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12/12/02jimmy yaj yeah, i really enjoy ya video. it got me thinkin about my family and myself. even in my household, we don't perform as much ceremony like back then, but i am not goin to let the hmong tradition die. yes, shamanism is old but that is in our blood. no matter if you beleive in god or not you are a hmong and you cant change that. how do you expect to do your funerals or communicate/ send food and money to the spirit world, by a shaman rite. god cant send it for you.(not to be offensive). We are hmong and the world dont even know who we are. we have to keep our ways and represent our culture without same. hmong pride always. again, great video, touch me deeply. peace out 
12/10/02 I really liked the movie because it gave great detail about the hmong culture. I could not believe some of the things they believe in, such as if you break your nose you are going to die soon. I can't believe that their funerals take 4 days and 3 nights, that was really surprising because ours are like an hour or so. I took a great interest in this movie and I wish there would be other ones like this on other cultures because I enjoyed watching it because I felt like i wos there.
12/10/02 Maykou First, I would like to comment that it really touch me whatever I surf the internet, there are many information about the Hmong cultures or any news that has to do with the Hmong communities, because it tells me that someone out there is interested and willing to learn about the Hmong cultures or people. I feel that other ethnicity groups are not educated about the Hmong people. The Hmong's beautiful culture should be taught in school, for instance a history class. I personally feel that our past history should especially be known because the Hmong people did not get credit for fighting in the Vietnam War. The Hmong soldiers scrificed their lives to fight with the Americans at the time. I truly honor these that fought and maybe someday the Hmong people will be recognized for their great courage. Even though the Hmong people are living in the United States and being an American, I still think it is very important to keep your beliefs alive. We should always remember where we come from and why we are here. I personally think we can adapt to the American culture but remember to embrace the Hmong culture too. I truly feel that in the future to come, the young generations will forget about the Hmong traditions and will embrace the American life style more. From my personal experience, I am dating a Mexican person, but that doesn't mean I will forget about my culture. We should be willing and learn about other people's cultures but a person should never forget where he comes from. In addition, the younger Hmong generations doesn't know how valuable our religion is..."Shamanisn" and they should start learning now because they are our future.
11/18/02 I actually would just like to thank PBS and the contributors to this documentary. It really gave me a better understanding of my Hmong culture and our religious beliefs. This piece was able to provide better knowledge of why we are the way we are and also has given me a sense of belonging because someone now understands the Hmong ways of life. I hope understanding leads to acceptance into this mixing bowl of salad (the United States)because we did not jump into a melting pot.
10/9/02 I think this is one the best and very helpful sites yet. my father is a shaman, i respect him for it. it brings me great honor to say that my father is a shaman. i think shamans are what makes us who we are. it gives us an identity. i love this site. on behalf of your ques. i think that future generation hmongs are not going to keep this religion. i think that they think it is old, they want to lead an american like life so they would feel fit in their place. i personally think that we should keep it. in america we have the freedom of religion so why shove it away. soon our future children grandchildren will forget who they really are. i believe in shamanism. i know that it truly heals. from what i've seen from my father's experiences i have love for shamanism. it is who i am. i embrace all religions. no feeling of leaving behind anything.that will in turn leave me clueless in this world. this place of mine.
10/9/02 I believed that the future generations of Hmong Families should learned more about what they believed in. Due to the Faters/Mothers of Shaman families, they're our string of life. If we're off balance, they can get it right by going into the spritial world. Thanks to them, they brought us to this world in one leg.
9/24/02 traci_vaj@yahoo.com I THINK THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS OF HMONG AMERICANS WILL GO BOTH WAYS. SOME MAY STILL EMBRACE THEIR ANCESTORS' CULTURE AND SOME WON'T. I SAY THIS BECAUSE IT'S UP TO YOU TO MAKE THE DECISION OF WANTING TO LIVE UP TO THE CULTURE OR NOT. I PERSONALLY THINK THAT SHAMANISM HAS THE ABILITY TO HEAL. I'VE GROWN UP IN A FAMILY WHO BELIEVES IN SHAMANISM AND HAS LIVE WITH THAT CULTURE FOR A LONG TIME. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO PERSERVE THE CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF MY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, BUT AS A GIRL I DON'T HAVE MUCH SAYING OF WHAT I WANT TO BELIEVE IN. IN THE HMONG CULTURE YOU LIVE BY WHAT YOUR HUSBAND'S FAMILY BELIEVES IN AND THAT'S THE FINAL DECISION. I'VE HEARD OF 'THE SPLIT HORN' BY READING ARTICLES AND FORUMS, BUT I'VE YET TO SEE IT. I LIVE IN NORTH CAROLINA, AND I WAS WONDERING IF IT WAS AIRED HERE. WELL, IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFORMATION, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME. THANK YOU!!!
9/20/02 Ross Tice I am very close to several young Hmong-Americans, and have heard many people pronounce this word 'mung'. However, the Hmong people I know pronounce the word 'Mong'. I asked one of them specifically if he had ever heard his ethnicity pronounced 'mung' and he said he had not. So which is correct, or are both correct?
