Readers' Emails Bulletin Board

Getting the Raise You Deserve for Any Hmong
by Joevoneey, post 2/24/2004, Neeg Magazine

Growing up as Hmong people, we were taught that being assertive can and will get you in trouble. Therefore, a major of the Hmong working public have become afraid to ask for that raise when they deserved it a long time ago. You know you are worth it, but when it comes to asking for a raise, you get a little weak in the knees and sometime even think it’s disrespectful. Please don’t feel bad, you and about 70 percent of the workforce feel that way. There are ways, however, to strengthen your pitch.

When Geo Xiong was hired as senior vice president of operations by a Milwaukee-area Financial services firm, he was determined to prove his worth and, when raises were considered in 6 months, to increase his salary substantially he did his homework. Due to the fact that, his company had no performance guidelines in place, proving his worth was up to him. The value of your worth can only and truly by measure by yourself. This is also true in life, too.

Geo knew he'd implemented valuable cost-saving measures streamlining output and input. Having recently hired two people who would answer to him, he also knew he'd be shouldering increased responsibility. And the notes he had routinely taken during the course of his work let him accurately document his achievements as well as delegation of tasks to his subordinate.
"You can't expect other people to remember your accomplishments, so you need to keep these things out front," says Geo. Being Hmong doesn’t mean you have to be at a disadvantage. You just have to stake your claim.

Since Geo was also responsible for the budget, he knew what fellow employees earned. What he didn't know was how their salaries compared to those outside of the company. That's where the Internet and job centers proved very useful. "I did a market survey, which was one of the best things I could have done," he says. "I found out only two salaries at our company were below market, and one of them was definitely mine." I would highly encourage this for a lot of Hmong people and woman. If you’re salary is within the medium then it’s a little more difficult to bargain. However, if you are at the bottom or below the average then you should reconsider even to the point of another job. Armed with surveys and confidant of his value, he negotiated a 30 percent pay raise. I’m sure we all know that anything more than 15 percent is almost crazy. Although 30 percent dwarfs the three to five percent that is the current US average, it's still a testament to the power of a well-planned approach, says Pheng Xiong, Senior Financial Planner and CPA for the State of Wisconsin, for a department in career management organization headquartered in Madison.

Don’t be afraid, the only thing that cures fear is action. "So don't just go in and ask. Do your homework first," Xiong says. Start by knowing your job description and the company's compensation policies. Are there monthly/annual raises based on minimum/maximums or performance evaluations? Many companies have no tools in place to measure your performance, which leaves it up to you to chronicle your accomplishments. Your self-evaluation should include a general assessment of your strengths -- are you the company's best technical person, line-worker, best rainmaker, best all-around resource?
"Today more than ever, it's important to take stock of yourself because there's so much change. People get a new boss every year or two," says Pao Lor Ph.D., Assistant principal of Neenah High school for Hmong Career Planning. "That means all the good things you've done probably aren't being recorded or remembered."

Next, use the Internet or us a job service center. Knowing what other people make and where they make it will give you a leg-up in negotiations. "Once you know where you are and where other people are in terms of compensation, then figure out what you want. It doesn't have to just be salary," Xiong says. "Go for the whole package." I just want to make it clear that you don’t have to have a high profile career or job to do this. If you know your company and what you are doing and feel you’re an asset to the company then by all means make an effort to ask for a raise. Just because you’re a Hmong, minority, or woman doesn’t mean you have to be treated like one.

If the company or economy has just had a shaky quarter, consider other items you can negotiate -- incentive compensation, parking, discounts, stock options, an extra vacation week, personal days or education benefits. Use them to offset a lower raise offer. But by all means, please don’t steal, harass, or damage anything. Those things could have unlawful consequences.

Consider timing when making your pitch is very important. You can reinforce your case by making your move when internal factors are favorable. If your company considers raises every summer, then that's the time to make your proposal. If you are just coming off a big achievement, however, you can use it to strengthen your assessment to the company. Any company that has just posted big profits may also be more receptive to your request. Don’t wait too long for repercussion.

Knowing your boss's schedule is important. "You may want to put together a memo saying you want to meet to discuss your accomplishments," Dr. Lor says. "That way you don't risk catching your boss at a bad time." A formal presentation wouldn’t be bad, too.

Understanding your boss's personality also doesn't hurt. That doesn’t mean you have to kiss butt. A generous supervisor or boss may not respond well to an overly demanding approach. But if a bold approach is required, figure out what your boss values and be straightforward with him/her. Just make sure you ask for the raise. "Some bosses value loyalty, others are by-the-number. For others, how well you get along with them is always important especially being a Hmong," Xiong says. Just remember if you don’t speak up, you’ll never be heard.

Subject: Welcome to the jungle-follow-up
From: "Victor N. Xiong" <xiongvn@milwaukee.k12.wi.us>
To: info@neeg.org
Priority: Normal

December 1, 2003

Welcome to the Jungle follow-up II.

Several weeks ago, I shared my emotions regarding the terminal environments of the victims of genocide in the Xaisomboune Special
Zone and a few other issues. Although I mentioned a few other issues
in my previous essay, this follow-up will largely focus on the people
who are running for their lives in the Xaisomboune Special Zone.

Of course, the problems in the Xaisomboune Special Zone are not Hmong problems alone. They are national Laotian problems, and it is the responsibilities of the people of Laos of all ethnic background who
live inside and outside Laos and who love peace, freedom and democracy to come together to put an end to such a horrible and barbaric acts of communism. Hmong and Lao organizations and individuals must advocate such human right violations in an on-going basis to make sure the crisis catches the attention of the international communities. Hmong, Lao and other Laotians groups in Laos who love peace, freedom and democracy must refuse to serve their communist government and refuse to go to hunt and kill their own people. Oppositions against communist immoral acts not only will save Laos from international criticism and possible economic sanctions but will also show the morality, reveal the strength of the people of Laos, and can also be the sources for Laos to regain international respects.

