How Minnesotans (including liberals and blacks) feel about Somalis

Robert B. in Minnesota writes:

Regarding the entry, “The growing threat posed to America by Minnesota men,” no one in Minnesota considers Somalis to be Minnesotan, rather we view them as something alien thrust upon us. This includes American blacks as well as thinking Democrats. The Somalis were brought here by, specifically, Lutheran Social Services, Catholic Charities and Jewish Community Services. None of us like them and all of us wish they would leave. They are a hate filled people who cannot get along with anyone including their fellow Africans.

LA replies:

So, everyone in Minnesota thinks this way. I’m glad to hear it. But now tell me, how many people in Minnesota have expressed these thoughts openly and publicly? Because in politics, it’s only what you say publicly that counts.

Now I’m not denying the almost insuperable difficulties faced by anyone who tried publicly to state the kind of opinion you say all Minnesotans hold. Newspapers would not allow opinion pieces, or even letters to the editor, that said such things about Somalis, and anyone would gave a public speech along these lines would likely find his career and his place in society in jeopardy. The fact nevertheless remains that unless the people of Minnesota find some way of expressing their opinion about Somalis publicly, and in a way that makes an impact, their opinion means very little. It adds up to nothing more than grumbling around the water cooler or in the anonymous, disregarded comments sections of newspaper websites.

Robert writes:

Almost everyone I talk to—whether black or white, most especially blacks. This includes a 12 time Democratic Farm-Labor party chairman, a former head of intake at Hennepin County Human Services (Minneapolis), school principals, and my very liberal neighbors. In short, everyone but the diversity apparatchiks. People have spoken up openly in community meetings, sporting events, grocery shopping, political gatherings, etc. The Somalis are so rude, arrogant, threatening, and violent that it is difficult to comprehend. They actually call American blacks the “N” word in public. Their driving is even overtly aggressive. It truly is as if these people came from another planet.

LA replies:

Fascinating.

(Hmm, but that makes me sound like a certain someone from another planet.)

- end of initial entry -

Julian C. writes:

You wrote:

“But now tell me, how many people in Minnesota have expressed these thoughts openly and publicly? Because in politics, it’s only what you say publicly that counts.”

In 2005 an Australian legal academic actually did just that. Associate Professor Andrew Fraser wrote a letter to his local newspaper about the folly of accepting Sudanese and other African refugees. Because he was an academic he attracted considerable media attention. A phone poll (which had 35,000 callers) conducted by Channel 9’s A Current Affair showed that 85 per cent of the audience agreed with him.

And in 2007 the Australian government did reduce its intake of refugees from Africa, with the Immigration Minister commenting:

“I have been concerned that some groups don’t seem to be settling and adjusting into the Australian way of life as quickly as we would hope and therefore it makes sense to put the extra money in to provide extra resources, but also to slow down the rate of intake from countries such as Sudan.”

See this, this, and finally this (a very reasonable interview by Radio National).

April 29

A reader writes:

Hussein Abdi Hassan is obviously an Anglo name, possibly Welsh. Dearborn, Michigan is full of Welshmen.

Kidist Paulos Asrat writes:

I really don’t think that Somalis are “hate filled people,” although I can understand the frustration your correspondent feels. I actually think they are pretty happy-go-lucky, supremely self-confident people. They certainly have aggressive personalities, and will go after what they want, which often really boils down to some kind of survival needs like food, housing (the biggest users of public housing in Toronto are Somalis, who come with huge families, often eight or more living in small apartments), schooling, etc. I never see them in leadership positions, but they are certainly vocal and loud when it comes to “rights” etc. Often, they are satisfied with very little, materially speaking.

But they are Muslim first, and some of the infamous “Toronto 18” who were caught planning jihadi attacks around Toronto and Ottawa are Somali.

Of course, with their increased numbers, and increased contact, life becomes uncomfortable and even dangerous, around them, and not only because they are Muslim. They are very prominent in the downtown area in Toronto—the women are distinct in their long dark robes (something like this) and their dark skin, and while the men are less traditional, they can often be identified by their behavior. They seem to like Ethiopians (perhaps the only non-Somalis which, for some reason, they have decided to like), and they are often charming and friendly, at least to me. But they are very cliquish, living (and moving) in large groups.

Bill Carpenter writes:

See this article, “Minnesota’s Somali Madness.”

Posted by Lawrence Auster at April 29, 2011 01:49 AM | Send