8/28/02 Maykou tsarine1st@hotmail.com While at work, I decided to check out some of the Hmong Websites to see what was out there. And there was a lot out there. While reading the comments on this page, I've just realized how out of touch I have been with my extended Hmong family, since Hmong are all related... As I went through the messages, I noticed one dated 2/4/02, where the person asked why there were Hmong who were blond with different skin tones. I don't know if this person knows but this condition is simply called Albinism, something with gene disfunction. So, no, these people are not abnormal and their parents have not stray from their bedrooms to sleep with the White man. It has to do with melanin or a lack of it rather. Another interesting message was the comment from Greg or Gary Meng Lee, who felt offended that the stereotype of Hmong marrying young would survive long after the show was over, and the responder who pretty much told him that Hmong marrying young was true and for him to shove it. I would like to say that I do agree that it does affect how the rest of the world perceive us Hmong, and that the negativity lingers long after the lights and cameras have been turned off, and the show is no longer airing. It is true that our parents married at a young age, but today, most of us would agree that young marriages are mostly mistakes made by strict parents who are ashamed of losing face. Our parents have yet to learn about dating, getting engage, splitting up, divorce, etc and that all these situations are not to be ashamed of. I think that the person who replied was truly too harsh on Mr. Lee. The responder failed to see what Mr. Lee was trying to say and I do agree with Mr. Lee, probably because I have seen a lot more stereotype, discrimination and prejucism towards us than the responder has ever experience.
8/26/02 Noel OrientDragon17@aol.com Hi I would like to comment on the person who said that shamanism is worshiping the devil....I truely think that that is a false comment or a very stero typed comment....I am Catholic and a Reiki Shaman, Most Shamans like myself draw power from the Devine Universal Source.....some people call it Heaven.....or some call it God....and I personally don't see the difference when I do Reiki for somebody....than when I would just pray for somebody. Yes some shamans who are bad may draw their powers from an evil source but what you said was very broad and NOT ALL SHAMANS DO THAT.....only bad ones.
8/6/02 pao X Yang Yes, I strongly believe shamanic ceremonies can heal people, not just a Hmong individual but any discipline person. This is a fact. I have personally witness a Hmong and a caucasian being effectively cure from a deadly sickness by a Shaman. I seriously believe both method should be used to full extent, leaving the choice to the patient and family members. If you don't believe it, you got to see it. I seriously believe that young Hmong generations will embrace their tradional culture. I've already witness a positive trend toward this view. There is significantly growing interested on the part of Hmong kids and parents in learning and studying traditional Hmong culture. There are also a growing interested in research work on the Hmong.Thanks to the support of the many Hmong scholars and organizations existed accross the United States.
7/29/02 David P. Yang dyang777@hotmail.com This is a very good and nice idea of telling the whole world about our "Hmong People". The matter of fact is we are poor immigrants from laos. We don't have anything in life except the power and love of our "Ancestors", and it really touches my heart how this film really directed. I hope that there will be more like this during the near future. I want my hmong people to grow up knowing the fact that we were from the "Mountains" and will always live our life as the "Hmong People". We never had land, money, clothes, and all the richness that a white man, had. But in our hearts we always had "LOVE". I will always love my HMONG PEOPLE until the day I DIED!!!!!
6/20/02 Mee Yang m_yang00@yahoo.com Do you think future generations of Hmong Americans will embrace their ancestors' culture? Why or why not? Although I cannot be certain about the answer to this question, I certainly hope so. I feel so lost now and it is so difficult to find information about the Hmong people, I can only imagine how much more difficult it will be for them if more documentaries are not readily available. Do shamanic ceremonies have the ability to heal? Should they be used along with traditional medicine? I believe that shamanic ceremonies work in the healing of the spirit. If the spirit is healthy then the physical body will also feel good. There are three different aspects that make the person whole--physical, mental, and spiritual, the spiritual being the hardest to work on because it cannot be seen and relies totally on faith. If the person who the ceremony is being performed on listens to the shaman and believes in the ceremony I think that he or she will feel better. SIDE NOTE:::: I was baptized into the Catholic faith when I was really young. My family is torn because half of is Traditional and my half is Christian. I don't see anything wrong with either and I believe in both. I think that as long as you believe, the one place we all end up going to in the end will be the same. I can't see God or the higher being out there telling the millions of Buddhist, Muslims, and other non-Christian that they can't go to heaven or nirvana because they have a different religion...I find that impossible and I can't see their religion as being wrong either :::: I think that traditional medicine is great because most is natural. Any type of natural medicine is better than the synthetic ones we get for our body as long as it is used in moderation. How important is it to preserve the cultural traditions of your parents and grandparents? Which tradition do you embbrace, and which do you leave behind? I believe that preserving our cultural traditions is VERY important. How will we ever learn about our roots if we don't? Even if we should choose not to follow some of the traditional teachings, it is still good to be knowledgeable of our past because that is something we cannot change. As a female, a couple things that I would like for us to learn from and change from the past is the practice of polygamy and the role of the women in the household. I think that with time this will happen on it's own because it is not accepted in this society.
6/18/02 I feel that Hmong people will become lost as I have in the United States. We will become like the American born Japanese who have lost their culture and language after a few generations. Hmong people will probably assimilate into mainstream society and forget their past. I think I will remember and teach my children how important the family as a unit is.
