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Read comments (36)While the newcomers have faced opposition in other communities around the country, Shelbyville has mostly welcomed the refugees, without much public outcry over their presence.
Yet problems and differences do remain, and the T-G has heard more and more complaints and criticism from members of the public and those who work with the Somalis over the past year.
According to Holly Johnson, director of Catholic Charities of Tennessee, the latest newcomers to Nashville are from the Bantu tribe, which were persecuted in Somalia for years.
The Bantu were descendants of slaves taken from Tanzania and Mozambique and according to the State Department, 12,000 of these refugees have spent most of the past decade languishing in camps along the dangerous Somali-Kenyan border.
The State Department says the Bantu have remained a persecuted minority in Somalia, and cannot return to the homes they fled. As a result, since 2003, the Bantu have been arriving in this country for resettlement.
The Bantu were provided with literacy training and an extended program of cultural orientation in refugee camps in Kenya before being moved to this country and were placed "in extended family groups in up to 50 cities and towns across the United States throughout 2003 and 2004," according to a State Department fact sheet.
But despite the educational efforts, a vast chasm of differences remains between the refugees and the communities they have moved to, mainly in the areas of religion and culture.
Bedford County has a strong Christian faith, with nearly 120 churches that hold worship services. With hundreds of Sunni Muslims now living in the community, the potential for cultural and religious clashes is obvious.
A powerful force in a Somali's life is Islam, which guides them in nearly every aspect of their lives. Those who follow this faith must show their devotion to Allah by obeying the "five pillars of Islam."
A Muslim must pronounce the "declaration of faith," which says that Allah is the only God, and Mohammed is his messenger, they must pray five times each day, make at least one pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, donate money or "pay alms" to the poor and fast each day during the month of Ramadan.
Prayer must be done at fixed times of each day, approximately at noon, mid afternoon, sunset, early evening and at about 6 a.m. This may cause problems for some employers, especially those who operate assembly lines.
There are also Islamic dietary requirements to consider: Pork is strictly prohibited, as is alcohol.
Traditional dress for Somali men includes western pants or a flowing plaid ma'awis (kilt); many local Somali men are seen wearing typical dress pants and shirts.
But for the women, however, the dress follows the Muslim tradition: a long, billowing dress called a direh, which is worn over petticoats. Another item is a coantino, a four-yard cloth tied over the shoulder and draped around the waist.
The wearing of the hijab, also known as a head scarf, is extremely common and have been seen on practically every Somali woman in the area.
While Somalis greet each other with handshakes, they typically avoid shaking hands with the opposite sex. The most common greeting is "Assalam Alaikum," meaning "Peace be upon you."
According to the Diversity Council, which distributes a tip sheet to businesses containing suggestions on how to relate to Somalis, many of their traditions of mannerisms, values and behavior are quite different than what Americans are used to living with from day to day.
Saving face is an important cultural concern for Somalis, as is the protection of family honor. Because of this emphasis, their communication style may be more indirect than Americans are used to.
Somalis also have a respect for strength and pride and due to this, boasting is common among Somalis, even though it is considered inappropriate in our society.
Also, Somalis may speak at a louder volume than is generally considered appropriate in this country, particularly when they are talking to each other, the Diversity Council explained.
"An American listening to a group of Somalis talking amongst themselves may interpret the discussion as a heated argument, when they are simply having a friendly conversation," the Diversity Tip Sheet says. Somalis do not often express appreciation verbally, it adds.
The T-G has also heard from many individuals in the community who have said their encounters with the Somalis have not been pleasant. Specifically, a "rude" and "demanding" attitude has been reported by local residents in their interactions with the refugees.
Johnson said that she thinks that part of their behavior "may be attributed to the fact that these folks have been refugees for so long and it is only through being rude and demanding that they have managed to get the little they have gotten to survive over the years in the camp."
She also believes that this is just the Western perception of the Somali culture.
"Just like other people we encounter in our lives who don't intend to be rude, but come off that way to us, sometimes this culture comes off rude to our ears, but they really don't intend to be," Johnson explained.
"They are not acclimated enough to know the accepted norms of communication here in the U.S.," she said. "This takes many, many years to master, actually."
Another culture clash that Bedford County residents have encountered is the habit of Somalis attempting to "haggle" over the price of an item if it is not to their liking, but Johnson claims that America "is the only country that doesn't haggle over prices!"
