Is the Hmong culture dying?

[TheAfterLife]

Yes because we are being dominated by a higher culture that convince others about their way of lifestyle. Even the Americans are killing our culture because of education. That's killing our culture and many of the Hmong people are leaving that culture. I'd say in the next 10-20 generation, Hmong culture is dead. I could be wrong if it is shorter.

Remember folks, there are 4 types of war in this world:

1. Economy war (China vs. America)
2. Culture war
3. Science war (USA beats Russia through their space tech. during Kennedy's time)
4. Domination/Conquer/Brute Force war (Rhetorical! This can be found in WWII)

[theking]

Yes because we are being dominated by a higher culture that convince others about their way of lifestyle. Even the Americans are killing our culture because of education. That's killing our culture and many of the Hmong people are leaving that culture. I'd say in the next 10-20 generation, Hmong culture is dead. I could be wrong if it is shorter.

Remember folks, there are 4 types of war in this world:

1. Economy war (China vs. America)
2. Culture war
3. Science war (USA beats Russia through their space tech. during Kennedy's time)
4. Domination/Conquer/Brute Force war (Rhetorical! This can be found in WWII)

Many of the Hmong that live here are also "Americans" so not sure how that apply but yes, I have seen and continue to see certain aspects of the Hmong culture dying like certain aspects of other cultures dying. The wind of change affects every culture. I don't think the Hmong culture will totally died in the next "10-20 generations" though as there are many good aspects in our culture.

Here's a non-U.S. example of a host culture having to do some changing and adapting to help create better harmony for all:

The Dying German Culture: Germans Learn Turkish Language To Integrate Better With Its Immigrants

Sound Familiar America? U.S. citizens apparently have no problem seeing, reading and hearing the Spanish language everywhere across the country plastered into its amnesic consciousness by its democratic government

For years, the focus of the integration debate in Germany has been on the assimilation of the Turkish migrant population into German society. But now some Germans are beginning to consider it their responsibility to integrate with their Turkish neighbors — and are going to language schools to learn Turkish.

http://www.newsnet14.com/?p=103321




Will some racist Germorons accuse those Germans of being 'Turkish-washed' for doing the right thing? Sure, even though that's not what they are doing but rather, ride the wind of change to help create better harmony for all the people that reside in Germany.

It's not just Germany, pretty much every developed democratic country that has a melting pot make up have gone through some changes to become more tolerant of the different groups within their society. As a result, certain aspects of each group's culture diminish along the way.

[Great Sage]

Is Hmong culture dying?

No.... Hmong culture isn't "dying" just adapting. Hmong is among the oldest living cultures and have survived by adapting to its surrounding, while keeping its identity intact. According to Chinese historians, Hmong have been around since 2000 B.C. (1). It's debatable whether Hmong truly had a country at one time, but the FACT is that the Hmong have persevered through thousands of years of adaptation. Therefore, the Americanizatio n of Hmong isn't anything new. It's just another chapter in Hmong history.

It's a false assumption to believe that living in America somehow eliminates one's cultural identity. Case in point: There have been Spanish-speaking, Chinese, Italian, German, Russian, Jewish, etc... type communities in America for ages. In fact, America is moving towards a multicultural future. By 2050, whites will be the minorities (2). This further validates that Hmong-American communities will continue to thrive; just as other ethnic communities will.

Being an American today is MUCH MORE different than it was decades ago. The true concept of America's "melting pot" was NOT a diverse, multicultural society, but the assimilation of ALL ethnic cultures into the majority Anglo-based ethnicity that defined America's identity (3). However, this idea didn't go as planned. Instead, the present-day American is a person who embraces his own ethnic identity, while believing in the concept of America. As such, there is no such thing as a "generic" American who acts and behaves accordingly.

Finally, I also believe that while Hmong have moved away from some of its customs, there will be a revival in the future. The thing is that as children of strict Hmong codes of conduct, we are enjoying this new cultural liberty. But at some point down the road, we will begin to appreciate our original roots and what they are meant to teach. Americanism is new and exciting, but when it becomes a commodity, our people will beginning searching for their uniqueness again. This is true of all ethnicities in America.


Sources:
1. http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Ha-La/Hmong-Americans.html
2. http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/02/12/us-usa-population-immigration-idUSN1110177520080212
3. http://www.thesocialcontract.com/artman2/publish/tsc0601/article_483.shtml

[AOZ]

how do you define an end to a culture? 

prolly when that culture/practice is no longer acknowledged.  in a way.... we are no longer true traditional hmong... we are westernized hmong.   

so many phers already claiming they will not practice brideprice.  so many phers cohabiting.  such are behaviors that are not culturally hmong. 

[joot]

Most Hmong kids born here in the US don't even know how to speak Hmong anymore....eno ugh said...

[night912]

Most Hmong kids born here in the US don't even know how to speak Hmong anymore....eno ugh said...

That's language, not culture.

[HUNG TU LO]

Culture is not static as people make it out to be. When someone judges another person based on their cultural merits - how Hmong is he or she - it's just an elitist commentary.

It's so arbitrary and subjective. You say we American born Hmong are not Hmong enough? Well every single Hmong in Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Burma are not as Hmong as our brethren that permanently reside in southern China. Let's not stop there. These Hmong in southern China are garbage Hmong compared to our ancestors 1,000 years ago.

You know, the American Revolutionary War was partly fueled by shit attitudes like this.