6/13/02 Ka Lee ka_l@hotmail.com Hi, my name is Ka Lee. And, I'm a Hmong. I'm a Social Science and Special Programs major. I will be teaching once I get my Master's Degree from California State University, Chico. And, after my Master's Degree, I will pursue my Ph.D. at the University of California, Davis. I have been doing research about the Hmong culture, tradition and religion. Do you think future generations of Hmong Americans will embrace their ancestors' culture? Why or why not? I found it out that a lot of the younger generation of Hmong don't know their culture, tradition and religion that much anymore. It has not been lost but it has been change to American culture. And, I can see that the older Hmong wants their children to hold on to their tradition and passed it down to their childrens and grandchildren but the younger generation of Hmong don't even know their culture anymore because they are adopted to the American culture. It's hard. Isn't it. Sad, but it's the truth. As for me, my parents never taught me about Hmong culture, and yet they want me to pass it down to my children and grandchildren. How will I do that if I was never taught the culture. Do shamanic ceremonies have the ability to heal? Should they be used along with traditional medicine? When I think about it, shamanic ceremonies doesn't have the ability to heal? My relatives lost a lot of their lives and when the healing ceremonies was performed, my relatives still died. The ceremonies doesn't work that often. Sometimes, it works, but not everytime. Why? Because, death is something that is huge and when it times, then it comes and take a member away. As for me, I'm a Christian now. And, it seemed like ever since I became a Christian, when I got sick, I was cure. There was no fear of death. I'm willing to die when death comes anyway. Should they be used along with traditional medicine? I think traditional medicine should be used along with the ceremonies because it's like an assistant or a backup helper. How important is it to preserve the cultural traditions of your parents and grandparents? Which traditions do you embrace, and which will you leave behind? As for me, I think it is very important to hold on to my tradition because if the younger generation of Hmong don't hold on to it, then they will lose it forever. Religion and tradition are two seperate things. However, since I was not taught the Hmong tradition, I had to do research to find out about it.
6/5/02 Matt Welter Welter_MT@co.brown.wi.us I just saw this film and could not believe how powerful it was. What really struck me was that its focus was on the father, a person who's significance and role is almost forgotten in white culture. The same thing is happening in this film, but in the end, the whole Hmong family comes together. I cried when the seed representing the father was not making it back to the hole with the rest of the family's. I would really like to see this film shown more than once this year. This is real family in a culture that is hard to understand for a traditional white culture. Our museum in Green Bay has an exhibit on math and culture coming up. It features Hmong paum daub. I would love to feature this film during the run of this exhibition. What would it take to have it shown here?
6/3/02 Shoua I am 29 years old and I respect my parents for what they believe in. I will always hold on to my culture and tradition and pass it on to my children. My dad is a Shaman and I do believe in shamanism. How can you not believe in it? There are a lot of things that I see my dad do that is unexplainable. For example, how can you as a person jump continuosly for 2-3 hours non-stop and not feel tired or unable to catch your breath afterwards. Some people don't seem to understand that shamanism is not used to cure physical health but spiritual health. Spiritual health can sometimes lead to physical health or mental health. In some situations, a person can use both. In Hmong tradition, a shaman is one who's greatly respected by his/her community, at least by the older generation now a day. I think that future generations will lose touch of their traditions and it is very important that we as parents should teach them everything that we know. Believe it or not, they may pretend like they don't listen but they do. Most children do not know how important their culture and traditions are until they are married and has a family of their own. That is when they start to appreciate their parents and their culture. It is important to move on and adapt but at the same time, it is very important to know where you come from to actually move on. Most youngster do not understand how rich their tradition is. I believe in Modern medicine, God and Shamanism. There's no harm in that. This is a plea to all you youngsters,"Please don't loose touch of where you come from because when you loose that you loose a part of yourself!"
5/29/02 Heather hthrlarson@earthlink.net Congratulations on this informative film. It was incredibly touching to see two extremely diverse cultures coexisting in a midwestern community like Appleton, Wisconsin. I am a white female who grew up in a small town just outside of Appleton, Wisconsin where this film was made. I remember in 1979 I was in the Fourth grade and two Hmong boys joined our class. The Appleton area was overwhelmingly white Christian back then and for the most part still is. I had never met an African American or Jewish person much less a Hmong person prior to the boys' arrival. I remember thinking one was kind of cute but they were so different. They were segregated from the rest of the class during social events. Children can be so mean. I never took the opportunity to get to know them. I wish we would have been shown a film such as The Split Horn to have better understood their culture. I am eager to learn more of this fascinating culture and hope to find more information at the library Thank you for airing this film.
5/13/02 Greg gregmlee@yahoo.com I'd like to comment to the person who replied to my post (see commment from 4/30/02). I humbly wonder why things are so obvious to you that I don't know the Hmong culture. I do not want to spark a heated fight in here especially among Hmong but... To have a young girl speak for the whole Hmong community and have those words from a young girl be the voice that speaks to a national audience on TV? Now you tell me how right or wrong that is. And especially when that young girl does not see the world of the Hmong outside of Appleton, WI. Now if she went to many communities and did some study and living then I would say she has a right to say some things authoritively about the community. My problem is that the producers did not know well enough to see that not every Hmong person feels it is OK to marry young or did they understand well enough that Paja's family and how his daughters got married was NOT the norm but actually abberations in the Hmong marriage ways. Don't you think and agree that most Hmong marriages these days are of two mature (over 18) adults and that they do care and love each other and that the young man's family comes to ask for her hand? I do know that young people marry and kidnap people to get married. However of every 1,000 marriages I would say that number is VERY LOW. What this documentary does is proliferate that stereotype that Hmong are "mystical" and "exotic" and that we have archaic customs. Yes, it happened in Laos but that is another time and a totally different place and world. I wish you'd see the harm in this and I wish that other Hmong could see how other people would view this documentary. I never said this was a horrible piece. I just had problems with some components. You can email me for clarification at gregmlee@yahoo.com.
5/13/02 Jamie jamied@us.net This was a wonderful film. Unfortunately, I missed the very ending as I was torn away by an episode on Nightline on the middle east conflict. I do hope it airs again soon. My congratulations to the filmaker for doing an excellent job.
