you'll continue to contribute to the forum. And, stay involved.
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
well now somali why would you wanna live here if you REALLY believe that?
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Military think of What ?
Posted by somali (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Open eyes this is the answer for you’re questions!
THANK ABOUT IT!!!!
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not the same ! You think none of them have the internet !
some of them are college students!!
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
usay i cant hold my mouth shut any longer.im sorry but your an idiot!!!you just dont get it my friend!!lol
Posted by Renegade (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm a little behind on things today...
but, to Salomi-baloney, and marebear14
If you would like to be on the list to be contacted about our meetings and other information from the group that met last night....
please just send me an e-mail...and, I will put you on my e-mail list for information.
ANYONE that would like to be on the list please just send an e-mail to"
im.renegade@yahoo.com.
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BIG_BLUE
You will sit down and not work.
\ thay wan't to hate / Discriminate.
Law sute?
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lol cowtown
Posted by Big_Blue (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
COWTOWN what do you meen by that statement? I worked there for 6 years!!!
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thay go to there pares SIT DOWN. SUE THEM call a loyer?
Posted by Big_Blue (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
what???????
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
fing new phone books suck hold on/
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 5:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CALL 620 343 2650 ASK FOR MILLER.
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 5:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Be sure to wright it all down.
Posted by Big_Blue (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 5:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why do I need to call monte miller?
Posted by Big_Blue (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In my opinion the whole point of this blog is that knowbody wants them here!!! Just my opinion
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So let me see if I have this correct:
Bin Laden and the Taliban work for the US government.
The UIC - who welcome Al-Queda - brought peace and stability to Somalia - there is some truth to that. The Taliban DID bring stability to Afghanistan, by brutally killing and suppressing anyone and everyone that disagreed with them in any way, shape or form. They destroyed priceless historical treasures, banned music, free speech, media, education for women, as well as most human rights. But, you are correct, it DID bring "peace and stability". And allowed Al-Queda to flourish, and bring their own version of "peace and stability" to the World Trade Centers. But wait, you think the US government did that. Are you really Rosie O'Donnell in disguise?
Oh, by the way, the latest Taliban attempt to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan today - 59 schoolchildren and teachers were killed in a suicide attack.
But thanks for answering my questions, it has given me quite an insight. As for the others, can you give me/us a little more insight into your Islamic beliefs?
Do you hate all Jews? Do you hope Iran nukes them out of existence?
Do you follow the practice of cutting out a young girls clitoris so she will never experience any pleasurable physical sensations from sex?
Do you believe that eventually or want Islam to be the law of the land in the US? Do you believe other religions such as Christianity can co-exist, or do you believe that eventually Islam will prevail everywhere?
What would you prefer the US do in Somalia? Would you prefer Al-Queda to gain a stronghold in the country? Or do you believe your people will rise up themselves and drive them out? (That is, if that is what you want to do).
Thanks again for your replies. They have been very insightful.
Posted by UsayULoveGod (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are right , I am a Idiot for writing on this board , becuase it will not change the way you feel about people who do not look like you !
I will Pray that God will mend your Heart !
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL!!point proven!!!but thank you so much for your prayers!!really
Posted by emporian (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
UsauUareanidiot. It has nothing to do about whether they look like us period. They are suckling on the govt teat and I think it is time the milk is cut off. Here is what a friend from Norfolk had to say about their experiences with them
Do ANYTHING you can to discourage this from happening. Absolutely NO GOOD can come from it. Your crime rate WILL increase 100 fold including theft, gangs, murder...ah hell, you name it!
Your taxes will go up because of the increase of students in schools and the need to build more schools.
Your auto insurance will increase because the workers will buy a car then cancel the insurance after it is licenced...they can't afford it! If you are in a wreck with one of them you are S.O.L!
Your community agencys such as the soup kitchens etc. will be over run and local people that need help will be out of luck!
Your Police force will need to add Officers placing additional burden on the tax base.
Your wives and daughters will be harassed in Grocery Stores, restaurants...hell everywhere!
Neighboring small towns will be taken over and all but ruined because rent will be cheaper there. Most small towns don't have a town cop and they know this so dealing drugs will be easy for them.
And when the Packing Plant closes your left holding the bag with nothing to show for it !
Norfolk has never been the same since the Packing Plant opened here, nor will it EVER be the same again! Think about what happened at US Bank etc.
Sorry to paint such a dark picture but THESE ARE THE FACTS!
I DON'T ENVY YOU!
And Somali, you guys still owe us for 2 Blackhawks ans some American Soldiers. Will that be cash or charge?
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, you do have some points. The US aided the Taliban and Bin Laden in their fight against Soviet occupation. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Soviet occupation was not to allow Afghanis to elect their own government and rule themselves. They were trying to take over the country. And we helped the resistance.
So, after that was over, the Taliban began their brutal takeover of Afghanistan. Oh, and by the way, Bin Laden REPEATEDLY and PUBLICLY declared war on the West and the US specifically MANY times in the years before 9/11. Do a little research on the 1993 World Trade Center bombings. Pretty thankless, wouldn't you say?
Did I miss anything?
Posted by brad_3178 (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thank you emporian!i apologize to the people here.im not here to argue with people like that.i got carried away.i will try to ignore the ignoance of usay!again my apologies.
Posted by cowtown (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ok im back thank you cable one ?
Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 5:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone else like to weigh in with some thoughtful comments on somali's point of view? I'm going to be offline for awhile but I look forward to his replies to my latest questions.
Oh, and sorry, I've been misspelling it - Al-Qaeda.
Posted by new_to_town_and_ready_to_leave (anonymous) on November 9, 2007 at 5:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
One fact I think should be clarified, the U S Ban