"They are acting on what is their only experience, in the same way that you or I would go overseas and just pay the price on the tag without haggling [and get taken great advantage of in doing so].
Gestures that Americans find to be common or innocuous have a much different meaning for Somalis. For example, it is considered impolite to point the sole of your foot or shoe at another person. Using the index finger to call somebody is also impolite, since the gesture is used for calling dogs in their culture. Also, the typical American "thumbs up" gesture is considered obscene.
However, Somalis use sweeping hand and arm gestures to dramatize their speech.
Johnson say that when visiting a Somali's home, some may like you to take off your shoes at the door -- "you'll know by looking to see if everyone else's shoes are left there," she says.
"Also, not a Somali norm, but strict Muslims would adhere to a rule where the men and women don't touch. In other words, if you went to someone's home, you would not offer your hand or touch the female in the house," Johnson said.
Johnson also suggests reading up on resources available on Somali and Muslim culture online, one of which is the Center for Applied Linguistics (www.cal.org), which does cultural orientation work with refugees overseas and routinely prints information about different populations and their cultures.
"It's important to note, however, that Somalis -- like any other population -- run the gamut ... some may be very strict, some very lenient," Johnson said in dealing with the Somalis. "You'll have to rely on good ol' common sense and nonverbal cues in most cases."
But a major cultural dilemma encountered in Bedford County has been the Somali attitude toward women. School superintendent Ed Gray reported that the Somalis have a lack of respect and difficulties with women in supervisory roles, especially female principals.
Johnson explained that Muslim culture often says that the women are silent and "I think that Somali men may have difficulty taking direction, orders, etc., from women." A large amount of work is done in educating the refugees on American culture but "it's a long and ongoing process," Johnson said.
"There are obviously more immediate needs that must be met before refugees focus on learning cultural norms of the country in which they've been resettled -- basic needs, that is."
But Johnson added that the Somali "will learn soon enough, one way or the other, how we operate here ... and they'll learn to work within that system to succeed and be contributing members of the community in which they live."
THURSDAY: Learning and working in the community.
The "peaceful" religion of Islam…….Honor Killing? Beheadings? Body-bombs? How about female genital mutilation (FGM)?
Brigitte Gabriel, author of "Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America" and founder of the web site ACT For America!, where Ms. Gabriel states, "I founded ACT! for America because Islamic militants have declared war on America....We are in for the fight of our lives...." Become involved in your future and the future of your family. Visit ACT for America's website, chapter info and become involved as a member of an existing chapter or become a chapter leader and start one in your area.
Ok but we are talking about people FROM Somalia so you need to do your research from there not from American percents.
Here's a website that tells about TB in Africa
http://www.plusnews.org/Report.aspx?Repo...
This is the percent for Just Somalia with HIV/AIDS in 2006
Estimated Population (thousands) 8228
Number of people living with HIV 44 000 [23 000 -- 81 000]
Adults aged 15 to 49 HIV prevalence rate 0.9 [0.5 -- 1.6]%
Adults aged 15 and up living with HIV 40 000 [21 000 -- 72 000]
Women aged 15 and up living with HIV 23 000 [11 000 -- 45 000]
Deaths due to AIDS 4100 [2000 -- 8000]
GENERALIZED EPIDEMICS
Children aged 0 to 14 living with HIV 4500 [1500 -- 13 000]
Orphans aged 0 to 17 due to AIDS 23 000 [11 000 -- 45 000]
I dont worry so much about AIDS/HIV because I personally have no intention of having that type of contact with them but I do worry about TB because regardless of what you think TB is an airborne disease.
here is the PDF file for the refugees when they came into MN.
http://www.publichealthreports.org/userf...
Somalia is estimated to have one of the highest incidence rates of TB in the world. It is estimated that each year, around 12,000 sputum positive cases occur, out of which only 3 are detected and receive treatment in a supervised DOTS Programme. TB can be considered a major public health problem in Somalia, affecting the most productive age groups of the community.
I do not say any of this to scare anyone but I do feel this is something that the public should have been made aware of when they first came to Shelbyville. Considering we live next door to them, work with them and shop at the same stores
I am not an idiot, I know how to read statistics, Why would they say African Americans instead of Africans? This is an US citizen-based statistic.
Are not Jewish a different race? What about Irish? Or they classified as Whites? It can't be that Somalians are a special race seperated from all classes of people.