5/9/02 I am very offended with the person who said that hmong people worship the devil if they practice shamanism. That statement is inapporiate and false. I believe that it does not matter if you believe in God or spirts because both regilion has to do with faith. God and your ancestors are not phyiscal forms that can change the everything for you. In life, you are the one and only person who can change your life, and sometimes somethings can not be changed. So it doesn't matter what your believe in because no regilion is superior to another. All regilions are important and should be respected. Furthermore, there is nothing wrong with believing in both regilions (Christian and Shamanism). What matters is how you use it to make your self a better person. Another comment to the person who wrote that only medicine can cure cancer and other diseases, that statement is not always ture because individuals respond to medicine differently. Some medicine might work for others and but not for everybody.
5/9/02 I would love to see this program re-broadcast so I could possibly share the experience with others. Over the last four years I have grown very close to some of these very special people here in Massachusetts. I have watched as they go about the day-to-day struggles to become a part of our society while retaining their own culture. There are to be more challenges on the horizon as the women in this culture strive for their role as do the children who are torn between the two worlds. I would love to hear some feedback if anyone would like to share their experiences with me.
5/6/02 Susan Bradley sfbradley1@aol.com Thank you PBS for airing this wonderful film and thanks to the filmmakers for putting your talents to such good use. And most of all thanks to the Thao family and the Hmong community for sharing their lives with us. I learned alot about a culture that I knew very little about. Hopefully future generations will retain much of its richness.
5/6/02 Chua Thao www.kaciethao@yahoo.com Well,I really think that this film is really about how Hmong people lived,and how to survive.I really think that they should do it again.So,that other more people can watch how our culture is.Because Hmong culture is like the best one in our Hmong life.To me when I had watch The Split Horn.It really touched my life.Even though I was not born in Laos or in Thailand.I do really have feelings for my Hmong people.when I was watching it,it made me realize that my parents were also both came from Laos and Thailand,and I had think back how they used to live.Even though I have'nt born yet.But I know that in our Hmong life.We can all help one and another and be kind to eachother.Because I know that alot of Hmong people had watch this film called The Split Horn,and they should realize how much their parents had done for them,and how they had wasted their time to raise some of you in Laos or in Thailand.
4/30/02 Kia Xiong laydee559@hotmail.com I was really glad to have seen this program. Many people are curious of what the Hmong culture and tradtion is. Many times when i was asked how and what do i practice, i would say Shamanism. when asked to describe it i had no clue where to start. this documentary sums it all up. the way many weddings arent planned, like how the americans plan there weddings(engadements) and how the funeral cermonies are. i totally agree with mrs. thao on her comment that if you go to church all they do is sing you songs and then thats it. i have nothing against people who have converted to the american religon (christianity) but i strongly feel that we should keep our tradtions alive. they way the funeral was documented was VERY accurate. i know that i learned a lot from that and now hopefully many others will understand the hmong way of sending the dead to there ancestors. i know that in fresno and around the valley, many funeral homes resent the fact that the hmongs want to give there loved one a proper buriel and sending them to there ancestors because theres so much to it. i know that when i die i want to be sent the hmong way to my ancestors .i give the Thao family a lot of props for letting them document there family and there way of life. i was sadden tho to know that at one point his older childern did not want to carry on the old tradtion. i feel that future generations will not embrace the old tradtion. i am sadden to see this because it is important that we keep our tradtion alive. i think the main cause is the fact that many are scared to be labeled different because of what we believe in. i am proud to say that i practice shamanism. i only wish that future generations will know how valuable our old tradtion is. i know that there is only small hmong population out there that still practices it. i dont think that the excuse "the hmong religion is too difficult to learn/practice" should be used as a barrier to not learn and practice the religion. yes, shamanism practices do heal. its just like other religions and beliefs. no one can live forever so it does fail at on point or another, but as long as your loved one knows that you have tried to save there life that is all that matters. it is very important for me to preserve my culture and religion. we are UNIQUE that what makes us stand out from the others. we need to be proud of who we are and where we come from.
4/30/02 I would like to make a comment for "Greg Meng Lee," some of the stuff you say is true. But some of the other stuff appears to be quite offensive to adults such as myself. There really is nothing wrong with the fact that young Hmong kids have something to say about their culture. Obviously you dont know much about the culture. What you say about young kids getting married, is actually a fact. Ask your parents how old they were when they got married. Back in Laos, that was how it was. I understand you are upset about this "sterotype" thing. But it was true. Remmeber that this was a documentary. You should be happy that at least young Hmong peoples are actually learning and producing this at the same time. You certainly do not got room to talk; putting these people down like that. I think they did an excellent job at it, and they should keep continuing what they do!
4/18/02 One aspect that the show clearly illustrate and pointed out was the preservation of a cultural identity--the Hmong. Coincidentally, the theme of the 7th Annual Hmong National Development Conference was the "Complexity of the Hmong Identity". Throughout the conference, participants, keynote speakers and presenters emphasized and re-emphasized the importance of knowing where you're coming and to never deviate from the fact that you are a Hmong. Like all participants, I clapped at every comment about preserving Hmong culture and identity but unlike most participants, I was in a zone of my own. As Shakespeare once wrote, "What is in a name?" It is simply a word attach to a group of people with similar values, beliefs, social status and culture. My mind began to wonder. People have a natural attachment and gravitation towards commonalities and similarities. If we're Hmong, we're more comfortable among Hmong. If we're African-American, we're more confortable among African-American? This simple logic lead me to one truth: why can't we think as though we are all a part of the HUMAN RACE, the one race that unites all of us. This simple truth is genetically engineered in all of us. As we grow, this truth is distorted and tarnished--look at little kids playing together, it doesn't matter whether they are black, red, yellow, etc. They play together, but no, not us ADULTS. Thus, we live a life of lies and distortions. Please guard the mind and filter out racial diseases. One day, from Hmong, we will elevate to to be Americans. From being an American, we elevate to being humans. I know that I will never live to see that day but I live it every day. I've learned to bleach away the racial impurities that blind us from peace and harmony. If I sound too idealistic, maybe it is because I am.
