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FRESNO - In a defining moment, an angry Hmong former colonel managed to capsulize the generational conflict over leadership of his people.
Former Col. Youa True Vang, 58, sternly told a U.S. State Department official during a September meeting in Fresno that the next time he visited he should not be dealing with the 30ish crowd who helped arrange his visit.
"Whenever you're planning to discuss or planning to repatriate the refugees, ask the leaders," Vang said through an interpreter. "I don't want you to hear from children, but talk to us, as the leaders of the community."
He epitomizes the old guard among U.S. Hmong - proud of their war service, resentful of meddling youngsters trying to buck the chain of command.
Young and middle-aged Hmong - the doctors, students, accountants, teachers with advanced degrees - want the Youa True Vangs to step aside for the young. Share the power. Let women have a voice.
The younger group, while professing respect for their elders, say the generational conflict over Hmong leadership is keeping the Hmong from reaching their potential in this country. Many Hmong say that is one of three main leadership questions. The other two are:
The related issue of the resistance, known as NEO HOM, a dividing line in the tricky world of Hmong politics. There are exceptions, but the resistance's strongest supporters tend to be the older generation - those looking to return to Laos.
Although resistance leaders say otherwise, NEO HOM critics say that the resistance stifles opposition through character assassination and death threats.
Allowing women to make leadership decisions. Hmong society is male-dominated, particularly in less-educated households, where women are unlikely to drive, men may have multiple wives and young girls marry only after the groom's family has paid a bride price of thousands of dollars.
Hmong elders say younger Hmong have not attained wisdom, knowledge, experience and stature. The young say the older generation understands cultural issues, but is rudderless in this country, adrift without language skills and education.
In a guest column in the California Hmong Times in July, Ben Her Vue wrote that resistance leader Gen. Vang Pao should be spending less energy on returning to...