Here’s a look at what several in our online community had to say about a Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011 special report by Staff Writer Andy Cullen examining 10 years of African immigration to Lewiston.
“Multiculturism is pretty new to this area. Ten years is not a long time. So it isn’t surprising to find some people who cannot deal with it. Prejudice and bigotry is not an intellectual exercise. The biggest bigot in the world knows it is wrong intellectually . . . ” — Claire Gamage of Lewiston.
“Tremendous, tremendous work, Andy. Some of those photographs are equally stunning. A really telling statement from Mr. Ahmed: “We want our children to keep our cultural heritage,” Ahmed said. “We don’t want to lose (the language, the dress code).” I wouldn’t be surprised if you found these words verbatim spoken by a French Canadian community leader in the 1920s. The French in our community were able to keep their language for about two or three generations after that . . .” — Shane Morin, Cambridge, Mass.
“Maybe it would have been a more interesting story if you had written about a young person who left the city and came back to own and operate a business. Or maybe it would have been a better story if you had interviewed people who had lived in the same neighborhoods as the Somalis. Things are not as rosy as this story makes it out to be . . .” — Tina Hutchinson, Lewiston.
“Tina, I live downtown and let me tell you white kids are just as much problem as Somali kids. So, sure there are problem Somali kids, but there are a huge number of white kids who are bullies, uneducated, and promiscuous, too.” — Jake Paris, Lewiston.
“While yours was a story of just a few people, it tells the story that I have seen time and again in the time I have spent in Lewiston. Hold your heads high Lewiston, be proud of your diversity, and seize the opportunity to make a reputation of a kind and loving community.” — Terry Donald, Litchfield
“Here goes the “Progressives” with their divisions again. They just don’t seem to get that “race” has nothing to do with it and keep driving that wedge!” — Jim Cyr, Auburn.
In a sidebar story on the costs the city has face in assisting Somali refugees Ernest Labbe of Oxford wrote: “I love how politicians talk about federal funding like it is money that is picked off a tree somewhere. Federal funding is our money, folks, taken from us by income taxes and other hidden taxes.”
“Wow, I wish I could move to Maine again as a refugee! I’d be able to collect $3,600 cash up front and get paid to be here for eight months without having to work a day! Must be nice. This doesn’t include EBT (electronic benefits transfer), food stamps, housing and a car to drive around either. The new American Dream!” — Mike Lachance, Lewiston.
Have your say and get your voice heard on the web and in print — register to comment online at www.sunjournal.com.
Some comments have been edited for length, punctuation and spelling.
Comments are no longer available on this story