The people of Laos, although are not perfect, are generally moral.
Buddhist doctrines have taught them since Fa Ngum (1353) to avoid
killings, raping, stealing, offending and more. When the communists
took power in 1975, they forced Buddhist Monks to work. They claimed
that sitting in temples to hit drums to demand the public to deliver them food was not considered work. All Monks had to perform the same labors that other regular Laotian citizens had to do in order to be considered active citizens. Monks or other religious people would not
be treated in any special way. Even worse, they reversed the moral
Buddhist doctrines mentioned above to their communist dictatorship,
and killings began ever since. The hostile behavior has held Laotian
social, cultural, economic, educational and religious efforts for progress from advancements for the past thirty years, and it is enough. It is time for the people of Laos regardless of economic, social, political, educational, ethnic, and religious status to combine their strength to bring democracy, freedom and peace back to Laos.

My fellow Lao people, Laos is the Land of the One Million Elephants,
and it belongs to the honorable, just and diligent people of Laos. As
Laotian, we can and will accept anyone who usually says what he means and means what says and who desires to make Laos prosper or make the country a good place for the elephants as well as the people to live. Elephants are peaceful animals, and the people of Laos are the same. In addition to their peaceful attitude, the people of Laos are handsome, beautiful with good hearts. The Hmong treat each other so
respectfully by creating this saying: My home is your home; your home
is my home. All is one and one is all. And the Lao have the following: Together we live; alone we die. This does not necessarily mean that Kaysone, Khamtay, Somsavath or any others are singled out from such a unity. Of course, if they were real Laotians with full Laotian blood, they are a part of it. In our democratic views, diversity includes everyone; except, we favor the majority rule. The majority rule means that if Khamtay wants to be our current and future president, he must be the president of the people, not the president of the communist central committee, and so Somsavath Lengsavath and other communist members.

And who has the power to make him the president of Laos? Of course,
the people of Laos do. Nobody is more powerful than the people. If the majority of the people vote for him, he will be the most powerful person in the nation. However, if five million Laotian citizens are not given chances to vote for him, chances are that the people of Laos will not be satisfied with a leader who is not elected by the majority. Therefore, let the people of Laos choose their leaders and future. Thanks.

V.N. Xiong.

Subject: Welcome to the Jungle
From: "Victor N. Xiong" <xiongvn@milwaukee.k12.wi.us>
To: info@neeg.org
Priority: Normal
Date: Mon, October 27, 2003 8:44 am

Welcome to the Jungle.

My dear fellow Hmong, TIME magazine had published the Perrin/Blenkensop story in May 2003. Falise, Reynaud, and Mua were
arrested in June 2003 and were sentenced to 15 years for uncovering
the Lao secrets-the extermination campaign against the Hmong. On
October 18, 2003, Mr. Blenkensop came to St. Paul to discuss his
personal contacts with the victims of genocide. All of these clearly
tell us that helps are desperately needed, and the outcries for help
not only come from the Hmong but also from so many peace loving
people, organizations and nations all over the world. Even so, the
silence of the powerful world and the international communities
continue. For me, my desperation and the fate of those in the
Xaisomboune Special Zone endlessly reflect my years of hiding in the
same area from 1975 to 1978. Then, the elimination campaign forced me to also eat Ncoom and Muas Thij, and I can never forget the joy of
exchanging bullets with the oppressors and the fear of being captured
and tortured.

Indeed, I believe that so many among us-Hmong and non-Hmong
alike--may continue to wonder why the Hmong have to fight. Even
worse, many among us may also issue various allegations against Gen.
Vang Pao and other Hmong groups, and blame the CIA for being the
primary problem. Let's be careful and remember that Gen. Vang Pao and the CIA could have caused angers among the communists to the point that they could not tolerate the absence of a revenge against the
Hmong, but the truth of the matter is that Gen. Vang Pao and the CIA
had little or nothing to do with why the Hmong have to fight after
1975. The CIA, General Vang Pao and the Royal Regime were forced to
stop the war by the attempts to honor the truce signed in Paris,
France and the subsequent Laotian truce signed in Vientiane on
February 21, 1973. The truce signed in Vientiane had solely to do
with a national reconciliation. It had nothing to do with who would
win or lose, but General Vang Pao still received a death penalty; the
Royal family and its monarchy were exterminated. Therefore, the
question why the Hmong have to fight has more to do with the
communist punishing plans-the announcement to have the tribe removed
to their roots. That plan not only was to wipe out the Hmong faction
loyal to the Royal Regime and the CIA but also all those who had
fought side by side with the Pathet Lao. To the communists, to be
Hmong means to be a part of the so-called the rotten meant that can
never be washed clean. That is basically why the Hmong must fight to
be alive. And it was good that they were and are brave enough to
fight. If they laid down their weapons completely, some 350,000 Hmong
in Laos then were too few for the Pathet Laos to kill. Remember, Pol
Pot killed two millions Cambodians in a matter of a few
years--1975-78.

I could hardly hold my tears when I first saw the pictures posted in
the Internet in May 2003. The clothes they wore reflected my memories
when I arrived at Ban Vinai. The Camp welcomed me in on May 4, 1978.
Although my time in the jungle was only three years, I entered the
camp with a body barely covered with my torn clothes. Colonel Cher
Pao Moua had to give me clothes to change before I could step outside
and tour the camp. Yong Youa Her and Moua Toua Ther took turn to
protect and defend the defenseless women, children, the elderly and
the sick for thirty years. Thirty years of eating Ncoom and Muas Thij
are truly a national sacrifice for the Hmong race, and we need to
recognize it. They were and are extremely tolerant and incredible.
Many among us had contributed certain shares to such a national
sacrifice, but to me, our shares are and were too small. Theirs are
the real ones that we must remember.

Of course, many among us may have skipped meals for the hard work to bring the situations of those still hiding in Laos to the attentions
of the world leaders and the international communities, but at the
same time, many of us do little or nothing, not even writing a few
sentences to share our views or feelings with each other despite we
know that a faction of our people are being killed. Instead of
calming each other and looking for ways to help or to join hand
together to advocate for their sakes, many among us, if not most or
all of us, continue to blame Gen. Vang Pao for making those back
there fight for him, and on and onŠ. Remember, for those in the
jungle, fighting or not, death is dancing with them all the time.
They have no choices but must defend themselves. I say so because I
had been with them and had gone through the same miseries. Yes,
during my years of hiding, I had heard rumors that Vang Pao would be
back. I even had joined others to clear mountaintops for a possible
Vang Pao landing. We always waited for him, but that was only dreams.
Even so, nobody should blame the General for the communist plans to
have the Hmong removed to their roots. The Hmong fight for their
self-defense, not because Vang Pao makes them do so. We know that no Hmong will wait to be shot without any self-defense. I praise the
Hmong for standing firm with their national principles.

And worse of all, when we write something, instead of sharing the
pain of the Hmong, we slap each other's face. We blame this group,
that group, this clan, that clan, including our own culture. We even
say that our culture is a very strong barrier to social change. We
say that our culture is a gateway to young marriages, teenage
pregnancies, and polygamy, and that Hmong parents force their
children to marry young, and so onŠIt is without doubt that we know
how to blame and show anger, but we fail to act together for a common
purpose. We show little or no interests in any campaign for unity,
cooperation, and wholesomeness. By that I mean when someone presents an idea, he or she does it by bringing controversies or divisions. I do not limit ideas to change our society or social problems, but I think we ought to strengthen our unity by discussing positive issues that make us who we are first, for example, collectivity,
nationalism, and morality. Remember, our problems can never be
changed overnight, so I do not want to see us blame each other in an
unprofessional manner for the worse of humanity and society. It will
be good to hear or read more ideas or suggestions in the areas of
improving our lives or the awareness of the Hazards of being Hmong.
If I hurt anyone's feeling, add another pillow, lay down and think
further.

Thank you.

Victor N. Xiong.

From: "Joevoneey Song" <jjice2001@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, October 1, 2003 1:13 pm
To: neeg@neeg.org

A Hmong proverb once said that it only takes one mistake to be a bad person, but it takes a lifetime to be a good person. That’s why there are many good reasons to run and hide from Hmong people (or the government) just as there are many bad reasons. Please don't take the existence of my essay as any endorsement of any kind -- I've taken some care to remove the irresponsible nonsense and to add some words of reason to the text. In Addition, I've provided a great deal of important contact information for charity organizations which can help feed and shelter people. What I'll be discussing is how-to disappear when need or forever. Forget about going to Laos or Thailand, that was so old, and it never seems to work. As an ex-Hmong outcast, I know that for a fact.

Well, one might ask why would anyone want to do such a stupid thing? First and foremost, it’s educating the mind and putting yourself into someone else’s perspective and seeking why. There are many valid explanations to want to disappear from society, especially a Hmong society so full of hatred, bigotry, nonsense, abuse, and misunderstanding. Despite this half-truth, let’s not dwell on this. There are many bad reasons to want to do anything. Especially, if you are a Hmong person. There are many good ways to disappear from society and there are many bad ways to disappear. While I won't delve too deeply into the whys of disappearing, I will cover my opinions and experience on how to disappear successfully. Sounds foolish, but you never know when life throws you a curve.

This essay covers what I consider to be the most salient points on how to disappear and remain successfully hidden in Hmong society. If you have further suggestions, please don't hesitate to E-Mail me at the unknown address provided at the bottom of this text so that I may include your ideas next time.
If you're thinking of hiding from a moral responsibility -- such as child support -- I want you to stop reading this right now, pick up a gun, and blow your brain out because you don't deserve to live. If you're thinking of running from an abusive ex-husband or ex-boyfriend who wishes to do you harm, I wish you the very best and hope that some of these suggestions and contact references prove helpful.
If you're thinking about taking your children with you, DON'T! Bring yourself and your children to a shelter in another State, but for no reason should you ever drag your children around with you while on the run or while hiding. They don't deserve the abuse and you're being selfish if you try to. If you need help caring for your children but need to run from a dangerous spouse, ex-spouse, girl/boy friend, or ex-girl/boy friend, dial 1-800-4ACHILD and ask about what your options are for your safety and the safety of your child or children. Call before you leave if possible but most certainly call someone if you and your children must flee. Also: The number of the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233.

Whether you're a Hmong man or a woman, protect yourself from such allegations by documenting abuses before you flee to a shelter with your children. Once at the shelter, make sure that a service worker at the shelter is given a copy of (or a chance to review) your documentation. It's greatly unfortunate that you will have to face legal needs when you're trying to escape from a criminally abusive person but legalities is something you must be prepared to face before you make your break. The fact that you took yourself to a children's shelter or a battered-woman's shelter goes a long way toward establishing your innocence in allegations likely to surface later. Women are assigned priority status when it comes to such things. If you are a man fleeing an abusive woman, understand that whatever you tell the authorities (or organizations which provide assistance) will be greeted with undue skepticism. American society is likely to believe the allegations. Unfortunately, in our Hmong society, this is the complete opposed. But why, please take a moment and ask yourself?

Before you even think of disappear out of the Hmong society, you need to understand who or what you're hiding from. You should consider the resources of the individual or organization which you're hiding from as well as their degree of motivation for finding you. Always over-estimate the resolve of those seeking to find you yet keep your estimations reasonable. Greatly over-estimating your opposition can cause you to behave in predictable, patterned ways, however. It is the predictability of your actions based upon your opposition's controlled stimulus which can get you caught.

If you've entered the United States illegally to start a new life, (or are planning to) you must contend with immigration officials which have historically been under-staffed, poorly-managed, and staffed by incompetent (though often voraciously brutal) thugs -- high school dropouts -- who only want to carry a gun but couldn't make it in the police force. Unlike police officers, immigration officials didn't get into their line of work to help people; they got into their line of work to keep you out of the country and to track you down and throw you out if you do get in. Their desire is to subject you to their control, feeding their power trips, making themselves feel manly. Unlike police officers, they aren't out to help society, they're out to inflict misery upon the hapless and the down-trodden.

I mention this because you must understand who your up against is when you go on the run and try to hide. The objective is for you to disappear and start a new, normal life somewhere else. Illegal immigrants face the exact same problems that those who wish to become anonymous in America face. The Hmong house wife who's been beaten into the hospital too many times faces the same problems which illegal "wet backs" face. The opposition, however -- those detailed to finding the Hmong house wife -- are quite different than those trying to find a cop killer. Know who'll be out looking for you when you run and hide.
The resources of your opposition will dictate greatly your behavior and decisions. If you're running from an abusive Hmong ex-husband or ex-wife, think of what their resources are and determine whether you should stay in the same State or whether you should leave the country entirely. If at all possible, plan your escape as much in advance as possible and work to limit your opposition's resources. This mean that you clean-out bank accounts if you can and you destroy all vehicles the opposition has easy access to so that they may not be used to track you down. (And they can't be sold to finance private investigators to look for you.) You destroy said vehicles in a safe and non-violent way, by the way; you don't want to hurt anyone and thus strengthen the resolve of the authorities.

If you're running from the IRS, know that your opposition has unlimited resources and, depending upon how much money you owe, a broad spectrum of motivation for finding you. If you're running from the criminal law, you should know that you will eventually get caught regardless of what measures you take to hide yourself. It's only a question of time before they find you.
In summary, stay motivated and work to reduce both the motivation and the financial avenues of your opposition. Know who your opposition is and what they'll likely employ to find you. Work to reduce the effectiveness of what your opposition is likely to do to find you. If your opposition has weapons which could be used against you, give them to the police by using the post office.

Before you go to ground, throw away yourself and build a new you by destroy as much of the old you as possible. You want to go beyond making yourself disappear: You want to make it seem as if you never existed. This means that you should do as much of the following as possible before and after you disappear:
Destroy all photographs you have access to before you disappear. This includes family volumes of photographs that family members have. Your family members may or may not be supportive and hand over (to your opposition) all of their photographs of you depending upon your situation. Your family could be forced to support your opposition through threat of law or through physical violence. If you destroy all photographs of you, they can't be shown around gas stations and quick food stops.
If at all possible, your opposition should be reduced to passing out artist renditions of you. Even if you have police mug shots on file or have a drivers license photograph on file, it's still a good idea to limit the availability of photographs. Make the opposition use old photographs rather than up-to-date photographs if you can.

If you get stopped by a cop or a cop drives by you, you don't want it to look like you're packed up to the ceiling with all your worldly possessions. You need to discard everything you own and don't let it show that you're doing anything other than commuting to or from work. Even if the cop doesn't stop you, if word gets around that you've gone missing, the cop is more likely to remember a stuffed car than all the countless cars simply commuting. They'll match your profile against your description and may recall the general -- if not the exact -- type of car you may be driving. If you want to escape notice of the cops, you need to blend in. Cops work off of profiles: They are trained to spot the unusual as well as how to spot individuals fitting a variety of profiles. Someone on the run fits several profiles. You want to "fall out of the net" and slip through the typical police profiles. You're not frightened that you'll get stopped. You're not anxious of what will happen when your wife or boyfriend discovers you've left. You'll need to adopt a carefree attitude and outward composure. If you're an illegal alien, you should be thinking about joining the work force and becoming a productive member of your new society, not thinking about the friends and family you might have left behind. Cops, immigration, and everyday people can smell your anxiety and fear so you'll want to focus on the positive aspects of why you're on the run.

Don't tell anyone where you're planning to go or what you're planning to do. For as long as possible, don't ask friends for help or shelter -- most of all never ask family members! Don't telephone anyone to say "good bye." Don't have any contact with friends or family! Police authorities will monitor their residential lines and private investigators can easily tap loop-start residential lines with not much more than two pieces of equipment costing all of $200.00 each. Leave town. Don't go to any place you've talked about or stated a desire to visit. Don't run to any place predictable. Don't hide in a city or town you've ever been to or contains known family members. Don't do something obviously stupid like running to Las Vegas or Hollywood. If you're taking children out of an abusive family, leave town and go immediately to a shelter in another State -- preferably a State which has laws which help to protect battered men or women from their ex-spouses or live-ins. Alter your buying habits. When you throw your old self away, you need to discard as many predictable patterns as possible. One of the most common mistakes when hiding is maintaining old habits. If you're a smoker, stop. If you don't smoke, start. If you enjoy hot and spicy foods, stop purchasing those items and change to mild foods. If you frequent bars, stop. This may seem an unusual step but you're working toward disappearing, right? Patterns are predictable. Break them.
There is the possibility that in the future people may be identifiable by their purchasing habits. Granted the point-of-sale data collected by computers would need to be immense yet eventually pattern-recognition software may some day be able to provide authorities with perhaps 100 of the best possible "hits" on people matching your known buying habits. When -- if ever -- that becomes a reality, you can be sure you won't know about it until it's shown on cable television. By that time the technology will have been in use for years and you may end up on a list of possible matching a purchase profile.

It's best to avoid going to McDonnald's or other fast food places if you have a habit of doing so. When spotted in a city the authorities will divide and eliminate sections of the city. If you like certain fast food places and they know this, they will keep an eye out for you in those areas. These places also have been installing cameras which watch over the counter and the eating areas -- cameras you can't see and cameras you can see. This is also true of many drive-through areas as well though the camera angle is usually covered up by a one-way concave mirrored surface. Every place you go, keep from depositing traces of yourself, you inadvertently leave pieces of yourself. Every article of clothing, every door knob, every carpet, every telephone, every toilet seat you use will contain pieces of you. Your skin is flaking off all the time. You need to decide whether there is a risk of the authorities or private investigators looking for you tracking you through your blood type or DNA (which can be worked-up by using pieces of your hair.) After you weigh the risks, take the precautions you deem are needed. Wear a hat indoors. Wearing a hat in a hotel room won't remove the probability of you leaving hair follicles in the room yet it will reduce the number of such particles making finding evidence difficult. Cutting your hair until it's real short will also help. And that's what you want to do: Limit the amount of physical evidence which can be used to track you.
Don't wear gloves where you can be seen yet do wear gloves when you won't be seen.
Don't eat in restaurants. Your drinking glasses and eating utensils will contain pieces of you. Fast-food places without cameras are okay provided you be sure to take the food with you and can flush paper down a toilet. If you eat at a fast-food place and discard of your trash in the trash bin, you're leaving a trail behind you. (It's a difficult trail to follow, granted, yet still a trail.) Don't forget that most fast-food places and mini-markets these days will videotape you. Even the smallest stores usually run continual videotape of everyone who enters, leaves, and stands in the check-out line. Don't look for the cameras; notice where they are not and then focus on that spot. Turning your head up to look at a camera changes the shadow and contrast attributes of the video shots of you drastically so, as you enter a shop, keep you face down and look at spots where you off-handedly know cameras are not mounted..

Running from Hmong people is the easiest part. Hiding from society is a bit harder. Staying hidden is the difficult part. The difficulties are determined by the resolve and resources of those hunting you. If the government wants to find you, they will unless you are willing to sacrifice everything.
If you run to the hills, satellites can see you and identify the type and color of the automobile you're driving. If you've hidden yourself in a cabin, your thermal signature will be seen from satellites. Even if you drive to a road and abandon your vehicle and walk to a cabin 30 miles away, a body heat source in a cabin in the desert or in the woods with no corresponding automobile heat source can signal where you are.
If you're walking or running through hills or wooded areas, the eyes of your opposition will track your motion. If you're motionless, picking you out of the visual clutter will be difficult. Even dogs have trouble picking up a stationary object. Speaking of dogs, I've yet to see a human capable of outrunning a healthy dog. You can confuse them by running around objects a few times and -- always traditional -- running downstream a swiftly moving stream of water. Dogs will go for your feet or hands when you're running then for your hands when you're down. They're trained not to go for the throat (though I've heard that some police trained dogs will if given specific instructions to.) Since they are trained not to bark until they are close to you, you will probably not hear the dog getting closer. Dogs usually work with one officer. Putting more than one dog on an individual's trail is very rarely done. The officer usually holds onto the dog's leash yet that slows the dog down considerably. Dogs that have had their voices removed are rarely released for long-distance track downs.

It's getting harder and harder to hide in America but it’s still pretty easy to hide from a Hmong society. These days, however, in our increasingly paranoid and dangerous society, offering assistance to strangers is a bad idea: It gets people killed. One must rely upon professional organizations which assist people who need to hide from abusive people. Professional organizations, however, will want you to have a virtuous reason for running and hiding and will want to help you by reporting you to the authorities if they feel they should. None that I know of assist you if you're running from a law enforcement agency. (Note: Foreign agents operating in America might be willing to assist you yet that falls outside the scope of this commentary. Arrive at the embassy of your choice and make your offers and perhaps they'll grant you provisional security from police authorities.)
When it comes down to it, it doesn't pay to be shy... let someone take you home with them. Get a bath, a meal, and a place to sleep for awhile. Don't over stay your welcome, however. Offer to leave from time to time and when asked to do so, do so. Return to the same bar later and make yourself known.
Homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and churches. Most moderate or large cities will have shelters and soup kitchens operated by either the State government or religious organizations. Questions are usually never asked though such places usually like to make sure you're not holding dope or weapons before they'll let you stay. If possible, try to see if there's any work in the kitchen or dorms you could do to repay their kindness. Such people who exhibit a willingness to work will be afforded assistance finding a paying job -- which is something you'll want to do since you're trying to build a new life.

The idea is to run and hide only as long as you have to and then start rebuilding your life under a new identity. Homeless shelters, job placement services, and day labor can give you hope and help while you're struggling to make your new life. You're using a computer so I assume that you have food and shelter now and possibly employment. Save up your money before you run and you'll give yourself a chance.
If you're in a city or town, you stand a better chance of feeding yourself and keeping yourself from freezing to death. There are often shelters run by Christian, Muslim, or Jewish organizations which will feed you and put you up. It may be dangerous to do so simply because such places are usually -- nearly always -- in dangerous neighborhoods. If you're wearing the wrong color face, you have to compare the possibility of violence and abuse against hunger. If you look like you're on the run, you could be victimized in the city. Those who would victimize you know you won't go to the cops. You're on your own in an area where punks band together out of boredom. Finding work is your best bet. You're using a computer right now so it is assumed that you have a job (or are married without a paying job) and as such have some marketable skills. Even without marketable skills, you can find employment if you're willing to work hard.
Suppose you're a wife looking to leave an abusive husband. Suppose you're a teen-ager looking to leave an abusive mother or father. How would you feed and house yourself when you run and hide? If you're young, you can expect to be raped, drugged, and horribly abused when living on American streets so you must consider that fact and go for a children's shelter instead.

Hopefully you've managed to save aside some cash but that won't last long. There are jobs that you can do:
Day Labor: Normally day labor is back-breaking, hot and sweaty work and is given to men. Women can get day labor cleaning -- houses, hotels, dishes... it's hard work but it is out there. You may be paid cash for day labor and no one will ask you questions. If you have a skill (such as sewing, tree trimming, or painting) your pay will be higher than if you're just moving dirt or laying down bricks. Without other expenses, day labor should be enough to feed yourself and maybe save some cash aside against the day you find a serious job and rent an apartment with friends. By the way: Most day labor consists of men who speak Spanish with only a few words of English (at least this is the case in the United States.) Most will be Mexican workers with families to support. Nearly all will be extremely hard working individuals who know that when the day is over and they get their pay, tomorrow the work bosses will be out picking up day laborers again and they'll pick faces they recognize as hard workers. Competition for work is heavy so joining a group of day laborers could be difficult. No one asks questions, any way, which you would find embarrassing.

Most cities will have job placement services run by governmental workers. They'll want a home address and identification so be ready with a real residential address even though it may not be your real one (because you may not have one.) When asked for identification, state that you've been on the street "for a long, long time" and, if they would help, you would like to get a State identification card and a Social Security number and "start living like a normal human being." Since you might want to be difficult to contact, you should be the one to check with governmental job placement services every day to see if they have something for you. The address of local shelters will often work for contact addresses for you.
It is a crime to defraud your State or Federal government so you must be clear on this: Your intention is to build yourself a better life. A Social Security card issued to you under a false identity MUST be considered by you to be absolutely honest and real. That Social Security number is issued to someone you have wholly become. You will pay taxes to that account and you will file income reports with that account number. That's you now, not a fake. Because you're paying your taxes and working at an honest living, if your real identity is found out, people will maybe be reasonable about the fact that you've been working hard to be a productive, tax-paying member of society. (Of course if you're a wanted criminal, trying to "fly right" by paying your fair share of the tax burden won't cut you much slack in front of a judge.) NOTE: Food coupons could be issued to you if you qualify though you may need a valid mailing address. Check with your local social services office to find out whether this could help you.
If you're clean and neat, you could get minimum wage at a fast-food place and be allotted a lower price for your meals. Cut your hair short -- but not too short, regardless of whether you're a man or a woman. Remove facial hair if you've got it. Look neat and clean. Consider shaving your arms if you're a man -- seriously. Women usually do in the United States and it's perfectly acceptable for men to do likewise. Lacking skills, you must work to make yourself look more acceptable, better capable of filling a fast-food job than the rest standing behind you also wanting that job. This might not be a good job for you since you'll be working with the public and you may not want your face to be seen so much. (And don't forget that nearly all fast-food places have cameras these days watching everything that goes on.)

Restaurants, like fast-food places, are another place to check out. Even though kitchens have automatic dish washers these days (there are regulations about water temperature) someone still must load the washers, sort the dishes, and move them about. Someone also has to keep the floors clean. Working a restaurants is hard work and low-pay but, like fast-food places, one's meals will be discounted in cost or provided by the establishment as part of one's wages. These places are often trade-unionized so you might have trouble with being forced to join the union. If at all possible, don't. (Some States have a "Right To Work" law which makes enforced payment to union organizations (that is to say, to organized crime) illegal. Check to see if the State you're working in has a "Right To Work" law.) Every dollar you don't have pay out of pocket translates to food and freedom. Unions are a fraud and don't provide anything you can use.
If you can type, data entry is a job that's very much in demand. It's long hours and low pay but it'll keep you from starving to death. Data entry (and card keypunch operating) often require taking numbers and text off of printed forms and, for nine or ten hours a day, typing them into a computer. That work often gets printed to paper and then audited line-by-line against the form data to make sure there were no mistakes. This is mentally challenging work better suited for women than for men, I will add, and employers know this. They usually hire women for data entry and card keypunch. You could get a job in a warehouse or distribution center. Men usually can find work in either a warehouse or a distribution center yet women stand a better chance of getting work in a distribution center. The reason is because in a distribution center, clothes, food, books, video tapes, shoes et al. are shipped by the manufacturer to the distribution center which sorts them for shipment to the stores. This type of work is usually given to women first.

No job, little to no money, and you're hungry? There is often food stored in people's garages in rural areas where the population density is lower than the major cities and there's few homeless people on the streets. Freezers containing food are common. Gardens containing vegetables in the back yard is common. Theft should be considered a last resort however since the object is to rebuild a new, normal life, not a criminal one. It should be a last resort because there are other ways to get food. If you're out in the desert or the woods, either running or holed up somewhere, you should face up to the fact that you're going to lose weight.
That's nonsense. There was a time when it was possible but those days are long over. Biodiversity in the major Westernized societies has been decimated, often with pollution and introduced pests. Disease among the plants and animals you would eat must be taken into consideration. The deer you eat, the fish you eat, and the rabbits you eat will sustain you only for so long (if not make you violently ill) and then your body is going to need other foodstuffs. You can delay the eventuality of malnutrition with multi-vitamins but eventually you'll need to forage wider and wider for fruits, nuts, and vegetables -- not to mention fresh water which is often in very short supply. (Camp grounds, don't forget.) If it was easy or reasonably possible to survive in the woods, everyone who hates their jobs would be doing it. Don't kid yourself: If you're on the run, you must remain in contact with human habitation and either work for or steal food or get food from a shelter in the city. If you're holed up some where (in a tent in the hills overlooking a city, perhaps) stock up on canned goods if you can. Don't rely on what you can pick up from the land. You run the risk of drawing attention to yourself as you visit the city (assuming you've got a hide out in the woods or desert) but you should consider adopting the risk since the alternative -- malnutrition -- is worse.
I mention this because the idea is to hide until you can rebuild your life and start living a normal life. If you eat nothing but fish for three months, malnutrition is going to reduce your chances of getting a job or having enough energy for working day labor -- or having the energy to run again if your hiding place is discovered. Keep yourself as healthy as possible by taking the risks needed to obtain processed foods.
Farms are a good place to find food but they're also a good place to run into dogs and farmers on horseback with rifles who also have access to telephones to report you. Orange groves, walnut trees, strawberry patches et al. often run along highways and they could be raided successfully and safely every now and then. You could work on a farm as "stoop labor" picking lettuce, oranges, grapes, and nuts in many States of the United States.

Here’s the just of your goals are to manufacture a new life under a new identity complete with legal recognition under your new identity. To acquire that goal, you must be ready and willing to do what it takes -- without compounding any criminal activities you might be wanted for. As mentioned before, that means discarding all your friends, your family, and your way of life in favor for new friends, a new way of life and possibly a new marriage with a loving wife or husband to create a new family. What you want to do is make your new life to the point where if you're ever caught, your employer, friends, and neighbors will express disbelief when the cops haul you away. While getting caught shouldn't be part of your goals, you should consider the possibility and plan accordingly. This is very important if you build a new family: Your wife or husband should be told who you really are before you get married. Since you're working to become a respectable, productive member of society, your prospective spouse should know your past before you get married! Letting her know you're on the run and for why you're on the run before hand means that you'll have support if they ever do find you.

You people are faced with extraordinary problems when trying to disappear in America that aren't experienced by the traditional person attempting to disappear for more traditional reasons.
Much has been written already about your problems and how to deal with them so this essay doesn't attempt to address them. Additionally I don't presume to claim to know what's best for you and your loose-nit organizations since your efforts are totally outside of my experience even as I share some of my experience for some of your goals. However, my venue is to employ completely legal avenues of resource. Still, if I may offer what I feel to be a salient point about the plight of direct-action liberationists:
My advice is that you get pragmatic and admit to yourself that you're really a criminal. Then you should engage in direct actions. Accepting the fact that you're committing a wrong even as you're correcting a wrong is not the solution. Since the law is on the side of the planet killers, undemonly, anti-Hmong, the law doesn't recognize the wrong of those who may feel that you've done nothing wrong. In the eyes of the law, you're in the wrong so be realistic about it and believe that you did wrong so that if you have to run, your mind is where it needs to be to survive.

