Thursday, December 7, 2006

The New Yorker Reports Maine's Somali population

This week's New Yorker reports on the Somali population in Lewiston. Here's the press release:

In the December 11, 2006, issue of The New Yorker, William Finnegan reports on the small town of Lewiston, Maine, where, since 2001, a few thousand Somali refugees have resettled after fleeing the civil war that has consumed their country for the past two decades (“New in Town,” p. 46). “With a population of thirty-six thousand, the town was until recently ninety-six per cent white and predominantly Catholic—French-Canadian and Irish—and was slowly losing its young people as local mills and factories closed,” Finnegan writes. “Then, practically overnight, the streets seemed to be full of black African Muslims. Today, there are about three thousand Somalis in Lewiston, and dozens more arrive every month.” He adds, “An improbable migration has turned into a large-scale social experiment.”

More on this via Wikipedia.
Not too long ago, the mayor of Lewiston drafted a letter to the Somali population and asked them to stop coming to his town. The leaders of the Somali population met with the mayor's office and resolved the situation.

A movie was made about the Somalis in Lewiston called The Letter: An American Town and the 'Somali Invasion'
The film is reviewed here.

A nice article about Lewiston/Auburn here
.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have to laugh at white men who spew hatred for others who are not white and cite crime as the reason for their hatred. As a white, college educated woman and mother of two I have to say that if I based my own feelings on the crime I have experienced in my life, I would want all the white men in the world put in prison! When I was in college, I was raped by a blue blood, blue eyed, blond upper class male student. I have three friends who were also raped by white men at elite colleges in Boston, when we were young co-eds. All of us were afraid to tell because of the powerful families from which our assailants came. When I was a young mother, two white, wealty landlords, kept security deposits put down on apts that I left in perfect condition, knowing that I didn't have the money to fight them in court. After my mother died and I was left a small inheritance, I had thousands of dollars stolen from me by rich white con artists that led me to believe that I was helping them or their families in times of need, only to find out that their families were rich. I have known dozens of wealthy white friends who have taken financial aid for college by claiming that they were independent from their wealthy parents-parents who own million dollar homes on Mount Desert Island!!!! I owned a cafe and employed three young, single mothers who had just finsihed up at Oberlin college and were collecting welfare and foodstamps. These same girls were traveling all over the world on money their parents provided them! What has occured in Lewiston is a disgrace to the United States of America. It is a snapshot of the incredible racism/ignorance that flourishes here. It makes me ill.

Anonymous said...

to the woman who left the first comment. The problem with the instant influx of Somalians in Lewiston is not race but dollars and cents. Unfortunately the Somalians are dependant on welfare. They lack the skills to get jobs. Most do not speak English. Where does the money come to support them. Taxes, thats where. Property taxes are allready out of control.

biscuit said...

I actually ordered the documentary but haven't watched it yet...
should be interesting.. I've spoken with my family in LA about this very subject.. interesting takes on it from all angles....

Anonymous said...

Casino Game Online tyuueooru
Download Online Casino
You can kill a lot of your leisure time and have fun at the same time simply by enrolling yourself into the world of online casino.
[url=http://www.nhgaa.org/]Free Casino[/url]
Last but not least, prior to participating in any of the online casino websites no matter it's freely accessible or it requires a certain amount of money to get started with, make sure that you have gone through their ?Terms and Conditions? in a thorough manner.
http://www.nhgaa.org/ - Download Casino
000 free with your first 20 deposits!
The risks arriving with the gambling has decreased to a great extent after the arrival of free online casino.

Anonymous said...

good time charley singles dance il [url=http://loveepicentre.com/]united kingdom singles[/url] free online dating game http://loveepicentre.com/ love is color blind meet singles

Anonymous said...

lauren hill http://topcitystyle.com/brown-white-men-color218.html premature baby clothes [url=http://topcitystyle.com/-caps-dolce-amp-gabbana-category88.html]chanel bag[/url] sexy womens shoes
http://topcitystyle.com/paul-smith-casual-brand96.html victoria secrets fashions [url=http://topcitystyle.com/light-green-gucci-color133.html]fashion institute of new york[/url]

Anonymous said...

