Comments about ‘Burmese refugees flocking to Cache Valley’

I hope these refugees find all the welcome and help they need as they learn to become self sufficient from the people of Cache Valley.

It is a comfort to know about these refugees come to a safer country and trying to help themselves by doing what they can. Also, they have full of hope for their children in the future, it is very important and great attitude.

Both my parents are from Cache Valley and I have many relatives there. I actually work on the Thai-Burma border and have been working on Burma issues for many years - both in the US and here. There have been many problems facing the resettlement of Karen in America, but yes, communities can help out. Are there groups helping them? In the US there is the Karen-American Community Alliance that is helping nationally with additional needs of the communities. The Karen are wonderful people, and have struggled through so much, I hope they find a warm home in Cache Valley

It is great that they can find job, but not needing to speak English to accomplish their work, I don't think that is a great situation. The question than is, are they integrating to the society here? I would think not, all immigrants should be encouraged to learn and speak English. I work here in Los Angeles, and one can find many that don't speak English well enough to communicate with others that are not their own kind. Some people I work with in a major Hospital cannot even answer a phone call in English after they had been here for over 10 years! It is great that a new life is provided in the US for the Karen, but I would rather see them have the desire and opportunity to learn English so they are not stuck in a dead end job.