These are not FACTS if the somalians are NOT reported it and/or seeking medical attention.
These are Stats that include everyone that lives in America. The Somalians would be classified under "unknown/missing race". I am not saying that some of them do not have these issues I am just trying to clarify that "if" any of them do that we can not just throw them all out because Americans have this issue to.
Um, these statistics are based on American citizens, They aren't citizens so they aren't even listed in these. Nice try.
Found this information here
http://aids.about.com
I hope that maybe this will ease some of your minds at least a little
and it also gets some true facts out there.
Tuberculosis Cases According to Race (2006)
Hispanic: 4,066
American Indian / Alaska Native: 167
Asian: 3,298
African American: 3,737
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander: 56
White: 2,403
Multiple Races: 35
Unknown / Missing Race: 17
Tuberculosis Cases
2000: 16,377
2001: 15,989
2002: 15,075
2003: 14,874
2004: 14,502
2005: 14,080
2006: 13,779
Cumulative AIDS Cases By Race or Ethnicity
White, not Hispanic - 386,522
Black, not Hispanic - 399,637
Hispanic - 156,026
Asian/Pacific Islander - 7,739
American Indian/Alaska Native - 3,251
Did anyone not see what they done to our troops over there.I think we should give them the same kind gretings they gave our boys over there.Tie all them to the bumper of one of those tyson trucks and run them all out of town including tyson!!!!!!They came over here acting like we owe them something. Look at what we did for them!!!
-- Posted by lizard00 on Wed, Dec 26, 2007, at 5:10 PM
I just got one thing to say about this comment THANK YOU
I am one of the guys in uniform in Iraq this is my third tour. I'm in Camp Victory and I want to tell all the people in Shelbyville that no matter what you read or see on TV the people over here treat us like Doo doo. I would say the other word but I can't. As for the so call Somalis I'm sorry they are refugees but if they are going to live in the country I fight for then they should obay our rules. Let an American break a rule or be rude to the police. We would be in jail. As for the Diversity Council I just wonder if any of them has been out of the state of Tennessee this country must learn we must take care of our country first then help everyone else. I ask you do you know someone who is out of a job or needs help. I bet you do. Holly Johnson needs to get off her butt and help the vets that sleep in cardboard boxes or the kids that don't get enough to eat. Like I said I sorry if these people had a hard time. But if they live here follow our rules. We should help our people first. If anyone has a problem with what I said they are more then welcome to come to Camp Victory for a month or two. I bet after they come here they will have another opinion when they get back.
Funny, but the thing is as per Tyson Media relations, Only 25% of Tyson employees are Somalian... And they get most if not all their wages refunded by the government. The rest of their employees are Mexican, I would say around 50%, and the rest are white, black and some Asians. So in the corporate context that would be considered diverse, but if you do county demographics then you can see the issue.
In Bedford County there are 60% whites, 20% blacks, 15% mexicans, 4% somalians, and 1% asian; How is this consider diverse? Doesn't affirmative action come into play here? What about Equal Opportunity Employment? Aren't those Federal Law too? Oh yeah I forgot they only protect the minorities..
o.k. Lets start with the HIV and TB issue. No my goodness not every body's family has it but the Tb can lay dorment in a person's body and never effect them. Who knows what percentage of the population has aids, truly. I hope that no one in my family has it but would you just go around telling people you had it if you did? I don't think so.
Yes, Tyson does get tax breaks for hiring Americans. Not all Americans but some. A low income family, a single mother on food stamps, disabled people and our veterans. I am sure that there are other things that they get takes breaks on as well. Every company gets this not just Tyson. The goverment isn't just picking Tyson out of the group and say we are going to give the tax breaks to just you. As far as who worked there before the Mexican and Somalians got here my mother and I can recall when I was a child that she would go to work before we went to school and did not get home until way after we were in bed most nights, as well as several other of my family members. By the way production people do make more than $8.50 a hour. If that was all I was making I would still be happy. I don't care what other plants make and I would not want to live in most other areas making 12 whatever a hour because I would not be able to afford it.
Guys, Like I have already said yes there is a problem, but no you can not blame all of it on Tyson.
By the way this country was founded by refugees of many nations and religions. I am of Irish descent and my family came over here because of religious persecution and for a better way of life
I am using my educated mind and I am a Liberal but I am not a blind or stupid Liberal. I don't know about your family but my family does not have TB or HIV for that matter and I do not want them exposed to it thru our food processing plants either.