4/16/02 The time is well spent to create this movie. Although I think that it is not appropriate for the viewer because of the old Hmong tradition. I do know that most of the Hmong still believe their own ancestors but they worship the devil (ntxwgnyoog). The question I often asked myself was why can't Hmong worship their own ancestors instead of ntxwgnyoog. Thanks to the director who brought Christian faith in the split horn. The sad part was that the kids let the grandpa doing his thing for their kids. I don't believe true christian is doing that. 1. I don't think future generation even know their own ancestor. 2. It all depends on what you believe. How can a shaman heal someone who has cancer or brain disease? only the best medicine and God can only see inside of you. 3. Certain thing of the Hmong culture can be dropped. Respect for your elderly is a must that the Hmong should keep forever. If we don't have this, we may call our in-law by name.
4/16/02 Dorothy Vng vang_youa@hotmail.com to me, i think that it's pretty cool.. since i grew up in that way of life... i know us kids born in america probably will change the way of life.. but some will keep the old tradition... shamanism is a very freaky way to live your life though.. because there's so many things that you have to do.. it makes you believe that there are really ghosts and demons out there.. but really, there isn't.. it's what you believe and how you think that makes them appear... but for me, i don't believe in those things because it doesn't really appeal to me.. people say things that will scare you.. but it's not really true.. it's what you believe that will make you a stronger person to accept the new ways of life and the old ways....
4/12/02 All my life, I try to make sense of the world--religiously, politically, culturally, and economically. As my journey moves forward, I learn that there are certain moral and ethical principles and values that are upheld by every culture and individual--justice, liberty, truth and decency. Unfortunately, human greeds and selfishness deviate powerful individuals and leaders to taint and tarnish these values. Consequently, everyone happens to look different or practiced certain religion, for most part, based on categories created by men for simplicity and ease and through the natural process of human evolution--scientifically speaking. Too often, we don't take the time to examine what is similar among all of us--the need to be accepted, cherised and supported, just to name a few. Old Hmong traditions versus new Hmong traditions, elders versus youths, christianity versus Shamanism--lie in the heart of these conflicts is one simple truth--learn and take the time to understand. People just want to be heard and listened to. There is no greater importance than understanding the very fabric that makes us humans--emotions and understanding. Unfortunately, the time needed to get everyone to this stage varies among individuals. For those of us with the talent and skills to unite and move society along peacefully, plese continue to do so with passion and compassion. For those who struggling to understand their roles in society, continue to be hungry and seach for truth--the "real" truth.
4/12/02 Va Cheng chengboi17@hotmail.com Shamanism to me is that i do believe in it and at the same time i believe in Jesus Christ also. The reasons why I believe in Shamans is because some of it is unexplainable, but i am more towards GOD but i still do have my respect for my religion. First of all I am HMONG and second of all I do believe in my own culture. I know that the Hmong try so hard to fit in America but it is so hard due to the fact of the American laws. The regulations in America bring down our religion and culture, but the life of our people makes us rise higher and higher.
4/9/02 i believe that future generations will still embrace their ancestors' culture but not as much becaue we are in a different society and of course we can not do the same thing as we do in laos or thailand. will i believe that the shamanic ceremonies do heal us because that is what we believe in. i think that i would not hurt to use it along with medicine today, if our's don't work then use medicine. i believe that embracing the hmong culture is very important because we must know who we are inoder to live life and tell other people about your culture. some things that i would keep is the basic or normal style of the hmong culture, such as the tradition of the hmong marriage, but one thing that i would not embrace or follow i how the older brother dies and the sister in law is given to his younger brother. that is not approiate to this society and i believe that it should no longer carry out, another one is how many guys have two to three wivies. anyways this is how feel about the hmong culture, but over all i am glad to be one. i believe that this i a great site because it will teach us hmong teenagers a lot about culture taht we do not know.
3/22/02 Samara Lee samara_leester@hotmail.com Hello there... What I thought about this article is that it's a really neat thing to explain to other people who really wants to know about our culture... I'm totally surprised that the Thao family was willing to support us hmong people... And to stand up for us hmong... It was really sweet of the Thao family to make us hmong people stand out more... Thanks... And I'm wishing all the hmong people the best luck ever...
3/19/02 L. Vue I am an orphan, for i have no one left to teach me about hmong culture. My mother and father had died before i was even a teenager and I now live with my sister in OR. my sister and I live in a very small town with no contact of hmong people and therefore I know very little about my own hiertage. I am only 16 and would love to learn more about my ancestors. But when i think about it, i am so hurt that after my parents pasted i have been disowned and know i'm a lost child with nothing to believe in... that makes me wonder if being a Shaman is right for me.
