Time for some clear answers
By Patrick Kelley
Originally published 01:59 p.m., November 26, 2007
Updated 01:59 p.m., November 26, 2007
By the end of this week, Emporians who care to find out should have more information about the resettlement of Somali refugees in Emporia.
On Wednesday night, the Emporia City Commission will sponsor a public meeting. Present at the meeting will be state refugee officials and Emporia’s state legislators, who should be able to shed some light on the support available to the community in the resettlement process.
On Thursday, Emporia will get the federal perspective when U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran holds a public meeting. Moran’s visit was originally meant to be a more general meeting, but his aides have been following the refugee issue and comments online on The Gazette’s Web site and it became clear to them that Emporians really needed a chance to talk to their member of Congress to help separate rumors from reality. Expect Moran to be completely briefed on refugee policy by the time he arrives.
Wednesday’s meeting, at 7 p.m., will be in the Little Theater in the Civic Building at Sixth Avenue and Mechanic Street. Thursday’s meeting will be at 12:30 p.m. at the Emporia Country Club at 18th Avenue and Rural Street. Both meetings are open to the public.
A little clarity on the refugee issue would be welcome. There has been so much information and misinformation flying around that no one knows quite what to think.
A few people, admittedly, are upset because the refugees are black and because they are Muslims. There is nothing that can be done to make those people happy. The Somalis will stay black and they will stay Muslim. It is who they are.
More people are uncomfortable because it seems to them that the Somalis are not making enough of an effort to assimilate into the community. Those folks might find some comfort in a better understanding of the assimilation process. Except in rare cases, assimilation is a process that takes at least a generation. The first generation always has its hands full trying to feed and clothe its families and make some sense out of the strange new culture that surrounds it. It is the children, not the adults, who eventually assimilate.
But what bothers Emporians most is what seems to be a complete lack of any effort by local, state or federal government or by Tyson Fresh Meats to prepare the community to receive the refugees. When the Somalis arrived, there were no organized support services prepared to receive them and no one with a clear idea of what would be required of the community.
The resulting confusion has proved to be fertile soil for rumors, misinformation and — let us admit it — fear.
Perhaps, at this week’s meetings, Emporia will begin to get the information it needs to quiet the fears and put the rumors to rest.
b3bill (anonymous) says...
The Somalis were moved to Emporia very recklessly. There seems to have been little one-on-one work done with them to familiarize them with how to best function and succeed in a new community. Just bringing them here because of some money that was allocated for that purpose, providing them a place to live, and lining up a job at Tysons for them is very insufficient. We've all seen the immense short-comings in this project. No one can deny it. I hope this is discussed thoroughly at the Wed. 11/28 meeting.
The Somalis need individual sponsors that are available 24/7 (the same as if you would have a foreign-exchange student at your home), one-on-one assistance when they leave their living quarters, and transportation provided for them by the sponsors. They have never been around cars or traffic like we have. Is it right for all the rest of us to have this kind of traffic hazard just so the Somali's can drive? Who buys their cars and pays for their insurance and gasoline? I have witnessed all too many traffic problems due to Somalis trying to drive. Remember, driving is a privilege, *not* a right. At least that is how the law is applied to the rest of us. I hope this topic is brought up at the 11/28 meeting.
The individual health background of each Somali must be reviewed and appropriate action taken as needed. Remember the Somali who worked at Tyson that died this past year of TB? Who knows what other serious health issues may be present. This needs to be explained in great detail at the 11/28 meeting.
There must be full accountability by all agencies/individuals who are responsible for bring the Somalis to Emporia. It has developed into a very undesirable situation that must be corrected now, for the betterment of the Somalis as well as the whole community.
For all the panelists who are to be there on 11/28, stalling, remaining silent, being stingy or deceptive with information, or running and hiding due to cell phone calls or other "convenient" interruptions are not options. You must face the Emporia community and address the questions asked. I hope the audience on 11/28 will demand full accountability and explanation by those who brought the Somalis here and insist on an immediate plan to be made at the meeting to correct the problems. Nothing less should be accepted by the people of Emporia. I would personally ask all of these questions but I will be out of state all week due to business obligations. I hope others present will ask lots of detail, probing, to-the-point questions.
November 26, 2007 at 5:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Renegade (anonymous) says...
b3bill....You're absolutley correct....We need, full accountability and explanations, and I assure you, nothing less will be accepted.
We are expecting a large number of Emporian's to attend, and, I promise, if we don't get answers, and an immediate plan to correct the issues...we won't back down!!!!
In fact, I believe the numbers of supporters will only increase if we don't like what we hear.