passport validity for travel to spain http://adventurecollection.in/vacation-packages/best-deal-on-vacation-package-for-south-padre-island belize all inclusive travel
[url=http://adventurecollection.in/travel/equipment-travel-case]travel from kirkenes norway to finland[/url] taiwan and travel [url=http://adventurecollection.in/plane-tickets/europe-to-isreal-plane-tickets]europe to isreal plane tickets[/url]
reviews of overseas adventure travel http://adventurecollection.in/adventure
[url=http://adventurecollection.in/disneyland/disneyland-hong-kong-package]travel advisory to kenya[/url] dog soft travel crates [url=http://adventurecollection.in/inn/holiday-inn-horsehead-ny]holiday inn horsehead ny[/url]
humacao pr travel http://adventurecollection.in/expedia/expedia-luc-lafontan maruri santas travel world [url=http://adventurecollection.in/inn/kirkland-hotel-fire-comfort-inn]kirkland hotel fire comfort inn[/url]

Anonymous said...

mary kate olsen sexy http://theporncollection.in/porn-dvd/jeff-allen-porn
[url=http://theporncollection.in/porn-galleries/world-record-porn-star]adult chat no sign up[/url] imvu hack crack adult pass [url=http://theporncollection.in/porn-galleries/upload-your-own-porn-video]upload your own porn video[/url]
playing with her pussy and dildo http://theporncollection.in/incest/incest-crossdressing
[url=http://theporncollection.in/incest/incest-family-russia]maryland adult entertainment stores[/url] nasty cops porn [url=http://theporncollection.in/porn-girl/free-porn-full-series]free porn full series[/url]
virgin videow http://theporncollection.in/moms/poems-from-moms-to-daughters
[url=http://theporncollection.in/masturbating/caught-my-wife-masturbating-hidden-camera]sexy nude black older women[/url] free anal pictures [url=http://theporncollection.in/gay-love/free-gay-tube]free gay tube[/url]
willamette week personals adult matchmaker http://theporncollection.in/best-porn/sleeeping-porn-blowjob
[url=http://theporncollection.in/moms/tooele-moms-group]adult mathmatic education material[/url] new mexico adult probationi office [url=http://theporncollection.in/gay-video/gay-boys-underwear-blogs]gay boys underwear blogs[/url]

Anonymous said...

avodart drug [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/huesos-sanos.htm]huesos sanos[/url] vein specialists of the south columbia sc http://usadrugstoretoday.com/#first
foods that zap the vitamin b12 out of your system [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/antivirale.htm]antivirale[/url] effects of myoglobin in muscle of widlife [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/capoten.htm ]champaign county health district [/url] dental crowns arvada
acne cure diet htm [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/metoclopramide.htm]metoclopramide[/url] witch blood http://usadrugstoretoday.com/products/eurax.htm
amercian diabetes [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/perte-de-poids.htm]perte de poids[/url] my heart goes shalalalala [url=http://usadrugstoretoday.com/categories/montage-packs.htm ]samples of career objectives for dental assisant [/url] smoke odor remover candles

Anonymous said...

marie laurencin http://www.thefashionhouse.us/?action=products&product_id=297 born shoes and boots [url=http://www.thefashionhouse.us/women-type3r.html]chanel glossimer[/url] stationary designers
http://www.thefashionhouse.us/prada-mens-leather-running-shoes-black-item2498.html jimmy cho shoes [url=http://www.thefashionhouse.us/grey-dolce-amp-gabbana-color1.html]cool fallen shoes for little kids[/url]

Anonymous said...

clothespin punishment stories http://www.thefashionhouse.us/white-pink-women-color48.html babes and shoes [url=http://www.thefashionhouse.us/?action=products&product_id=676]fashion games to play[/url] designer reading glasses cinzia
http://www.thefashionhouse.us/roberto-cavalli-club-wear-brand7.html medical graphic designers [url=http://www.thefashionhouse.us/burberry-jacket-for-women-beige-item2360.html]how to wear red clothes[/url]

Anonymous said...

chaps shoes http://luxefashion.us/d-amp-g-t-shirt-for-men-white-item2484.html clothes for large men uk [url=http://luxefashion.us/custo-barcelona-tank-tops-brand51.html]chanel prescription eyeglasses[/url] rockport shoes for men
http://luxefashion.us/prada-leather-shoes-brand10.html designer cabinet hardware [url=http://luxefashion.us/black-shirts-color2.html]old fashion chicken and noodles[/url]

Anonymous said...

