Maine mayor tells Somalis to 'leave your culture at the door'

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://news.yahoo.com/maine-mayor-somalis-leave-culture-door-135314654.html

By CLARKE CANFIELD | Associated Press – 4 hrs ago

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Ten years after a Lewiston mayor set off a firestorm by saying the city's Somali population was growing too fast, a new mayor's remarks about the immigrant community is sparking another wave of anger and calls for his resignation.

Somali immigrants and their supporters in this former mill city in central Maine say Mayor Robert Macdonald should apologize and step down for what they call repeated anti-immigrant remarks, including telling a British Broadcasting Corp. interviewer that immigrants should "accept our culture and leave your culture at the door."

A group of about 50 protesters rallied outside City Hall on Thursday before delivering 1,400 petitions to Macdonald's office, asking for his resignation.

The mayor's remarks sounded like he was telling immigrants to abandon their religion, their language and their identities, said Nimo Yonis, 26, one of an about 6,000 Somali refugees who live in Lewiston and the neighboring city of Auburn. The mayor's words were painful, hurtful and "represent hate," she said.

"Basically, he's telling us to forget who we were," Yonis said. "Just leaving your culture at the door is leaving what you believe, what you stand for and who you are at the door."

Macdonald has attempted to clarify his comments, saying immigrants should try to assimilate into American culture. He has said his comments were taken out of context, and has claimed he never said anything derogatory about Somalis.

Macdonald was not in his office Thursday and didn't immediately return a phone message left by The Associated Press.

His words have rekindled memories of a decade ago when then-Mayor Larry Raymond wrote a letter in 2002 asking Somali leaders to discourage friends and family from relocating to Lewiston, saying the city's resources were "maxed-out."

The first Somali immigrants arrived in Lewiston in early 2001, moving 40 miles north of Portland because of plentiful, cheap housing. By the time Raymond wrote his letter, nearly 1,000 Somalis had moved to the Lewiston area.

The outrage over his letter attracted international attention and spurred a 4,000-person rally at Bates College, urging Mainers to embrace the influx of immigrants. During the rally, a small number of white supremacists who called for the expulsion of the Somalis gathered elsewhere in the city.

With the current mayor, critics say Macdonald has made repeated inflammatory remarks about the Somali population.

He wrote in a local weekly newspaper that "submissive Somali women turn into obnoxious customers at the grocery store cash register." He also wrote that he was tired of news stories about Somalis being treated poorly; most complaints, he wrote, came from "boo-hoo white do-gooders and their carpetbagger friends."

He later told a reporter that immigrants shouldn't "insert your culture, which obviously isn't working, into ours, which does."

Mark Cayer, president of the Lewiston City Council, read a statement Thursday on behalf of the whole council saying the mayor's comments were his alone and not representative of the council or the city as a whole.

The letter written by Raymond in 2002 and Macdonald's words last month are "two totally different scenarios and two different moments in time," he said.

"But clearly there was division in the community at that time, and there's still evidence of a division now," he said. "But overall I think the community will grow from this."

Edited October 5, 2012 by Bad_Daddy

[scotinmass 588]

I am in Lewiston every weekend. I have a home in the town next to it. Lewiston was a dying city. The historic waterfront area was derelict. The many mills on the waterfront area that provided jobs for decades are closed. Since the Somalis came to Lewiston the waterfront area has been transformed. There are dozens of new stores owned by Somalis opened up. There are many farms run by Somalis and other refugees helping the local economy. What was once an ultra white area now has a bit of diversity. There is very little racial tension. People generally accept the benefits that new immigrants bring. The local colleges and universities have seen a large increase in students from out of state who are drawn to the more cosmopolitan Lewiston. The only people who seem to have a problem are the republican politicians who want to keep Maine white. It is to the credit of the people of Lewiston and the surrounding area that they continue to accept people of all races and culture and defend their right to live amongst us.

[Danno 1,228]

I am in Lewiston every weekend. I have a home in the town next to it. Lewiston was a dying city. The historic waterfront area was derelict. The many mills on the waterfront area that provided jobs for decades are closed. Since the Somalis came to Lewiston the waterfront area has been transformed. There are dozens of new stores owned by Somalis opened up. There are many farms run by Somalis and other refugees helping the local economy. What was once an ultra white area now has a bit of diversity. There is very little racial tension. People generally accept the benefits that new immigrants bring. The local colleges and universities have seen a large increase in students from out of state who are drawn to the more cosmopolitan Lewiston. The only people who seem to have a problem are the republican politicians who want to keep Maine white. It is to the credit of the people of Lewiston and the surrounding area that they continue to accept people of all races and culture and defend their right to live amongst us.

It's good to have someone close to a story, can you speak to the reported drain on the general fund from social services that has been reported. From what I recall something like half the budget was being eaten up caring for these folks?

[scotinmass 588]

It's good to have someone close to a story, can you speak to the reported drain on the general fund from social services that has been reported. From what I recall something like half the budget was being eaten up caring for these folks?

