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Writer's pictureJodi Rae

Laos and its Civil War


I did not understand much of history, any of it. It was very intimadating to me.


When the Laos war really came to me was in 1985. I was pregnant with Jasmine, Joe and I were married in April of that year. A family who were just from Laos moved in downstairs. A young husband and wife, she was only 20 years of age, her name I remember to be Mi maybe My. I recall her talking to me about how many sons she had. Five. Oh boy! I asked her if she'd used birth control. She stated she did try but it gave her such headaches. I consider that now. How did she obtain birth control pills in Laos.


When they moved in below us they did not have much furnishings. The boys for five were really actually well behaved and quiet. Of course English was difficult. My or Mi and I, we motioned a lot and smiled.


Shortly after they moved in, I noticed several bugs coming up from my tub drain. I had not ever had that occur but I knew it wasn't good. Next thing that was occurring was we were having the exterminator coming to our apartment building. They were used to roaches. We were not.


I liked Mi. The neighbor Pam Martin, married to John Martin did not. John was black and Pam didn't like me either. She menaced me, so that if I was talking to Mi then of course she would hate Mi also. Mi shared this discomfort she was made to feel of Pam but did not attribute it to me.


Mi, her husband and children received government help in the form of a vehicle, house, and food. Many people talked about this during the time we had immigrants from Laos moving to Minnesota.


Thirty-seven years later I am considering Laos, why? I did not know Mi, but I often think of her. How she left Laos. Was she happy or did she miss her homeland.


After learning of my own ancestry, and feeling the anger directed towards me and consider, wow! I did not even know and other people did and this must have been what was causing so many to be aggressive or have 'want to' undermine is a good term.


So I read breifly the article of Laos and recall, "oh yes!" the 'Royals were disposed' during "re-education" died. "Oh, yes, now I see what is before me."


One for you, two for me, two for you, three for me...

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