--renegade
November 27, 2007 at 8:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
I personally resent Mr. Kelley's (not so subtle) hint that most Emporians object to the influx of Somali's due to racial predudice and religious intolerance. I see it differently. It appears to me the majority of people are just fed up with the endless flood of immigrants, legal and illegal, refusing to adapt to our culture, our language, and our laws. Instead, we are being asked (forced) to alter OUR lifestyle and culture to accomodate them. And many people, including me, will never understand why, in the United States of America, we have to "press 1 for English; press 2 for Spanish"! Perhaps Americans, especially Emporians, are just tired of seeing our way of life, culture, heritage, and traditions being ignored and disrespected by outsiders. If immigrants want to come into our community and speak our language, assimilate into our culture, and obey our laws while contributing to our economy, rather than feeding upon it, they will be welcomed. Don't disrespect us by attempting to steal our heritage and language, fly your flag instead of ours, and then call us racists for not liking it. We may be intolerant. We may be fed up and angry. We may even be overly protective of past customs and traditions, but that doesn't qualify as racist. I prefer the term "patriot".
November 27, 2007 at 9:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Hillbilly (anonymous) says...
HILLBILLY<<< does not work well with others, So it would be REALLY HARD to sponsor anyone, especially to help them the (Somalians) to leave they living quarters, drive them where ever they might want to go or teach them to drive, why didn't they learn to drive in THEIR country? and how to use TP, and not to sample the milk,,, sorry, you all will have to count me (hillbilly) OUT for the sponsor thing. BUT I would suggest that there are a lot of BLEEDING HEARTS, and tyson management and management support who would be perfect for the job. regarding the health center and the TB thing, has anyone ever called the health dept and asked how many packs of pills have been thrown in the grass and bushes by them ( solomians) when they leave the heath dept,, probably be told a lie anyway, but still I wonder HMMMMMMMMMMMMMM,, just voicing my thoughts, LIKE it or NOT
November 27, 2007 at 9:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Hillbilly (anonymous) says...
"By the end of this week, Emporians who care to find out should have more information about the resettlement of Somali refugees in Emporia".
Kelley, why did you feel the need to say (EMPORIANS WHO CARE,),,,,,,,,,,,do you really think that you are cute when you say crap like that, you must, but guess what I dont see any humor in you comment at all, maybe you feel that some one will think how you think, or maybe that it will impress those with whom you work. I BELEIVE that more people who read your rag are more concerned with what is actually happening regarding the influx and concerned with the future of Emporia than you. but you can write anything you want and get it printed, fine,,, I also can do that until I GO OVER THE LINE_____________
November 27, 2007 at 9:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mythoughts (anonymous) says...
Mr. Kelley has written a thoughtful and appropriate editorial. Thank you.
November 27, 2007 at 10:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hottopics (anonymous) says...
This has nothing to do with race or religion. For petesake, we are among different race and religion already.
This has to do with the fact that we feel these people were dumped on us with ZERO consideration for the impact on our community and fellow Emporians.
The Somalis have been allowed to run amuck and leave disaster behind them. If I was put in a country and handed the silver spoon I would be much more appreciative and try hard to blend in with the rules, the LAWS and the way of the Americans, not DEMAND partial favoritism to allow for religion and culture when we as Americans cant even pray in schools.
We are our private prayer rooms? Why arent we handed over drivers licenses and go plow over the streets that were once safer? I could go on but you all know the rest.
What point arent they getting here????????
Why arent we getting a incentive? Tax breaks etc.....HELLOOOO!!!
November 27, 2007 at 12:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
hottopics, I agree with you, exept on one point - I believe that religion does have some part to play in this. In your own words: "not DEMAND partial favoritism to allow for religion", and "Where are our private prayer rooms?".
The "clash of cultures" has quite a religious component to it, whether any of the politically correct crowd wants to admit it or not. Much of the culture is DICTATED by religious beliefs, so it is very difficult to separate the two on certain points. But again, I agree with your post....
November 27, 2007 at 4:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Reader2 (anonymous) says...
Ditto to Bjnemp! Excellent position statement! The diseases (TB in particular) that are brought into our community are REAL. My neighbor would like to know who infected her, since she's a "stay at home" mom.
November 27, 2007 at 8:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rami (anonymous) says...
I was hoping that I would be able to attend the meeting tomorrow, but I have anxiety/social anxiety disorder and I am breaking out in hives at the thought of being around so many people in an enclosed area.
This subject means alot to me and what I wanted to say at the meeting, I will post here.
I have been reading the articles in the paper lately about Tyson and the effects it's closing had in NE and have come to the conclusion that closing Tyson isn't the best idea I've had, but Tyson should consider the effects of the surrounding community before hiring outside of the community. We don't want to end up with more people in this town than can be handled.