Those were figures from 2002. Ten years later when the Somalis have established themselves in Lewiston the figure is more like 16% which is proportionate to their numbers.

http://www.sunjournal.com/news/city/2011/12/18/struggle-and-progess-10-years-somalis-lewiston/1127846

The biggest problem in Lewiston is not from refugees or immigrants it's drug dealers.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Burlinton has a lot of refugees. They come from all over but are made up of three primary groups.

Bosnians, Somalians and Citizens of non-slavic Former Soviet Republics, such as Armenia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, etc. Alla makes a pretty good part time job of interpretting for the last group until they learn English.

The Bosnians and FSU citizens quickly adapt, they learn the language, dress in western manner and often own businesses, they work in the community all over, just like any other nationality. The students Alla had in her ESL classes quickly move along to the next levels if they are Bosnians or FSU citizens. They are soon doing well and she loses them as students and interpretation clients...which IS the idea. She feels well when they say "Thank you, but I think I can try going to the doctor myself"

Somalians on the other hand, rarely attend the classes, when they do they stare out the wondoews, do not participate and soon leave. They dress in traditional clothes which look like they took all their drapes or bedsheets and covered themselves with them. They do not work in the community, have no businesses that I am aware of. They all live in some areas which have been set aside for refugees, places formerly occupied by Bosnians, Georgians, Armenians that have moved on and have their own places.

The Mayor in Maine is exactly correct. If they want to succeed in this country, yes they need to assimilate to the culture of this country. To usggest otherwise is to simply keep them dependent on others for handouts. There is nothing wrong with keeping tradition...heck, we do not wear shoes in the house and Alla eats that stinky Russian fish, and there is always a pot of borscht in the refrigerator, vereneki in the freezer, prenicki for cookies...but they have all l=earned the language, drive cars, work in the community and basically adapt to the life here and are independent. Anyone sayign "we" need to adapt to "them" is simply saying they want to keep these people isolated, controlled and dependent so that they stay that way.

I agree with the mayor.

[scotinmass 588]

Burlinton has a lot of refugees. They come from all over but are made up of three primary groups.

Bosnians, Somalians and Citizens of non-slavic Former Soviet Republics, such as Armenia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, etc. Alla makes a pretty good part time job of interpretting for the last group until they learn English.

The Bosnians and FSU citizens quickly adapt, they learn the language, dress in western manner and often own businesses, they work in the community all over, just like any other nationality. The students Alla had in her ESL classes quickly move along to the next levels if they are Bosnians or FSU citizens. They are soon doing well and she loses them as students and interpretation clients...which IS the idea. She feels well when they say "Thank you, but I think I can try going to the doctor myself"

Somalians on the other hand, rarely attend the classes, when they do they stare out the wondoews, do not participate and soon leave. They dress in traditional clothes which look like they took all their drapes or bedsheets and covered themselves with them. They do not work in the community, have no businesses that I am aware of. They all live in some areas which have been set aside for refugees, places formerly occupied by Bosnians, Georgians, Armenians that have moved on and have their own places.

The Mayor in Maine is exactly correct. If they want to succeed in this country, yes they need to assimilate to the culture of this country. To usggest otherwise is to simply keep them dependent on others for handouts. There is nothing wrong with keeping tradition...heck, we do not wear shoes in the house and Alla eats that stinky Russian fish, and there is always a pot of borscht in the refrigerator, vereneki in the freezer, prenicki for cookies...but they have all l=earned the language, drive cars, work in the community and basically adapt to the life here and are independent. Anyone sayign "we" need to adapt to "them" is simply saying they want to keep these people isolated, controlled and dependent so that they stay that way.

I agree with the mayor.

Maybe your Somalians are lazier than our Somalians. Lewiston has dozens of Somalian owned stores and businesses. There are 3 or 4 stalls at the Lewiston farmer's market that sell produce from Somalian owned farms. Some of them are dressed in jeans and some are dressed in traditional Somalian clothes. Unlike you I don't find that offensive. I like a bit of color and diversity but then I am also an immigrant. I too have been accepted by the people of Maine and I didn't have to dress and act and talk like I was one of them to gain acceptance.

http://www.sunjournal.com/city/story/897656

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Maybe your Somalians are lazier than our Somalians. Lewiston has dozens of Somalian owned stores and businesses. There are 3 or 4 stalls at the Lewiston farmer's market that sell produce from Somalian owned farms. Some of them are dressed in jeans and some are dressed in traditional Somalian clothes. Unlike you I don't find that offensive. I like a bit of color and diversity but then I am also an immigrant. I too have been accepted by the people of Maine and I didn't have to dress and act and talk like I was one of them to gain acceptance.

http://www.sunjournal.com/city/story/897656

You immigrated from Scotland yes? Most of the original Europoean immigrants in New England immigrated from the UK or did you not notice any of the last names? I'm sure if check the phone book you will find plenty of McCleans, McCallisters, Dugans, etc... I mean it's not like you immigrated from China.

