Something Rotten in Denmark and Minneapolis

Submitted by Barbara (United States), Jun 13, 2003 at 14:07

I live in a neighborhood of immigrants, starting with Scandanavians in the early 1800's. The faces and countries have changed, but with little, if any impact until recently. For some reason Minneapolis has been the "destination" of Somalian immigrants. Thousands of them have recently moved to public housing near where I live. The neighborhood has for the first time, not improved with a new influx of refugees. The men do stand on the sidewalk, not just teens, all males. They stand in a group of from 3-8 and do not move for anyone, male or female, even when there is a "patio" adjacent for them to gather at. It is the rudeness that I cannot deal with. The majority of them are fairly new to driving. Unfortunately for us, they become Taxi Drivers. The rules of the road, and courtesy seem to have not been taught to most.

They refuse to signal for turns, they run stop light and signs, and park in the middle of the street for a "chat". They park in the street rather than on the curb to wait for a fare, and give you dirty looks when you lightly honk for them to "please pull over".

There is also a problem with what they choose to do with garbage. Every day I see within a few blocks, about 10 spots near a curb with a large pile of assorted restaurant/take out food boxes, cups and bags. They simply pull over and clean out their vehicles in the street.

A month ago there was a Somalian man kicked out of a local bar. He was arguing with the "bouncer" and 40 Somalian teens came to his aid. They were armed with 2 x 4 lengths of wood and tire irons. The employee was hospitalized, and a patron of the bar assisting him was also injured. Not surprisingly nothing was written about it in the local press as it surely would have been seen as "anti-immigrant, Muslim, etcc..

In the last 6 months there have been at least 10 incidents of groups of 3 or more Somali "gang members" committing aggrivated assaults while mugging strangers.
The police have decided not to identify the "boys" as Somalian, as it would cause a problem in the "community".

I say classes in American culture and language should be required for 1 year. Regardless of immigration status:ie; refugees, I believe Somalian refugees need to learn to be civil much more than the previous cultures that have immigrated here. Lessons in common decency, ettiquitte etc. would help our acceptance of these 3rd world new members that have come to our "so politically correct city."

We have become so politically correct, we cannot tell the truth anymore. I have to say it but, some folks should not live in the United States.

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