3/14/02 I never seen the broadcast of this show. I live in Georgia. Maybe you guys can show it again. I moved here from Thailand when I was not even a year old yet. I don't remember much about Thailand. I agree that it is hard to be an Hmong American and also be a true Hmong. When we first arrive we lived in WI, and then moved to CA. We lived there for about 3 years and moved to GA. I have been living in GA for about 9 years now. Ever since we moved to GA, we didn't really live with Hmong people (with the expection of my sisters and her family and since there was not many Hmongs in Georgia at that time). We lived in a white neighbor, so therefore it was kind of hard to get to know any Hmongs so I made friends with white people (its not a bad thing) and went to school with them. Ever since then, for me, being around Hmong people had always made me nervous. I feel so much comfortable being around white people and not Hmongs. My asian boyfriend would always tease me and call me "white wash" because I hardly hang out with any Hmong/Asian people at all. So really the elders can't blame us(teenagers) for being so Americanize.
3/14/02 Yangster wushu_98@hotmail.com To all the kids out there who is caught up by religions. It is not that good to leave you family legend behind. I want to support the hmong kids who want to know more about their background, i will tried to help them get familiar to this religion. Great program i seen for a long time about Hmong.
3/11/02 Pa Kou Vang lilo_azn@hotmail.com Even though i was born in Laos... My family came to the United States when i was very young. I grew up here and ever sinceliving here I have been more Accoustomed to the American way of living. I'm very proud of being a Hmong girl. People say be proud of what your background is but then we are proud we get discriminated against. I'm very glad that we are doing this show.
3/11/02 I only caught the end of the broadcast and I would really appreciate it if you would air it again in southern california I live in the city of chino and dont quite know all of the stations that would air it but I would love to see it again being from a hmong family. Its nice to learn more about our culture. thank you
3/7/02 Lia Yang JENNYMVC@AOL.COM I am Hmong, and even though I was born in the U.S. I highly reccomend that there should be more sights on the vietnam war with the Hmong. I think that you guys did a really good job with the information, but there are so many Hmong people and other races too that want to know about the Hmong war but cannot find enough information, I think that this is a really interesting subject and that more people should know about the hmong, because if you were to right now go and ask a different race if they knew the race hmong, most of them would be asking what it is. Thanks
3/5/02 Michelle Her heavenly_girl2@hotmail.com I was born in america and was raised as a christian. My parents are confused about who to trust and who to believe. Because they were brought up to know the culture and they had lived up to it they seem to be confused. Growning up as a hmong american is kinda hard for me because I'm living in two kind of belief and not only that, two world. Since that I begin to understand my true belief, as a christianity, Shamanism is a life that I do not want to live by. I live my life as a christian because I was baptized and being part of God's life makes me feel happier and opened. I don't hate or dislike shamanism, but i think that how i was brought up or how i was raised, is what I will go along with for the rest of my life. I don't want to have two Godess or two Gods. So if i had to choose between christianity and shaman, I will certainly choose chrisitanity. I know that shaman can heal and miracles can happen but it only happen to certain people. Living in America is all about freedom. We should let everyone believe what they want to believe. America is a new world, a new start, a new life, and a new begining for all of us. What we believe will not change the fact that we are all hmong. As long as we, hmong people, are happy then nothing shouldn't matter. Who we are inside is different from who we are outside, so we can not judge either way. However, we must teach our children about our culture but don't pressure them into a belief they don't want to believe. We must also teach our children about being Hmong and how the society works.
3/2/02 Peb yeej paub lawm hais tias nij cov me nyuam no dag xwb nij yeej tsis quav ntsej txog peb hmoob tej kev cai li. txawm li cas los thov tsis txhob mus yuav asmekas xwb thiab thov hlub nij niam nij txiv xwb ces tau lawm.
2/25/02 chai lee cauis_lee@hotmail.com I never saw the documentary but from the display i wish PBS would show it on the air again. I am a faithful hmong follower of Hmong Tradition and love any sorts of media or information on Hmong. This seems like a good film. Hopefully i'll see it soon. Pro shamanism, Chai lee
2/19/02 PLEASE MAKE A documentary/research on hmong people and their ANCIENT history!! THere's soo many questions..and A lot of hmong people don't know their OWN history, and place of origin! half the hmong pop. thinks we originated from Laos which is not true at all. I think this would be an AWSOME documentary that could go really far. By far, i think we are the most mysterious people yet! the caucasion features..the language...we're as different as different gets. and btw AIR split horn in MN PLEASE!
2/12/02 Wendy wendy0317@juno.com I just viewed this captivating story late last night. I was very touched by the events that unravelled and was brought to tears by the "realness" of this family's saddness and search. I am a caucasian American, however, I enjoy learning the aspects of other cultures and was moved by the strength of the father in this family. I really felt how hard it must be to try and hold onto a culture in the midst of "American" upbringing for these children. I give a standing ovation to the parents of these children for trying to have them hold a piece of their heritage close to their hearts. Keep being strong, for this is what your children will take with them forever...your strength and love for your culture.
2/11/02 pang xiong www.baby-angel56@hotmail.com I want to know more hmong cultures by taking more hmong pictures in the old days and some from the new day. But i just hope that in the future our hmong pride will raise ourname up high to let everyone know that we aren't as stupid as they think we are. I'll always represents my traditions for-ever and pass it on to all my children.but I'm say that I rather leave the american tradition behind. love hmong Pang xiong
2/4/02 i would like to know why there's hmong people with blonde hair and nice, tan skin color. we are the only asian race that is like that. i come to think we weren't even asains from the frist place. i read a book about hmong people and they did a statistics on all the asian race in southeast asia and hmong people came the closest with european features. i would like to know why......
1/31/02 This movie is very interesting. It takes a lot of guts to do something like this. You guys are very brave and had the courage of making a movie that will be remembered forever. Keep up the work.
