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On Saturday, November 1, 1997 at 12:00:00 AM UTC-8, HNDLINK wrote:
> Hmong National Development staff in Washington DC feel that it is important to
> reprint this letter because it still carries great relevance for us today, as
> we appreciate his hopes and dreams for the Hmong and Lao. From the "Hmong
> Voices in Montana" by the Missoula Museum of the Arts Foundation. Susan
> Lindbergh Miller, Bounthavy Kiatoukaysy Thao, Tou Yang, editors. 1992.
>
>
>
> A Letter From Jerry Daniels (1941-1982)
>
> CIA Ethnic Affairs Officer in charge of Highlander and Lao Refugees
> Excerpted from a letter to his Hmong friends in Namphong refugee camp,
> Thailand,
> December 31, 1975 for the first Hmong New Year after the fall of the Lao
> government to the Communists and the subsequent American withdrawal from Laos.
>
> Please allow me this opportunity to wish all of you the best of luck and the
> happiest New Years for 1976. While to many of you the future looks bleak and
> discouraging, I am confident the Hmong people, provided with the adequate
> resources, can and will start a new and interesting life this year...
>
> I believe the future life seeds to be planted this year during the Hmong
> resettlement and readjustment to the changing times, should not scatter you in
> mind and heart, but rather should result in better educating and preparing
> your future generations on how to best cope with the ever changing world
> situations as they apply to the Hmong.
>
> This is not accomplished by striving for the same old things of yesteryear, or
> caring only about your individual needs. But rather by collectively looking
> ahead, and in addition to maintaining your same basic traditional ways of
> life, you also expand horizons through further education, travel, acquiring
> new skills and interests, etc...
>
> By following that road which expands wisdom and following that road only can
> the proud Hmong name and heritage survive with dignity...
>
> I hope you all believe me when I say that your welfare has always been, is now,
> and will always continue to be of the highest priority interest for me and my
> fellow
> USA co-workers. I still remember that I and perhaps other americans who are
> representatives of the United States government, have promised you, the Hmong
> People, that if you fight for us, if we win, things will be fine. But if we
> lose, we
> will take care of you...
>
> Admittedly we may not always be able to assist you as much as we would like,
> however when we fall short it certainly is not because of forgetting or not
> trying, two things that none of us who have lived with you will ever be guilty
> of for the remainder of our days.
>
> Again, Happy New Year, and the very best of luck for all of the Hmong, not only
> this year but for many thousands to come.
>
> Warmest Regards,
>
> Jerry
On Saturday, November 1, 1997 at 12:00:00 AM UTC-8, HNDLINK wrote:
> Hmong National Development staff in Washington DC feel that it is important to
> reprint this letter because it still carries great relevance for us today, as
> we appreciate his hopes and dreams for the Hmong and Lao. From the "Hmong
> Voices in Montana" by the Missoula Museum of the Arts Foundation. Susan
> Lindbergh Miller, Bounthavy Kiatoukaysy Thao, Tou Yang, editors. 1992.
>
>
>
> A Letter From Jerry Daniels (1941-1982)
>
> CIA Ethnic Affairs Officer in charge of Highlander and Lao Refugees
> Excerpted from a letter to his Hmong friends in Namphong refugee camp,
> Thailand,
> December 31, 1975 for the first Hmong New Year after the fall of the Lao
> government to the Communists and the subsequent American withdrawal from Laos.
>
> Please allow me this opportunity to wish all of you the best of luck and the
> happiest New Years for 1976. While to many of you the future looks bleak and
> discouraging, I am confident the Hmong people, provided with the adequate
> resources, can and will start a new and interesting life this year...
>
> I believe the future life seeds to be planted this year during the Hmong
> resettlement and readjustment to the changing times, should not scatter you in
> mind and heart, but rather should result in better educating and preparing
> your future generations on how to best cope with the ever changing world
> situations as they apply to the Hmong.
>
> This is not accomplished by striving for the same old things of yesteryear, or
> caring only about your individual needs. But rather by collectively looking
> ahead, and in addition to maintaining your same basic traditional ways of
> life, you also expand horizons through further education, travel, acquiring
> new skills and interests, etc...
>
> By following that road which expands wisdom and following that road only can
> the proud Hmong name and heritage survive with dignity...
>
> I hope you all believe me when I say that your welfare has always been, is now,
> and will always continue to be of the highest priority interest for me and my
> fellow
> USA co-workers. I still remember that I and perhaps other americans who are
> representatives of the United States government, have promised you, the Hmong
> People, that if you fight for us, if we win, things will be fine. But if we
> lose, we
> will take care of you...
>
> Admittedly we may not always be able to assist you as much as we would like,
> however when we fall short it certainly is not because of forgetting or not
> trying, two things that none of us who have lived with you will ever be guilty
> of for the remainder of our days.
>
> Again, Happy New Year, and the very best of luck for all of the Hmong, not only
> this year but for many thousands to come.
>
> Warmest Regards,
>
> Jerry
On Saturday, November 1, 1997 at 12:00:00 AM UTC-8, HNDLINK wrote:
> Hmong National Development staff in Washington DC feel that it is important to
> reprint this letter because it still carries great relevance for us today, as
> we appreciate his hopes and dreams for the Hmong and Lao. From the "Hmong
> Voices in Montana" by the Missoula Museum of the Arts Foundation. Susan
> Lindbergh Miller, Bounthavy Kiatoukaysy Thao, Tou Yang, editors. 1992.
>
>
>
> A Letter From Jerry Daniels (1941-1982)
>
> CIA Ethnic Affairs Officer in charge of Highlander and Lao Refugees
> Excerpted from a letter to his Hmong friends in Namphong refugee camp,
> Thailand,
> December 31, 1975 for the first Hmong New Year after the fall of the Lao
> government to the Communists and the subsequent American withdrawal from Laos.
>
> Please allow me this opportunity to wish all of you the best of luck and the
> happiest New Years for 1976. While to many of you the future looks bleak and
> discouraging, I am confident the Hmong people, provided with the adequate
> resources, can and will start a new and interesting life this year...
>
> I believe the future life seeds to be planted this year during the Hmong
> resettlement and readjustment to the changing times, should not scatter you in
> mind and heart, but rather should result in better educating and preparing
> your future generations on how to best cope with the ever changing world
> situations as they apply to the Hmong.
>
> This is not accomplished by striving for the same old things of yesteryear, or
> caring only about your individual needs. But rather by collectively looking
> ahead, and in addition to maintaining your same basic traditional ways of
> life, you also expand horizons through further education, travel, acquiring
> new skills and interests, etc...
>
> By following that road which expands wisdom and following that road only can
> the proud Hmong name and heritage survive with dignity...
>
> I hope you all believe me when I say that your welfare has always been, is now,
> and will always continue to be of the highest priority interest for me and my
> fellow
> USA co-workers. I still remember that I and perhaps other americans who are
> representatives of the United States government, have promised you, the Hmong
> People, that if you fight for us, if we win, things will be fine. But if we
> lose, we
> will take care of you...
>
> Admittedly we may not always be able to assist you as much as we would like,
> however when we fall short it certainly is not because of forgetting or not
> trying, two things that none of us who have lived with you will ever be guilty
> of for the remainder of our days.
>
> Again, Happy New Year, and the very best of luck for all of the Hmong, not only
> this year but for many thousands to come.
>
> Warmest Regards,
>
> Jerry
Is there a physical copy of this letter anywhere?