The problem with them not knowing how to drive is the least of their problem. They hit cars and never stop I am not sure if they think they are playing bumper cars or what.
Tyson does pay them the same thing as everyone else but "and this is the big But" they are paid to hire the Somalis which pays part of their wages. They are not paid to hire Americans . Now if you were an employer and you had a Somali and an American wanting the same job opening, Who would you hire? Someone who you will get grant money for hiring them or someone who you (the employer) pays all their wages? Use your educated mind. Do you honestly think Tyson is hiring Hispanics and Somalis out of the goodness of their hearts, heck No they are making loads of money from hiring them.
Tyson Foods has been in Shelbyville for years and years, long before the Hispanics and Somalis arrived ...I have to wonder "How on this earth did they ever find the people to work there" surely it wasn't Americans working there because you yourself said Americans turn their noses up at Tyson Food jobs.
Before you start searching the jail intake just ask anybody who lives at Davis Estates about the problems out there and how many times the police are called on a weekly bases.
Just because It didn't happen to you, doesn't mean it isn't happening. I was fired for taking my break... Yes, Fired for taking my simple break. Do I have proof? yep I have it in my file, they admitted to it in writing. Did they screw me out of my back pay? yes, by 4000 dollars. Guess who was doing MY job? You got it. a somalian.
Then another citizen, who was doing his job for 15 years, he sharpened blades on the 1st shift... was being told he was going to be getting a new job and guess who was replacing him? You got it, another refugee. The man refused to give up his job because he was so close to retiring and he didn't want to make less money. Well things got out of hand and the poor guy lost his bird and went in there with a shotgun.
So before you get all high and mighty about good old Tyson and you making that whopping $8.50 an hour, (BTW other Tysons pay $12.50 for the same job in other areas). Get your facts straight about all the "good" they are doing. If you can back up your "facts" regarding the TB and HIV that we all have, I would be darn happy to back down. But I doubt that will happen.
Come on people lets use our educated minds here.
First, well we all want to bring up the HIV/AIDS and TB. Guess what? Americans have this as well and had it long before the Somalians arrived into our wonderful country. So if this is your argument for wanting them all out of our town well you might as well pack up some of your own family members and send them with the Somalians.
Tyson.... First Tyson like every company can not discriminate. So that ends that point right there. I saw where someone said that they are taking our jobs. Most of the people turn there nose up at the plant when they pass by it anyway. I have never seen anyone taken out of the plant and them telling them well we don't need you anymore we got another Somalian to take your place. Yes, I work there and am happy to work there, no PROUD to work at Tyson.. Unless you have seen there checks you can not say that Tyson pays them less which they do not. They make the same as all of the other employees. If there is Anyone sitting in Shelbyville that does not have a job they can not blame it on the Somalians taking jobs at Tyson they can only blame it on there selves for thinking that they are to good to work there... Tyson hires everday...
Yes, there are issues but if you really cared about human kind you would try to understand those issues to. Is it all great no, by no means.
Yes, I have been pushed around ran over and everything else. Guess what they do not know better. We did not when we were kids someone had to tell us no you can not do that. Does that still make it right no, but it is a work in progress. Do I think most of them should have there licenses taken away yes, bless there hearts they just can't drive. Would I love to just be able to explain to all of the Somalians what is accfeptable yes. If you will recall this town had the same issue years ago when Mexicans started coming here. They adjusted and so will the Somalians just give them time and be nice like good Christians should.
In finishing before you all start talking about problems with them go look at the Jail intake then complain about who the magority is getting arrested.....
Go to Somalia and try to live and work. Try to set up a place of worship based on Biblical teaching. Allow women to hold positions of authority. Ask them to show consideration for your holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.) and see what happens. Man, so many people in the U.S. are simply blind. How sad.
Whoops-The 2 towns in Nebraska were Norfolk and West Point.(not Lewistown)Tyson also had tax credits they took on the two closed plants,then took more credits for "job creation" when they built the third.
http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/dis...
NE StatePaper.com - Tyson Plant Closings Take 1,665 Jobs From Norfolk, West Point
Dianatn- We first got 70 Somali in Emporia when the Tyson packing houses closed in Lewistown and Norfolk Nebraska.Tyson consolidated 2 plants into a third. That became 400 overnight,the Lyon county health department said.One death from TB,and 2 additional full time employees at the county health clinic.One deals only with refugee TB patients.There are now 1000-1500 total here.Emporia has a population of 28,000.The church refugee group says Tyson asked them to bring 300 Burmese refugees to Emporia.I'd say you're not reading too much into the articles- You understand!!