I also have a concern about the crime rate that could rise due to a possible refugee settlement. I would very much hate to live in a small town with a big city crime rate.
Please take that into consideration!
I really wish that I could attend but I don't think I will be able to overcome this anxiety. I will continue to keep up with the news regarding this topic.
November 27, 2007 at 10:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
USorThem (anonymous) says...
Kelley is using the race card.
Kelley says:
"A few people, admittedly, are upset because the refugees are black and because they are Muslims. There is nothing that can be done to make those people happy. The Somalis will stay black and they will stay Muslim. It is who they are."
Who exactly are these people who are upset becuase the refugees are black? That is YOUR presumption Mr Kelly.
Muslim refugees who show no indication of wanting to assimilate into the culture that is willing to take them in has nothing to do with race or ethnicity. Are there any African American Emporaian citizens who are upset or care about this issue? I bet there are.
These Somali's are devout muslims. Not only does that make them extra-religious, it makes them extremely POLITICAL. Islam is NOT just a religion. It is also a political ideology.
The good people of Emporia should not let feel-good liberals make you feel guilty by characterizing you as the 2nd coming of the Ku Klux Klan.
If any one of the Somalians show up, ask them their views on Jews, or on whether they agree with having Isreal wiped off the map. Ask them if they prefer to have sharia law replace the constitution.Their answer will be based on their POLITICAL and religious views. In Islam, those views are always combined.
I would bet Mr Kelley knows nothing of sharia law.
It is the same law that was used to condemn a rape VICTIM in Saudi Arabia to 200 whip lashes and 6 months in jail last week
It is the same law that had a Britsh schoolteacher arrested in the Sudan for naming a teddy bear "mohammed". (she is still in jail as I write, going on her 4th day now)
It is the same law that says muslims can beat their wives if they don't cover themselves in hoods ands scarves in public.
Kelley says you should give them at least 20 years to assimilate.
He is wrong. Assimilation into our culture requires a muslim to reject their religion, and reject their politics. Do you know what the penalty is in Islam for changing your religion Mr. Kelley? It is death. That makes it sort of difficult to want to assimilate.
November 28, 2007 at 9:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Observer (anonymous) says...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live...
Teddy teacher facing flogging charged with 'insulting religion' as militants demand action
Last updated at 16:31pm on 28th November 2007
A British teacher who faces 40 lashes after naming a teddy bear Mohammed has been charged with insulting religion, showing contempt for religious belief, and inciting hatred.
The grim news for Gillian Gibbons, 54, came as Islamic militants called for demonstrations after Friday prayers in a bid for tough action.
For devout Muslims, any physical depiction of Mohammed is blasphemous and strictly forbidden and protesters say she should face the full penalty.
Yesterday one of Mrs Gibbons' students, 7, said the idea to call the teddy bear Mohammed had been his, and pleaded for his teacher to be set free.
He named the teddy bear after himself, he said. Islamic fundamentalists in Sudan are calling for demonstrations after Friday Prayers when most followers of the faith in Sudan attend mosque and are congregated together.
The mother-of-two has been in custody for three days after being arrested when parents complained she had insulted Islam. Mrs Gibbons told British consular officials who visited her on today for a second time that she was being treated we
When asked if the authorities feared that releasing Mrs Gibbons could expose her to angry mobs, he said: "We are taking all these things into account.
"We don't want to expose her to any unsafe conditions".
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Mr. Kelly and other liberals will seek to play the race card, but the concerns raised are in NO WAY connected to the color of the Somali skin, but IS in regards to the content of their character.
Islam is not a race, but a religion made-up of many different ethnic backgrounds. There is very real concern with the rise of Islamic fundamentalism throughout Europe, and the danger which escalating numbers of separatist sects can pose to the existing community.
As the numbers increase the culture of Islam is forced-upon the surrounding community and they MUST accommodate the demands of the Islamic population.
A Muslim from Canada had a question for the Imam. Was it wrong for the Taliban to destroy the giant Buddhas? If Islam preaches tolerance how could one justify the destruction of the Buddhas? The Imam was ready. “It is wrong to say that Islam teaches us to respect the religious beliefs of non-Muslims,” he said. “To respect the beliefs of others means to respect kufr and shirk. This it totally unacceptable.” (kufr= Christians and Jews; shirk=polytheists)
November 28, 2007 at noon ( permalink | suggest removal )
Observer (anonymous) says...
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/...
