Here is a short article re-published at a Somali website from the Christian Science Monitor about how everything is settling down in Lewiston, Maine with its population of thousands of Somalis “integrating” into the local Maine population.
CSMonitor – LEWISTON, MAINE – Much has been made of the transformation of this former mill town from one of America’s whitest cities to a place where 1 in 10 residents is of Somali descent.
Since the first Somali refugees settled here eight years ago, almost every national media outlet has visited. Early accounts portrayed Lewiston as racist after the then-mayor issued a letter asking the Somalis to stop coming.
Others then lauded the city’s tolerance as groups rallied to support the émigrés. The reality was more complicated. Talk still centers on the media’s narrow portrayals. “People do come with preconceptions,” says city official Phil Nadeau.
[…..]
Challenges remain. Unemployment is high, and much of the money that flows from the Somali community originates in food stamps and general assistance.
Even so, Mr. Nadeau says the city is weathering the recession well. Over time, the residents – native Mainers and Somali alike – have gotten to know each other and forged a community.
Funny, that’s not what I am hearing from Lewiston residents who write to me!
And, then be sure to check out the list of linked stories, it’s all the positive ones! Not a mention of the brouhaha over Newsweek’s one-sided protrayal, or the recent federal raid on a home care agency, or the altercation at a recent school meeting.
Maybe there was more to the original Christian Science Monitor story and this publication only posted the portion it wanted. But what you see above is the story most mainstream reporters want you to see. I guess that is one of the reasons we are here! One can’t reform refugee resettlement unless the public learns about all sides of this issue. Since the mainstream media (aka state run media) publishes only one side, it’s our job to get the other side out! Afterall, somebodies got to do it!
Note to new readers:
The US State Department has admitted over 80,000 Somali refugees to the US in the last 25 years and then last year had to suspend family reunification because widespread immigration fraud was revealed through DNA testing.