Diversity, New Year's recognized at local Karen community event

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Diversity, New Year's recognized at local Karen community event

Published 1/3/2012 in Local News

By ANGIE HAFLICH

ahaflich@gctelegram.com

With drums, dance and Burmese food, the local Karen Community of Burmese shared its New Year's celebration with members of the community Saturday morning in the gym of Georgia Matthews Elementary School.

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Laurie Sisk/Telegram Albert Kyaw welcomes guests at the Karen community's New Year's celebration on Saturday.

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Laurie Sisk/Telegram K'mwee Hser speaks at the Karen community's New Year's celebration on Saturday at Georgia Matthews Elementary School.

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Laurie Sisk/Telegram Young adults form a receiving line to welcome guests to the Karen community's New Year's celebration on Saturday at Georgia Matthews Elementary.

"We celebrate the Karen New Year according to the Burmese calendar," Albert Kyaw, coordinator of the event, said.

K'mwee Hser spoke about the history of the Karen people, an indigenous minority who primarily come from southern Myanmar, traditionally called Burma, in southeast Asia.

"The Karen are much more than a national minority. We are a population of 8 million. We have our own history, our own language, our own culture, our own system of life," Hser said.

Some Karen have been part of a resistance movement against the Myanmar military government for decades, and most migrated from there in order to escape political and economic persecution. Hser described the people's history in Burma as being extremely violent and oppressive.

"Persecution, torture, killing and exploitation were the order of the day. The Karen were arrested, tortured and killed, and our properties were looted and our women were raped and killed. Many of the Karen had to flee into the mountains and jungles where communication and fighting for food was extremely difficult," she said.

Despite this violent past, Hser described the Karen community as one possessing a high moral character.

"Our nation is a quiet, unassuming and peace-loving people who uphold a high moral quality, honesty, purity and brotherly love," she said.

After her speech, Mayor John Doll spoke to the large group in attendance about the diversity represented in Garden City.

"We are a city that embraces, welcomes and accepts cultural diversity. We have people from all over the world that we welcome (and) accept. ... There is still prejudice and there is still hatred out there, but to become a great community, we have to eradicate all those things," Doll said.

He then shared with the crowd something that he does every day.

"I like to state this every day and I do it with my heart and soul. ... May all beings have happiness, may all beings be free of suffering and the causes of suffering, may all beings rejoice in the well being of others, and may all beings live in peace (free of hatred)," he said.

Another guest speaker, Frederick Elad, member of the Garden City Cultural Relations Board, expressed similar sentiments.

"To learn from different people and to share our cultures, especially here in this city, we are so blessed because there are so many people from all walks of life here. ... We are so glad you are able to share your culture with us," Elad said.

Between speakers, some of the Karen community members, dressed in their native attire, performed cultural dances that were accompanied by electric guitars and a bass drum.

"Particularly the drum that they play there and also that drum is right there on the flag. It's kind of a triumphant drum for the Karen people, so we always play the drum whenever we celebrate our Karen new year," Kyaw said.

One song and dance routine, which was over 15 minutes long, was performed by the Karen youth from Denver, Colo., the Colorado Rangers Youth Don Dancers.

Others who were invited to speak at the celebration included USD 457 Superintendent Rick Atha and USD 457 Supplemental Program Coordinator Janie Perkins.

In his speech, Atha spoke of opportunity and responsibility.

"America is truly the land of opportunity. You can be anything you want to be. A doctor, a nurse, a lawyer, a business owner ? you can be anything you want to be," Atha said. "With the opportunity to be what you choose to be, you have to observe responsibility, set goals, work hard to achieve those goals and that begins through your education here in Garden City."

Perkins' speech reflected her experience of being an immigrant to America and her belief in the importance of education.

"When I first came to the U.S., I was like many of you, and did not speak English. I was about 10-and-a-half years old and I can assure you I did not understand any English. I didn't even know how to read or write in my own language, which is Spanish," Perkins said. "Through education, I was able to get a degree to educate myself through the help of many, many wonderful teachers, community members and my own family."

Source: http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r5691875638

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