Every week, it seems we are seeing new iterations of the same issue. Soon we must all ask -- at what point do Muslim requests for accommodations to religious practices and beliefs cross the line of the fundamental basis of American liberty and freedom?
First, we heard about a large group of Somali Muslim airport cabbies in Minneapolis refusing to provide service to travelers carrying alcohol or using dogs. At first, the airport moved to accommodate, but then the Somalis lost the battle to impose coercive interpretations of sharia (Islamic law) upon airport travelers. We recently have also seen airports, schools and universities agreeing to install foot-washing stations for Muslim airport cabbies and students at a significant cost to taxpayers in the name of special accommodations for Muslims. In Lincoln Park, Michigan, a few Muslim women insisted that a co-ed health club to which they signed up provide them a women’s-only room for exercise. Fitness USA acquiesced under fears of litigation despite the fact that the Muslim women signed up for no such guarantee with their enrollment contract.
In the past few weeks we’ve seen the Islamist political agenda in the U.S. carry itself further bringing the debate to Carver Elementary School in Oak Park, California. A substitute teacher brought forth a complaint to the district’s school board that a 15 minute break in classroom teaching was carved out for Muslim prayers. The influx of over 100 Somali Muslim students from another failed school brought with it swift efforts by Carver administration to accommodate to their needs. The issue has since carried far beyond San Diego and simple personal accommodation. The debate centers on the limits to which accommodation can impose changes and obligations upon others and on the entire system. Some argue that religious freedom is secondary to classroom instruction time and the strict separation of religion and state. Others have contrarily taken the opportunity and suggested, in all fairness, that public schools have a more global “daily prayer time policy”.
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November 28, 2007 at 12:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Thank you, Observer. Reading what you posted, I can't help but think of our efforts to save our "Christmas" program. In the school where I used to teach, kids who wanted to pray with others had to do it outside the building in the front yard no matter what the weather.
See everyone at the meeting this evening. Please be civil.
November 28, 2007 at 3:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
rami,
I wanted to say this to you before I ran off this evening. It's okay if you can't be there at the meeting where there promises to be so many people. Your thoughts have been posted and believe me, everyone who needs to has read how you feel. What is even more, rami, I will think of you this evening. You think of us too and you'll be there in spirit. Imua! In my language of Hawaii, that means "go forward."
November 28, 2007 at 4:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Casey (anonymous) says...
I cannot attend the meeting but I am an Emporian concerned and looking forward to getting answers on who is responsible bringing such havac to a once peaceful town..Someone knew it is a case of they are here now live with it ..I am against in every way the political side of the Muslim religion ..
November 28, 2007 at 5:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dick (anonymous) says...
All the attention seems to be on the Somali population in our community and losing the fact that the real problems we are having is the influx of illegals coming across the borders. Now we are having advertising appearing on the TV of programs being offered in different language and plus the Gazette sends out a weekly paper included in the Gazette all in Spanish and yet noise is made about people not speaking English. You are sure helping the problem. If we continue to elect the same people over and over again the problem won't go away. It's not about wanting to serve their county, it's all about the money and what's in it do for me.
November 29, 2007 at 7:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
frebrd_93 (anonymous) says...
I didn't make it to the meeting but I have read the articles in the paper. I do believe as Americans we should help those who need a helping hand but doesn't that or shouldn't that include citizens of Emporia also and not just refugees? I have a friend that was diagnosed with brain tumors and cancer and she tried to get help that she desperately needed and was refused. How can they,SRS and Disability, refuse her and give help to others that are able to work and support theirselves? I just don't understand this at all. I have heard about how rude the Samali's are and couldn't believe it until it happened to me. I work at a convenience store and I have had money thrown at me, talked down to, have to pick up our parking lot because they can't throw their RED BULL can's in the trash 1 ft. away, shout on their cell phones in the store without regard for the other customers. They butt in line in front of my other customers and think that they have this right. Sorry, don't think so, not in my store. I have seen this at Wal-Mart also. They run into you with their carts and don't apologize and it's our fault. Women are pulled out of checkout lines by the hair and told that in their country men are first and women are last. My grand-daughter who's only six, was almost grabbed by the arm for not understanding the language and moving because this Samoli had to leave. Mind you, she was standing by her mom's truck and not in this person's way at all. That infuriated me. What gives them the right to come to our town and country and show so much disrespect and disregard to us? And they're scared--I walk around my store with a phone in hand whenever they come in drunk at 2 am and want more alcohol and get mad when I can't sell it to them. I was raised to have respect for other people no matter the color of their skin and the religion that they practiced and I have carried that onto my own kids and their families and I am wondering why if we respect them can't they have the same respect for the people and country that they are guests in?
November 30, 2007 at 2:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )