[AccusaJalsBub]

Lots of interesting and provacative comments in this thread. Here in Minnesota, we have (I believe) the second largest population of Hmong refugees in the United States, virtually all of whom were from families originally in refugee camps in Thailand. It so happens that our local paper's front page story today addresses this issue. See the story if you're interested, where it says that about four percent of our city school kids are from Hmong families.

I've heard people for years complaining about the drain on the welfare system and even other derogatory and racist comments about the influx of these people over the years. The fact is that the Hmong here have revitalized some rundown areas of the city, and have contributed to our economy greatly. It's generally a success story, and I have to say that I hear people complaining much less about the Hmong immigrants today than in the past.

Many of these Hmong families escaped from Laos in the mid to late 1970s, and I have personally talked with people who swam across the Mekhong River in the middle of the night with bamboo tied to their bodies. There are cases where mothers drowned their own children, lest their crying would give away their position and draw rifle fire from the soldiers. It's worth remembering that the political reason we have Hmong refugees here in the USA is because of the sacrifices made to opppose the Communist factions.

Now, there are some excellent points made by FaranginPhetch and Peterg about charity, what each of us as an individual might do. While there are undoubtedly many organizations and many ways to help people in Thailand, I'd like to mention one with which I have had personal contact and I believe in strongly. It's the Students' Education Trust. Basically, empowering needy people with an education is the ultimate answer to ending the cycles of poverty, ignorance, and abuse.

So, got ten euros? ten quid? ten dollars? Maybe a little more? Want to make a difference? You can.