Muslims have different cultures not religions which is Islam.. Not all Muslims are the same. It depends on what areas they are from. I've known Muslims from 3 different cultures. Although their religion is the same, their cultures are very different. Here in the U.S. we also have a different culture. So if they do not want to adapt to our culture then move to a different country where their culture is already practiced. Ex.. Participating in the commercialized Valentine's Day is not done for religious purposes. It is something that is part of our culture in the U.S. as well as many different countries. I do not think that their religion is what has everyone in an uproar. If that be the case, then this city would have only one Church. Whether it be Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, etc. I think that these people have done this to themselves. They've put these lasting impressions on our community. Maybe after these articles have ran they will get the point to either shape up or ship out.
Am I reading too much into these links you are posting or are you saying we becoming the same as Emporia? Did you know these people were being sent to your town before they started to arrive or did maybe you think at first they just came into your town by word of mouth or maybe was it Tyson Foods who was actually recruiting them into your town?
I have been told the Somalis do not stay in one place very long before they move on somewhere else...you may have 200 around one day and then they are replaced by the next 200 or 300 coming into your area. So it is a continuing problem if they are going from state to state in regards of receiving the medical treatment for TB and HIV, isn't it?
You can find out about public sentiment on Somali refugee resettlement by reading the Emporia Gazette comments and articles.There is opposition,and there is no accountability.The stories comments have been consolidated here-
http://www.emporiagazette.com/forums/ope...
Discussion: Refugee resettlement |
emporiagazette.com
Here are the original stories/comments leading to a single thread.Lots of good info and links here,just be prepared as it's over 1,000 comments to go through-
http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2007/...
Group says info lacking on resettlement | emporiagazette.com
http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2007/...
Relations commission discusses refugees | emporiagazette.com
http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2007/...
Talking about it face to face | emporiagazette.com
http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2007/...
Emporia readies for more Somali refugees | emporiagazette.com
Kafi 63 says a number of "inaccurate" things:
Somalis don't steel, fight, rape, or do any social problems.
> That has NOT been the experience of other cities where Somali's have settled.
Read this story of a rape by a Somali muslim immigrant in an apartment full of other Somali neighbors who refused to call the police.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/ar...
Somali's refugees who moved to Nebraska to work in a Tyson plant sued Tyson for not giving sufficient prayer breaks so Somali muslims can pray 5 times day.
Somali muslim taxi drivers refuse to carry passengers carrying unopened liguor or blind persons with seeing eye dogs. Dogs and liquor are "haram". They demand foot baths be installed at the local airports so they cam wash their feet before praying.
I'd say they've caused a bit of social instability.
> Somalis don't drink or consume drugs, except number les than 1% that does ocassionally.
Oh please. This is rich. You think we infidels never heard of the qat?
Qat is a plant grown in west Africa. It is a an amphetamine and is addictive. And Somalis find a way to bring to wherever they end up living.
In Canada: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2...
In Minneapolis: http://mplscrimewatch.blogspot.com/2007/...
> They rent, they contribute mixture of cultures, and make shelbyville beautiful
I would ask Kafi to point to a single cultural contribution Somali muslim has made to Shelbyville that adds to its beauty. Is there a writer or artist or musician that you can point to? a painting, a song, a sculpture, a novelist?
> You compare them to Mexicans which do kill, rape, come here illegally, i guess ya need to understand.
Mexicans come to the U.S. for work. They do not bring with them a mindset that prevents assimilation and demands accommodation. Mexicans are also primarily Christian, not muslim, so we know they aren't commanded by their religion to try to install a different set of laws (as in Islamic sharia law) upon their host town, state or country. Mexican men respect women and treat them with dignity.
> Some of you who hate Somalis because of their religion or origins should read American history, i think you have not been educated go to school.
What American's don't need is a lecture from you to tell US to study our own history.
Perhaps what Americans lack is an understanding of the history of 1,350 years of Islam; exactly how it has spread, and how muslims are taught to continue to spread Islam until it dominates all.
Maybe we're a little slow, but we're learning.