1/16/02 Thomas Vue This film is excellent and it reaches out to whomever is questioning about how the future is going to be like for us younger generation. Now is the time to learn and listen. Sometimes I wonder how I'm going to answer my kids when they question me about the hmong tradition and culture. Thats why I take my time now whenever im off from school to learn. I sit there and talk to my parents and talk to the elders on the history and traditional way. Just by listening to their story and learning the traditional ways makes you wonder about the future. Pretty soon the elders are going to leave us then we have no choice. It's either go to church or you don't. This is what i believe in. We cant let our culture disappear.
1/14/02 Thaj Yeeb Lauj plor626@uwsp.edu Nyob zoo ib tsoom phooj ywg sawvdaws. Kuv yog Thajyeeb, muaj 21 xyoos nyob rau University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. Kuv zoo siab uas tau hnov txog nej cov tswv yim uas hais txog peb HMOOB lij liam kev cai. Ua ntej no kuv xav tias nej txhua lub tswv yim zoo tag nrho, tiam sis nej yuav tsum nco ntsoov tias peb yog HMOOB, peb coj txawv dua lwm haiv neeg, peb qhov lij liam kev cai yog peb li own identity los yog peb li ntiag tug. Txawm nej yuav mus ua lwm yam religion los qhov no tsuas yog ib lub tswv yim rau nej ntseeg xwb, thiab tsuas yog ib pawg ua kom nej muaj chaw tig thaum nej muaj kev ploj kev tuag. Obviously you don't want to be stuck with no religion. Thov kom peb cov tub hluas ntxhais hluas los yog nej cov scolars to taub tias yog nej tsis rov los mus rhiav nej li HMOOB identity ces luag yuav tsis pom nej muaj nuj nqis. We cannot compare the Hmong to the European because we don't look like them. They fit into the name of American but we only be fit as "Asian American" regardless of how long we live in this country. Let us remember that we are not came from European. For me I am proud to be a Hmong and my traditional cultures are great. To those who thinks Hmong culture is too hard, in life nothing is easy. If you want things to get better, you have to work harder. I want to thanks to all the Hmong children or youths who work so hard to maintain our culture and tradition. I believe that they will make the different for the Hmong society and to the mainstream culture.
1/9/02 Tim vue I believe that we all have to have some sorts of faith. It doesn't matter what religion we believe in, as long as that religion makes us feel safe and provides peace for our minds and souls, that is what count.We need to acknowledge that this country is very different from Loas in many ways that we can't continue to practice our trations in the exact manner. As long as we able to adjust and adapt, we will survive and able to continue our tradition that we have enjoyed for hundreds of years. Remember the dinousaus and learn from them.. When one carries his/her belief too extreme, one will end up damaging that belief instead of helping it to flourish and grow. The key to survival here is how well one can adjust and adapt to the new environment. The sooner, one can blend herself/himself with the new world, the better one's life will be. Keeping an opened mind and nonjudgmental communication is the tool to link the old and young hmongs together. Try to create a smooth communication line in your house wtih each other earlier to avoid collision and disappointment later. The reason why we have such resentment from our parents is because we never communicate well with them in the first place. That's why they disprove everything that we do. So to continue practicing shamanism, or not to is your call. You make the judgment. It is your car, please don't let anyone drive recklessly around or you will get trouble if you know what i mean...
1/9/02 Paaj Xyooj I might of not been rised Chirstian but I do believe in Juses Chirst. One thing that hasn't changed is that I am a Shaman beliver. My parents alwayed told me don't be a imberiest of your culture because that is who you are. To tell the truth I was imberisted when I told my friends that was white or black that I wasn't Chirstian, Jew, Hindu, etc. I told them that I was Shaman I thought they would laugh but they didn't. Ever since then I stated to Shaman. I might of not been born in Laos or Thailand but I do know the pain that each one of them feel. Each time I see a movie about the Vietnam War I cry because I know what pain and suffering they are going through because my parents goes through that each day of there life. They came here and so did each and eveyone of your parents came here as Shaman believer. Then they converied to Chirstian. It not that I have a problem with it but their always saying I want you to be more Hmong than American. One reason why shaman society is decreaing is because everyone is converding to Chirtian and are religion is going down the drain with it too. Me I love Hmong I have so much Hmong pride in me people think I am crazy but I mean there is not much of around so that people well who we are. So all of us got to rise up and speak for ourself. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that even if you are Chirstian or Shaman we are all still Hmong and we would always have to carrie that on to the next generation of life.
1/9/02 nancy mai vang i, as a young adult in this new world am torn as well between knowing what to be...i on the other hand am not in america but in canada where there is such a big dilemma in being christian or sticking with the old tradition..which we so very few hmong even know any more..
1/7/02 kab thoj I have not had the opportunity to see this documentary yet but it sounds very interesting. I believe that it is very important for future generations to embrace their ancestor's cultures. I understand that it may be difficult to comprehend the reasons when you are young. But as you get older, you will see why you must keep the culture alive and teach it to your children. Our culture is who we are, it's what makes us unique.
1/03/02 Zouapaj Moua I think that it is important tp respect your culture and to be proud of it. I am proud to be hmong and and that we have wonderfull beliefs.it's really greaat to pass on your culture so that we don't forget who we are.when I grow up and have kids i am going to teach them as much as i can about our hmong culture.SO REMEMBER TO PASS ON YOUR CULTURE AND BE PROUD OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!
12/20/01 Va Vang I have not seen this movie, but by the sound of it. It sounded interesting. Shamanism is just like any other belief. It doesn't make any different if you believed in it or not. It's something that was created to stimulate the mind and nurture the spirit of being human. Somebody got to believe in something or eveybody will go insane.