[MilesDaddy]

IMHO from the outside looking in I would say that it's evolving..... and to be honest, some of that stuff can die right along with the OG's

[1luv]

As long as you get hmong neegrows running around and say that they are proud "ha hmong" then the culture will still flourish...

There are some things that the next generation of hmongs will lose out.  One of them is some old traditional stuff and some home remedies and what not.  Like funeral stuff or wedding stuff.  What happen when all the OG dies off and it is time for you to step up to do a funeral or a wedding? 

Oh right, take it to the club and we will drink one for them.. 

or something like that.   

[night912]

If it is adapting, then the culture is dying because we lose the natural taste of it. The TRUE culture without other foreign inspiration, we will lose its natural taste. If you look at North Korea, they are trying to go back to where IT'S the emperor and HIS rules to apply almost anything. Ideas are running out and people do this sometimes in the political ground. Anyway, if the Hmong culture adapts, then it is dying like how the French are being influence by Italy, spain, England, and Germany since their natural dialect is dying.

If you really think this is true, then the hmong culture died a long time ago. This means even before the time in Laos.

[chidorix0x]

It's already "dead" as far as the US-Mung-Me-Cows are concerned -    ...     ... 

For the rest of us, Hmong that is, it is very much alive and evolving to a good or great exent - not exactly or precisely what is/has been practiced say 10-20 years ago, in SE Asia specifically. And even in SE Asia, presently, there are a lot of evolution/changes going on too.

Basically that is the norm with many cultures being Westernized or influenced here. Hmong culture has evolved for the most part. And in most cases, it only hold on to the very must core fundamentals/elements or what is practicle and possible. That said, a lot of the elders have complained that is has evolved for the worst - 

[Great Sage]

If it is adapting, then the culture is dying because we lose the natural taste of it. The TRUE culture without other foreign inspiration, we will lose its natural taste. If you look at North Korea, they are trying to go back to where IT'S the emperor and HIS rules to apply almost anything. Ideas are running out and people do this sometimes in the political ground. Anyway, if the Hmong culture adapts, then it is dying like how the French are being influence by Italy, spain, England, and Germany since their natural dialect is dying.

Here’s the problem: how do you know what the TRUE culture of any ethnicity is?

All ethnicities have been influenced by other cultures. If you knew something of Hmong, you would know that our ancestors were influenced by the Chinese, Laos and Thai. This is proven by the words and customs we share with them.

Amen. It's the influence of a higher culture. If you play the game of Civilization Revolution by Sid Meyers, you will know how to influence a nation to join you like how America is doing right now. They dominated Hawaii with influence. Sucks huh?

I used to play this game all the time. Unfortunately, it’s just a game. In the real world, not all cultures are wiped out when a new culture takes over. Consider that Alexander the Great conquered the known world during his time. The same with Genghis Khan. Yet, the cultures they conquered still remain. This refutes your theory.

Actually, the FACT of America refutes your theory as well. There are literally hundreds of sub-cultures that exist within America’s culture. They are not part of a homogeneous culture. America is comprised of many ethnic cultures within a larger culture.

But let’s talk about our people: the Hmong. As far as we are certain, Hmong have always lived under another country’s rule. Hmong have always integrated aspects of the larger culture, while maintaining its identity. Such is the fate of us. But we will survive again. America is just another stepping stone.

[Great Sage]

so many phers already claiming they will not practice brideprice.  so many phers cohabiting.  such are behaviors that are not culturally hmong. 

No worries AOZ... Hmong culture has survived thousands of years of change. For every Hmong person who abandons our culture, there are hundreds more who maintain it. And even the ones that claim not to care, still go to Hmong places like this forum. They still eat rice, associate with Hmong people and join in the things they speak out against. Maybe they do so out of curiosity, who knows? But Hmong will always be around in some shape or form.

[AOZ]

No worries AOZ... Hmong culture has survived thousands of years of change. For every Hmong person who abandons our culture, there are hundreds more who maintain it. And even the ones that claim not to care, still go to Hmong places like this forum. They still eat rice, associate with Hmong people and join in the things they speak out against. Maybe they do so out of curiosity, who knows? But Hmong will always be around in some shape or form.

the true culture to any ethnicity is without major influence from another [dominating foreign culture].  i would define our true hmong culture being... dating to before our people got involved with the CIA.  so when i say true hmong culture... i am referencing practices during that time. 

indeed...  the sight of young healthy hmong men playing qeej at the new years gives hope to our hmong people that our hmong men will continue to pass on our hmong culture.   

[theking]

It's lost and we have lost on the cultural war since the Hmong minds are HIGHLY backward. I agree what the French people say to us because WE ARE BACKWARD!

If you say so. Although I agree that some aspects of our culture could be "lost" due to adaptation over the years, and some Hmong are still "BACKWARD", I don't think all is lost. I noticed more and more Hmong are moving forward because I see and hear fewer and fewer bride-napping, polygamy, man treating woman like dirt because he bought her, bride head price, kids marrying kids, married men having the power to date other women, and adults marrying kids cases thanks to adaptation. Sometimes, change is good and needed to create better harmony for all as well as reduce the BACKWARD mentality that some can't seem to shake off but I can see the good aspects continuing to be around for a long time to come. Adaptation/change/modification applies to pretty much every culture. Sometimes it is necessary to change in order to move forward.