Did anyone not see what they done to our troops over there.I think we should give them the same kind gretings they gave our boys over there.Tie all them to the bumper of one of those tyson trucks and run them all out of town including tyson!!!!!!They came over here acting like we owe them something. Look at what we did for them!!!
John Carney . . . double t is allowed to have his viewpoint just like any other and allowed to free speech.
If you disagree then fine, but sometimes the snide comments are unwarranted.
Anyone who breaks the law needs to face the consequences. People who refuse to adapt to a new culture create problems, and that can make it very difficult to deal with them.
It's one thing to say "Somalian refugees, as a group, shouldn't be settled in Shelbyville." That's a completely legitimate opinion, and someone who feels that way has every right to it. It's completely legitimate to say "illegal aliens should be deported."
But to say that somone who practices a particular religion shouldn't be allowed here -- not because of their behavior or legal status or anything external, but simply because of what they believe -- is contrary to the Constitution and the principles on which this country was founded. And that was the specific comment to which I was responding.
Kafi,
What you posted about Laura has summed up what alot of the citizens are saying, that was very rude of you to say, and it is also sexist. You are given alot of free information, training, health care, loans, housing, food, before and after you get here to get started. The sponsors that you recieve get money paid to them from the Federal Govt, the citizens pay the Federal Govt taxes for programs like this.
You should thank the citizens for granting you this opportunity to get an incredible advantage to make a better life for you and your family. You think you are doing the citizens a service by being here. Let me show you some problems with that mentality.
1) You are taking jobs that paid more away from working that were already living here.
2) You state you are paying taxes, thats great, but so are we and we been paying taxes since we started working here.
3) These sponsors are getting money from Federal subsidies for each person they bring in, therefore, they are getting rich off you and us. You for getting the job and Us for our tax money and losing our job and/or forced working at a lower wage.
4) Corporations can hire you at reduced wages and get tax reductions for hiring refugees from qualifying countries at the expense of normal citizens losing their jobs because they don't get those same "perks".
If you have more onstructive information you would like to add, I wouldn't mind, but calling someone an uneducated female was wrong and unamerican.
kafi posted--
Laura is uneducated weak female mentality is the cause.
Thanks to John Carney, and those who understands like Mr. Carney.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."
Thanks to great men Like Thomas Jefferson, by applying Philosopher John Lock's theories to the constitution.
Ann,
Funny that you are from Hagerstown, I grew up there and loved it there. I miss it alot, I graduated from Williamsport High. I went to your site and honestly, I really didn't understand the problem, until now, I had no idea that they were bringing in inate TB or HIV into our food processing plants. That is kind of scary... guess it is good I don't work there anymore.
I've said this in response to an earlier article in this series, but you guys in Shelbyville are lucky to have a newspaper that is even willing to write on this issue usually deemed too politically incorrect. Where I live in Hagerstown MD, our newspaper wouldn't give us even the basic information about how refugee resettlement works and who the people were who came to our county (only a few Somalis, but many other nationalities.)
I don't know if your paper has discussed any of the Health issues involved with refugees, but in a public meeting in Hagerstown we learned that immigrants with HIV and latent TB are allowed entry. The TB issue has been of great concern in Emporia, KS where a Somali refugee working in the Tyson's plant died of active TB.
We wrote this today at Refugee Resettlement Watch:
http://refugeeresettlementwatch.wordpres...
FIRST OF ALL, HAVING BEEN BORN HERE IN SHELBYVILLE, AND HAVE LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE. AS WITH SO MANY, IF NOT MOST OF US. UNTIL THE PAST FEW YEARS,I HAVE FELT COMFORTABLE, AND THOUGHT MY INPUT ON OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT WAS IMPORTANT. NOWDAYS, IT SEEMS YOU NEED TO BE A REFUGE , OR TYSON EMPLOYEE,OR IN MOST CASES BOTH, TO GET RECONITION. I DO NOT APRECIATE OUR SPANISH RESIDENTS. BUT FIND OUR NEWEST TYSON RECRUITS EVEN HARDER TO CALL MY NEIGHBORS.YOU KNOW WHO I AM TALKING ABOUT. THOSE RUDE (i am better than you ) SOMALIS!.