Edited October 5, 2012 by Bad_Daddy

[scotinmass 588]

You immigrated from Scotland yes? Most of the original Europoean immigrants in New England immigrated from the UK or did you not notice any of the last names? I'm sure if check the phone book you will find plenty of McCleans, McCallisters, Dugans, etc... I mean it's not like you immigrated from China.

Well if you look at the phonebook in Lewiston Maine you'll see almost every name is French.

So are you saying that white Europeans are accepted in this country but everyone else can leave their culture behind or go home?

Edited October 6, 2012 by scotinmass

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Well if you look at the phonebook in Lewiston Maine you'll see almost every name is French.

So are you saying that white Europeans are accepted in this country but everyone else can leave their culture behind or go home?

Nice try. What I'm saying is it's easier for someone from Europe to assimilate over here. If one Scot immigrated to Norway and another Scot immigrated to Somalia which one do you think would have the most problems easing into society and culture of said countries? It's not rocket science. My grandmothers side of the family immigrated to Canada from Inverness Scotland back in the day and I never heard any war stories of not being accepted. It's like a Canadian immigrating to the US. Other than metric system and a few other minor differences it's not all that big of a deal for them.

Edited October 6, 2012 by Bad_Daddy

[scotinmass 588]

Nice try. What I'm saying is it's easier for someone from Europe to assimilate over here. If one Scot immigrated to Norway and another Scot immigrated to Somalia which one do you think would have the most problems easing into society and culture of said countries? It's not rocket science. My grandmothers side of the family immigrated to Canada from Inverness Scotland back in the day and I never heard any war stories of not being accepted. It's like a Canadian immigrating to the US. Other than metric system and a few other minor differences it's not all that big of a deal for them.

I hear the price of alcohol in the Scandinavian countries is ridiculous so I'd choose Somalia!

I was in Inverness last year. Maybe we're distant cousins.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I hear the price of alcohol in the Scandinavian countries is ridiculous so I'd choose Somalia!

I was in Inverness last year. Maybe we're distant cousins.

It might be expensive in Norway but I don't know if they allow the sale of booze in Somalia being that it's Muslim. My grandmothers ancestors moved to Inverness from Orkney. Their last name was Ronaldson. I always wanted to visit Scotland but just haven't had the chance although my mom still have a few pieces of china, a silverware set and some books that they brought over with them.

[scotinmass 588]

It might be expensive in Norway but I don't know if they allow the sale of booze in Somalia being that it's Muslim. My grandmothers ancestors moved to Inverness from Orkney. Their last name was Ronaldson. I always wanted to visit Scotland but just haven't had the chance although my mom still have a few pieces of china, a silverware set and some books that they brought over with them.

I don't know anyone with that name so I guess we're not related. Orkney is one of the few places I've not been to yet. We were planning on going there on a visit last year but my father in law died and we had to leave early. If you do ever visit Scotland don't bother with the cities. The best scenery is in the Western Highlands and the Isle of Skye. Most people visit Edinburgh and never see the good stuff.

Alaska is top of my wife's list of places to visit. She wants to see it before the ice melts.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Maybe your Somalians are lazier than our Somalians. Lewiston has dozens of Somalian owned stores and businesses. There are 3 or 4 stalls at the Lewiston farmer's market that sell produce from Somalian owned farms. Some of them are dressed in jeans and some are dressed in traditional Somalian clothes. Unlike you I don't find that offensive. I like a bit of color and diversity but then I am also an immigrant. I too have been accepted by the people of Maine and I didn't have to dress and act and talk like I was one of them to gain acceptance.

http://www.sunjournal.com/city/story/897656

I am not offended by anyone, why would you assume I was? Where did I say it is offensive? Please copy and paste where I said it was offensive to me. Please. Unlike me, you want them oppressed and dependent. How is that for assumptions?

If you can find a place more accepting of people than Burlington VT I would certainly like to know where it is. Keep in mind my wife is an immigrant and she teaches other immigrants and interprets and translates for them. Good grief.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Well if you look at the phonebook in Lewiston Maine you'll see almost every name is French.

So are you saying that white Europeans are accepted in this country but everyone else can leave their culture behind or go home?

No one ever said that. Northern New England is heavily French ancestry. Around here the names are about equally divided between English and French. French is very definitely the 2nd language here and is very commonly spoken.

All of the refugees here have been accepted by the members of the community. I said that some of the refugees, particularly those from Somalia, have not assimilated themselves into the culture and that is a fact. Outside of their isolated neighborhoods they simply are not seen anywhere. You can tell me why maybe? Go to the mall, the downtown area, parks, museums, anywhere...no Somalians. Go to the west side of Winooski...you may as well be in Mogadishu! Winooski grade school is full of Somalians...you never see them more than a few blocks from that area. There are no businesses owned by them that I am aware of. Talk to people around town and you frequently run into the eastern European/Slavic accent. Any Somalians in TJ Maxx? Nope, but you can practically speak Russian or Serbo Croat to anyone in there! All the Russian/Ukrainian women are in there adding to their shoe collectons!

Edited October 6, 2012 by Gary and Alla

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Mainers are tougher than Vermonters.