http://xwv.in/paroxetine/ordering/online/paroxetine
[url=http://xwv.in/kamagra/kamagra/sales/uk]dangers of drug resistance staph authors[/url] medicare and viagra [url=http://xwv.in/pain-relief/pain/relief/codine]pain relief codine[/url]
surgery for erectile dysfunction http://xwv.in/tramadol/tramadol/online/si
[url=http://xwv.in/naltrexone/naltrexone/hcl/physicochemical/properties]walgreens drug store phoenix[/url] fractures and wilderness medicine [url=http://xwv.in/kidneys/ice/cold/drinks/bad/for/kidneys]ice cold drinks bad for kidneys[/url]
cheaper viagra levitra cialis http://xwv.in/naproxen/what/does/naproxen/sodium/contain
[url=http://xwv.in/osteoporosis/reclast/infusion/osteoporosis]cheap european cialis[/url] joe rogan drugs [url=http://xwv.in/paroxetine/antidepressant/effectiveness/in/paroxetine/vs/placebo]antidepressant effectiveness in paroxetine vs placebo[/url] a clinical pharmacy oriented drug surveillance network [url=http://xwv.in/pantoprazole/pantoprazole/sodium]pantoprazole sodium[/url]

Anonymous said...

windstar casino oklahoma http://xwn.in/blackjack_blackjack-tournaments-las-vegas lottery south african
[url=http://xwn.in/keno_finding-probabilities-in-playing-keno-numbers]understanding betting odds and lines[/url] ethnicity pathological gambling [url=http://xwn.in/gambling-online_gambling-and-sprts]gambling and sprts[/url]
definition of metaphor lambs gambling on the lawn http://xwn.in/lottery_winning-daily-lottery
[url=http://xwn.in/lottery_massachustts-lottery]sahara casino las vegas nevada[/url] progressive jackpot in las vegas [url=http://xwn.in/lottery_lottery-forum]lottery forum[/url]
northern quest casino bingo winners http://xwn.in/keno_play-2-4-6-slot-keno free casino slot machine game [url=http://xwn.in/online-casinos_promotional-free-money-for-reno-casinos]promotional free money for reno casinos[/url]

Anonymous said...

credits stander movie [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_daniels_daughter/]daniels daughter[/url] civil action movie http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_kill_kill_faster_faster/ times square the movie
date movie soundtrack [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_mulan/]mulan[/url] copy dvd movie http://moviestrawberry.com/hqmoviesbygenres/download-genre_music-movies/?page=1 point of origin movie review
download dirty western movie [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_a_guy_named_joe/]a guy named joe[/url] good quality movie torrents
watch free movie porn [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_2001_a_space_odyssey/]2001 a space odyssey[/url] south hills mall movie schedule http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_red_planet/ movie clips dirty sex trailers
raiders of the lost ark movie trailer [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_college_kickboxers/]college kickboxers[/url] microsoft windows movie maker does not read my cd recorder http://moviestrawberry.com/hqmoviesbygenres/download-genre_adventure-movies/?page=5 free movie x

Anonymous said...

loli movie [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_delgo/]delgo[/url] free movie clips xxx http://moviestrawberry.com/countries/?page=94 music and lyrics movie torrent
mythological origins of pleasantville movie [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_smokey_and_the_bandit/]smokey and the bandit[/url] alex devine movie swallowthisbitch http://moviestrawberry.com/easy-downloads/letter_T/?page=41 fetish sex movie galleries
the seeker movie [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_cinderella/]cinderella[/url] marshalls movie
power point how to install movie clips [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_pastor_jones_my_sister_loves_you/]pastor jones my sister loves you[/url] black dog the movie http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_corporate_affairs/ malayalam movie sex
naked girls movie [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_payroll/]payroll[/url] movie caused the president to resign http://moviestrawberry.com/hqmoviesbygenres/download-genre_comedy-movies/?page=22 who starred in the movie a league of their own

Anonymous said...

bdsm movie [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_the_tv_set/]the tv set[/url] eurotrip movie http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_the_corporation/ watergate the movie
great movie halloween costumes [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_jesus_christ_superstar_70/]jesus christ superstar 70[/url] movie stars named michael http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_absolute_zero/ free movie for sucking toe
movie free gay [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_carry_on_abroad/]carry on abroad[/url] amc movie
show on televison movie happy feet [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_michael_jackson_number_ones/]michael jackson number ones[/url] hp dc4000 movie writer http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_the_simple_things/ v the movie
movie theater in baton rouge [url=http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_coach_carter/]coach carter[/url] apocalypse now movie bites http://moviestrawberry.com/films/film_the_last_stand/ soundtrack to the movie crusing