"There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. When I refer to hyphenated Americans, I do not refer to naturalized Americans. Some of the very best Americans I have ever known were naturalized Americans, Americans born abroad. But a hyphenated American is not an American at all. ... The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin, of preventing all possibility of its continuing to be a nation at all, would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities, an intricate knot of German-Americans, Irish-Americans, English-Americans, French-Americans, Scandinavian-Americans or Italian-Americans, each preserving its separate nationality, each at heart feeling more sympathy with Europeans of that nationality, than with the other citizens of the American Republic. ... There is no such thing as a hyphenated American who is a good American. The only man who is a good American is the man who is an American and nothing else." -Theodore Roosevelt
"Any man who carries a hyphen about with him carries a dagger that he is ready to plunge into the vitals of this Republic whenever he gets ready."
President Woodrow Wilson
Are these people here LEGALLY? If not, why not?
I'm sick and tired of ILLEGALS (from ANY country) coming to the U.S. and EXPECTING the Legal citizens to ACCOMMODATE them!
Yes they should be allowed to worship as they choose and they should be allowed to live in peace and not be harrassed - BUT they should NOT expect the rest of us to adapt to their ways and customs.
They must learn to adapt to local customs and cultures as best they can.
If they're not here legally, I have no other choice but to be suspicious!
Laura is uneducated weak female mentality is the cause.
Thanks to John Carney, and those who understands like Mr. Carney.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."
Thanks to great men Like Thomas Jefferson, by applying Philosopher John Lock's theories to the constitution.
> Somalis do bring income to your city, and increase the production rates of their employers.
> Somalis don't steel, fight, rape, or do any social problems.
> They do buy merchants from your local stores, whether it's fast food restaurants, or grocery stores.
> Somalis don't drink or consume drugs, except number les than 1% that does ocassionally.
> They rent, they contribute mixture of cultures, and make shelbyville beautiful
> You compare them to Mexicans which do kill, rape, come here illegally, i guess ya need to understand.
> Some of you who hate Somalis because of their religion or origins should read American history, i think you have not been educated go to school.
> To Shelbyville Locals, I think You all need to understand that the Somalis that moved into your tiny city are taxpayers too.
> Federal government don't give them free money, they may help them giving visas to reside in the usa, but even they repay their tickets after they arrive.
> Some of you mentioned about religion, and i guess the greatest thing in the usa is freedom of religion, and we are so proud of it.
> Some of you using derrogatory language like the hygiene, I bet somalis are more cleaner than ya all.
> Somalis do cleanse all the time when they are doing their prayers, use better incense in their houses that's from tradition home (Uunsi).
> For those of you who have problem with our religions, ya got a problem with yourself, and need to understand your history.
> In a matter of years these refugees will be citizens and have effects on Shelbyvilles elections, so get close to somalis since they are growing number there.
> Step your game up ya all sickos!!!
Actually, I have worked witht he Somalians at Tyson. I really didn't have much of a problem with any of them, Most were respectful towards me and helpful. There were a few instances where they did fight amongst each other though, and I mean physically and it wasn't the men.
The only issue is the special treatments they are getting from the Federal, State and Local levels that I have a problem with. As taxpayers why don't we have a say in the matter whether we want refugees in our town or not? We pay premium taxes, we pay premium rent/mortgages, we pay premium airfare, we need to have credit to get loans, yet they get it handed to them for free.
Haggling? Well that's weird, I do that all the time in several stores, I find that it is a nice way of shopping. Why should we be dictated what an item is worth?
So far this article is not biased and very well written. Its a good read so far.
Quite honestly I do not care how they dress or even so much that they are rude (many Americans are rude also)or even that they are Muslim. Right now my biggest concern is every website I have been reading about the Somali people across the USA are talking about the Somalis bringing TB into their city. I read where the Health Dept in a small town in Kansas has 160 of the 500 Somalis with TB that are working in a food packing plant called Tyson Foods. That is just the ones they are treating this does not count the ones who never come in for medication. It also seems HIV is another problem they are dealing with.
Does this not concern you?
Its kind of like the old saying.
Not all muslims are terrorist,
but all terrorists are muslim.
I have no problem with anyone's religion. I do have a problem with Christians being pounded in the U.S. and being told to bend over backwards and make allowances for everyone else's religion or lack thereof.
If we went to a Muslim country, we would be told we had to dress like them and speak their language and not practice our religion--just look at the British woman who they demanded be executed for naming a teddy bear.
I am neither for or against the Somalian's the only thing I would like to add is that MAYBE before deciding to live in a place a crash course in "American 101" should be considered.
Muslims do not belong in Shelbyville. Period.