12/07/01 Ia Yang I must say that I am proud to be hmong and to know that I still have kept my culture at it's usual place. I have seen so many hmong students not having knowledge of their culture and tradition. It's sad sometimes to know that we are losing our culture and tradition already.
11/29/01 Linda Yang I happen to cross this page in doing a research for a paper on Hmong. Like these children, I am very much americanized yet at the same time, I've always have a strong belief and awareness of being Hmong and shamanism. I do not discourage those that follow christianity, but I believe in Shamanism very much and would not mind begin one and having the ability to experience and even learn greater about our culture. It is not better to say that Christianity is better than Shamanism or that we should take one route than the other. I grew up with shamanism as my culture and all my friends around me did as well. I've too acustomed to change and looking from a parent's point of view, it is sad that childrens are not following traditions. I don't think that "Shamanism" or the "Hmong Culture" are not popular, but that childrens are so consumed with growing up in America and facing their own problems that we just overlook and forget our own culture. Parents frown upon this and we are tired of this naggings. But I think one of the biggest setbacks for the Hmong generation is the ways in which p arents and children communicate and comprehend with each other. Not being in the United States long, it shouldn't be surprising the fear of doctors from parents and why they would rather turn to their ways of shamanic cures. Even with my major and love for science and medicine, I do believe that it does have the ability to heal for I have seen many miracles and cure come along with ceremonies. Right now it's hard to say whether future hmong generation will embrace the ancestor's culture, more likely it seems to be a "no" right now. But who knows, maybe in the future we'll realize how unique we are and maybe uproar of being cultured will occur and we'll realize the beauty of our culture. However being in a different setting such as in America, culture and traditions will continue to change regardless of how hard we try to keep it the same. Lastly, I think that it is extreme ly important that we preserve our tradition because that's the only way in which we can learn to accept and truly understand and appreciate our history, our parents and the ways in which we are HMONG.
11/28/01 kabor xyooj i don't really care if we believe in shaman or christianity .. because i belive that we are all hmong..
11/27/01 Neng I'm 29 years old. I came to the US when I was 4. Can't remember anything of the old country and didn't care. Hmong Culture is too difficult to understand, too many rules. This is how I felt growing up. Now that I'm older and married with children. I search for answers to my families past. I'm not going to give up christianity, but I do want to keep the non-religious part of the culture alive. I want to teach it to my children and their children. Even if they don't follow it, I believe they should at least understand it and know that this is where they came from.
11/26/01 Sandy Xiong I have not seen this film, but I am interested in seeing it. Just from the description of what it was about...I do not think it was fair the way Mr. Thao's children were described. Being a teenager torn between different religions and traditions/culture is difficult. But anyways, hopefully this would be aired some time soon in North Carolina.
11/19/01 Cher Vue I think is important for the young teengers like us to re-practice ours culture and traditional ways of living. I believe that we should not get up ours culture because in the future, when other people ask us who we are and we can not answer their question. The other nation or people will think that we a piece of shit.
11/08/01 merria yaj Crescent City I think that shaman works if you deeply believe it. I really don't think that we can use it as medicine because it doesn't work. For example, my father died in 1995 because of Hepatitus and my mom found many shamans but they didn't cure his sickness. He died anyway. I truly believe that sooner or later the Hmong are going to believe in Christianity because shamans aren't that popular anymore these days or at least that is what I think. I am now married to a christian and I have two kids so I am going to teach my kids about Christianity but when they grow older, they can choose what they want to believe in.
11/08/01 Tim Lee This documentary was very well done. I myself am a Hmong American born here in California in the 80s. I can identify with the characters in the documentary because I myself am losing contact with the language and customs. Also raised as a protestant Christian through my father, Reverend John Chong Lee, it was very strange to attend school in the Bay Area, CA with other Hmong students who spoke the language very well, in different dialects, and who did not regularly or at all attend protestant church services. They would look at me, a 6 ft tall Hmong person who spoke very good english, little Hmong, very assimulated, as an outsider. Thanks to a documentary such as this one, we can look into the culture that surrounds the Hmong people, split between keeping the traditions alive and the mixing of American ideals. Seeing the Hmong people on screen was a very familiar feeling.
11/06/01 yuli This is probably one of the best documentary on Hmong people that I have ever seen. It is very rare to see a documentary about the Hmong people. This one portayed the struggle between the Hmong and Americcan culture very well. It explained many aspects of the Hmong culure as well as exposing the families struggle to understand one another. Im glad hat I ran into this program tonight. I hope it opens the eyes of people who do not know much about Hmong people and their culture. I also hope that it opens the eyes of many Hmong people also. This documentary showed the views from both sides of the parents and children. Alot of Hmong families struggle in similar ways..and I am glad that PBS caught this on tape! Thank You!
10/05/01 Kang Pha The Hmong are only in their second generation. It will take a while for the Hmong children to feel that they have acculturated. The third or fourth generations will then look back to traditional culture. But it may take a long period of time. Take a look at the Euro-Americans. They no longer call themselves Europeans because they have lived here in America for so long. Younger generations of Americans are tracing their family culture back to a European ancestry. When referring to Americans, usually they appear to be of stereotype of White men, women, and Children. If you take a look at the prejudice and discrimination of certain cultures there would be an understanding why the Colonial Englishmen/Americans do not want o be affiliated with the English. Now the American s are doing the same with the Hmong, prejudice and discrimination. There shouldn't be a question of why the Hmong are acculturating to the American culture. |
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