Subject: Reaction to Plaub Paum: Hmoob Cov Cai
From: "Victor N. Xiong" <xiongvn@milwaukee.k12.wi.us> Add
Date: Fri, June 20, 2003 7:08 am
To: info@neeg.org

Plaub Paum: Hmoob Cov Cai.

Tag tag ces tsi tsim nyog kuv yuav sau ntawv rua huv internet txug Plaub Paum: Hmoob Cov Cai nuav rua sawv dlawg nyeem, tuab sis vim kuv yog ib tug Moob es pum hab nov tej xwm txheej zoo le nuav ces ua rua kuv tu sab txug peb haiv Moob txuj kev sis lim ham, kws tej nam txiv, tej phooj ywg los lwm tug tuab neeg rov sis tsuj. Txawm yog cov lug yuav has huv qaab nuav ho tuaj sab leej twg los thov zaam txim.

Tu sab kawg kws coob tug huv peb haiv neeg Moob ca le ua ib cov neeg tsi muaj kev dlawb huv (morality) le lawm. Zoo le paab tsaj, peb xaav ua dlaab tsi ces ua. Ib leej txiv neej ca le tsi xaav txug tas ib leej quas puj muaj tsw lawm, los leej quas puj ca le tsi ncu xaav tas kuv muaj txiv, muaj tub ki hab muaj tsw lawm. Tsuas xaav txug txuj kev pw ua ke es koj na kuv ntxhab, kuv na koj ntxhaab nkaus xib. Cov neeg le has nua ca le tsi xaav tas yog luas ua le ntawd rua yug ne, puas mob hab chim yug. Tsuas xaav tas kuv ua tsuav txaus kuv sab xib.

Kwv tij Moob, peb yog ib haiv neeg taab tom pib kev txhim khu kuas peb sawv caj taug ib pawg tuab neeg lug muaj meej mom le lwm haiv. Tsim nyog kawg lawm kws peb yuav tau tig rov muab txuj kev dlawb huv lug coj, es saib txuj kev dlawb huv ntawd puas tho tau ncauj ke rua peb txu peb tej kev sis ceb nyeg, kev sis chim, hab kev sis caj caub. Tsi taag le, saib nwg puas yuav txhim ib txuj kev paab peb txhim khu peb haiv neeg nce theem zuj zug moog.

Ua ke nuav los raws le nyeem cov lug Plaub Paum: Hmoob Cov Cai, yog muaj tseeb tag, txhua tug tuab neeg yeej chim, tuab sis thov has rua Liaj Pov cuab kwv tij tas thov chim rua tug Nam Liaj Pov (Nruas) ua ntej. Ib tug quas puj tsim txaj yeej tsi ua le tug nam Liaj Pov nuav le. Leej neeg tsim txaj yeej tsi tsiv huv Michigan moog yuav quas yawg rua Wisconsin le. Tug neeg nuav yeej tsi npaaj lub neej kuas nce moog rua txuj kev vaam meej; tsuas yog kwg nkaus ces nkaag internet es nrhav hluas nraug thaam xib. Tug neeg nuav, nwg moog nwg. Txawm nwg nyob los ua lub nraa rua Liaj Pov nkaus xib. Tej tug neeg zoo le nuav, txawm tas nwg nyob los, thaus yug paub tas nwg ua nkauj faa lawd, thaus kawg, yug yeej yuav muab ncaws tawm moog le. Puab tib nwg moog tau ib lub neej zoo. Yog nwg tau neej zoo lawd, los ua yawm saub tsaug xib. Quas puj hab txiv neej los tuab yaam--cov ua le Nam Liaj Pov nuav lawd, yeej has tsi tau kuas rov ua zoo ib zag le lawm. Kuv los tuab yaam, yog kuv ua le ntawd lawm, yeej tsi muaj leej twg has tau kuv le lawm. Peb cov Moob leeg muaj lu lug tas: Ntuj pob los yeej txheem le.

Lu twg zoo los ho siv. Lu tuaj sab, thov zaam txim; lu tsi zoo, thov tso pov tseg. Ua tsaug.

Neej Thoob Xyooj.

From: Tsu Yaj <neeg@neeg.org)
Date: Mon, May 12, 2003 3:06 pm

What it's like to be with a divorce and older Hmong woman

Tus phooj ywg Pheej, tseem ceeb vim koj sau laib cov lus coob tus txiv neej tsis kam sau hais tawm thiab tseem sau laib dhos zoo heev. Kuv yuav tsis thuam koj lub hom phiaj los kuv kuj tsis qhuas cov poj niam ib nyuag laus zog tus hluas nraug (txiv) thiab. Qhov koj xav hais tawm rau lwm tus nyeem thiab coj mus kho nws yuav muaj nuj nqi rau coob tus poj niam thiab yuav yog kev kawm rau ib txhia xav. Qhov kuv tsis qhuas cov poj niam uas ib nyuag laus zog nws tus hluas nraug los puas nws tus txiv thiab cov tseem tau nrauj ib tug txiv lawm. Qhov nws laus dua nws tus hluas nraug mas tsis muaj teeb meem yog thaum nws xaiv tau leej twg los uas nws tus khub. Qhov teeb meem loj heev yib vim nws muaj ib tug cwj pwm tsis zoo nws thiaj nyob laus me ntsis tsis muaj twg twg faib nws ua lawv tus hlub. Tsis tau tag, tej zaum nws yog ib tug neeg heev heev thiab. Tej yam zoo li no, muaj cuab kav ua rau ib tug hluas nkauj Hmoob nyob laus tsis tau txiv.
Tus uas nws nrauj ib tug txiv dhau lawm peb hu nws ua ib tug poj niam. Nws tsis laib lub npe li ib tug hluas nkauj lawm. Vim lub npe poj niam phim nws thiab yuav qhia tau nws rau nws lub neej tom ntej. Qhov coob coob tus txiv neej los yog hluas nraug Hmoob ntshai cov poj nrauj los yog poj niam. Cov poj niam no muaj ib npe tsis huv lawm. Thaum leej twg mus sib yuav uas twb yog yam nws xub xub xaiv mus ua nws lub neej tab sis mus mus ces muaj ntau yam kev nyuab siab, ntxhov siab, thiab tsis muaj kev sib haum nyob nws lub neej. Thaum no nws txawm tawm khiav rov los ua ib tug poj nrauj. Zaum no nws muaj kev puas txog nws lub cev, lub koob npe, thiab yuav qhia tau rau lwm tus txiv neej paub hais tias nws lub siab tsis tshua dawb. Qhov no tsis tau tham hais tias txhua txhua leej poj nrauj ces yuav yog tim nws. Muaj ntau zaum kuj tim nws tus txiv thiab. Tab sis qhov tseem ceeb ces thaum leej twg sib yuav ib zaug lawm thaum no tus ntawd lub koob moo tsis zoo npaum ib tug nkauj xwb thiab nkauj tseem mos.
Ntau yam npaum no, twb ua rau cov txiv neej los yog hluas Hmoob tsis xaiv cov poj niam los yog nkauj laug coj los npaj lawv lub neej. Hais sab kev sib hlub, tej zaum niag nkauj laug los niag poj nrauj leej twg ntawd yuav txawj hlub dua vim nws twb tawm hauv kev sib hlub los lawm. Yog nws tsis ua tshaj cov nkauj mog tej zaum txiv neej ntsia tsis pom nws zoo. Hais txog nyiaj txiag sab no, nyob teb chaws America no yog ib niag poj niam nws muaj hnub nyoog dhau 18 xyoo. Nws yuav tsum muaj nyiaj txiag siv. Yog nws tseem tsis muaj nyiaj txiag siv thiab yuav qhia tau hais tias nws yog ib tug neeg tub nkeeg heev. Vim thaum nws txog 18 xyoo, yog nws tsis mus kawm ntawv nws yuav tsum mus ua kam. Nws yuav tsum tsis nyob xwb xwb. Yog cov hluas nraug Hmoob hluas ntsib cov poj niam zoo li no tej zaum yuav yooj yim rau tus txiv neej ntawm thiab. Qhov no tej zaum kuj yuav dhau los ua ib tug qauv zoo rau nws lub neej sai sai.
Oh! yog hais txog cov poj nrauj es nws muaj 2-3 tug me nyuam lawm. Cov no mas dias tau hauv thiab hem neeg xwb xwb. Nws cov me nyuam yuav yog ib co teeb meem loj heev. Qhov no mas muaj ntau yam piav. Nco ntsoov hais tias teb chaws no muaj cov Child Support. Qhov no yog ib tug kab mob loj leej twg leej ntawd tsis xav los ua lwm tus ib yawg qhev tu nws cov me nyuam. Teeb meem loj nawb cov poj niam ua muaj me nyuam lawm. Qhov nws yuav tau txiv hluas thiab zoo nraug ces hais tas tsuas yog ib feem puas ntawm 100% xwb. Feem coob ces nws yuav tau rov qab nkag mus yuav ib tug txiv uas nrauj poj niam lawm xwb. Cov no mas lawv thiaj sib phim. Kuv tsuas hais li no xwb. Yog leej twg pom kuv hais tsis yog tus ntawd ntaus xov rau kuv paub.

From: "Victor N. Xiong" <xiongvn@milwaukee.k12.wi.us> Add
Date: Fri, May 9, 2003 12:16 pm
To: neeg@neeg.org
Priority: Normal

Neeg, please post

What it's like to be with a divorce and older Hmong woman.

Well, reading this essay overwhelmingly drives me to respond. In reality, life experiences represent very minimal advertisements. Remember most men, young and old alike, often ask themselves before hooking up or making contacts with a divorce woman the following question: Why did she end up being divorced? This question usually comes to mind because of fears for getting a wrong partner. We, including myself, fear that because of the term or phrase "Nkauj txhaav qab nraug txhaav noog." When a couple who had been married to each other under the said status got divorce, it had to be a lot of mess. Hmong men often say: "Txug txij nwg nrauj nwg tug txiv raug txhaav qab lawm ces, leej twg yuav los yeej tsi kaav ntev." This means that we usually consider the original marriage partner the best, and if we get rid of that original one, it means many things. In many cases, adultery is a part of the causes. Therefore, after a divorce, the chances to get the next marriage partner are no longer around the corner. Most Hmong do not plan to be married for only a few years. They plan to be married for as long as possible, and hooking up with anyone that life together may last only a short period of time is the least likelihood.

Not to mention men alone, but women also have lots of questions when it comes to the possibilities of hooking up with divorced men. No woman may want to allow a known male divorcee to have chances to have contacts with her because she will ask the same question men usually ask and have the same fear men usually come across. I could be wrong, but women are more selective. They want the best man they can find. Think, if you do not want a man who cannot fulfill your dreams, men, too, will not take any woman who will not fulfill theirs either. No matter how good a man or a woman may claim, being divorced no longer makes you an ordinary person. By saying that, I mean you are socially classified as a member of a special class of people who get the least attention from the ordinary group. There is a normal fear among never divorce individuals. That fear is that all divorced men and women have the natural divorce habit. If they find a marriage partner who fails to meet their needs, they will dump such a partner and find a new one.

Allow me to remind young men and women out there that you must be very careful about your life. Your life is yours and it is you who must determine which direction to move to. Never be so naïve to allow people who have had more life experiences to fool you. Always consult with those who are sincere with you and who had been through more life experiences. The Hmong always say: "Qoob tsi zoo ces yog ib cim, puj/txiv tsi zoo ces taag ib sim." (The sentence means: Even if your crops do not yield, it would be only for one season. If your spouse is not good, it will be for life.) Never be a victim of it. Remember, looking for your marriage partner is not solely for the purposes of searching and obtaining romantic ability, but also for the purposes of a happy and prosperous life.
Victor N. Xiong.

From:<bher@hotmail.com>
St.Paul, MN USA - Wednesday, May 07, 2003 at 17:08:20 (PDT)

RE: Article,"What It's Like To Be With A Divorce and Older Hmong Woman". Very thoughtful and well writtten. I'm in my late 20's and have dated a couple divorced women 7 and 10 years older than me. They were some of the best relationships I've had. They both have teenage children from previous marriage. That was major, major problem. I can go on, but you get the picture. Keep it up.