Talk:History of the Hmong in Merced, California

Oddly specific
While I don't have a problem with the information as it's given, it seems an oddly specific focus. Why Merced? Why not Fresno or St. Paul? Are there any parallel articles? I'd suggest merging it to another, more general article, but I'm not sure which one. — Æµ§œš¹  [aɪm ˈfɹ̠ˤʷɛ̃ɾ̃ˡi] 13:19, 20 September 2010 (UTC)
 * Because that is the focus. Because it focuses on Merced. If you want focus on St. Paul or Fresno, then you have to start a History of the Hmong in California article and write a history there after collecting data from research. WhisperToMe (talk) 17:58, 28 November 2010 (UTC)
 * So we have an article focusing on the Hmong in Merced because we have an article about Merced's Hmong population? That seems rather tautological and having an article that focuses on a specific subgroup of a tiny town is, as far as I can tell, unprecedented at Wikipedia.  What's wrong with merging with Hmong American?  — Æµ§œš¹  [aɪm ˈfɹ̠ˤʷɛ̃ɾ̃ˡi]  20:25, 28 November 2010 (UTC)
 * As indicated by the body of the article and the external links, there are lots of written materials on the Hmong community in Merced. If there are ample sources about a subject, then it can have an article.
 * NPOV says that an article cannot have "undue weight" on a particular aspect of a subject. If all of this was added to an article about Hmong Americans it would put undue weight on the specific aspect of the Hmong community in Merced. "Undue weight" can refer to points of view and factual information.
 * This does not stop anyone from making more general articles like History of the Hmong in California or History of the Hmong in the Central Valley of California - All one needs to do is go do the research and compile the article.
 * WhisperToMe (talk) 02:46, 29 November 2010 (UTC)

Notes on articles
The Conway article (in part 2 on page 10) mentions the Oregon state agency having a taped message asking the Hmong to move to California. The article says that Sharon Fuji, the regional director of the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Development, put it to an end by threatening to end Oregon's assistance -- This could be useful if one wanted to write a general article about the Hmong in California. WhisperToMe (talk) 02:36, 12 March 2012 (UTC)

Jonas Vangay
Fadiman page 248 states that Vangay was originally "Vang Na" but changed his name in France because he believed a name that did not "sound so Asian" would cause his résumé to receive more job offers than if he had kept the name the same. The book said that he worked as a Hmong language teacher in Merced College and worked as a bilingual education specialist of "the Merced school system". Fadiman talked to Vangay in an elementary school classroom, and she and Vangay communicated in a mix of English and French. WhisperToMe (talk) 00:36, 13 March 2012 (UTC)

Hmong churches
According to:
 * Orozco, Ron. "Merced Hmong Alliance Church." The Fresno Bee. Saturday January 12, 2002. H2.

There is a church called Merced Hmong Alliance Church, established in 1982. It rented the sanctuary of the Evangelical Free Church, and as of 2002 was raising funds to build a standalone worship facility. In 2002 almost 90% of the congregation was born in the United States, so the church conducts youth group services in English and Hmong. Some adult members of the congregation did not speak English.

I'm not sure how prominent of a role it has in Hmong history in Merced. WhisperToMe (talk) 00:48, 13 March 2012 (UTC)

Additional newspaper sources
Fadiman's book mentions on p. 308 (in "Notes on sources") WhisperToMe (talk) 02:08, 14 March 2012 (UTC)
 * Viviano, Frank. "Strangers in the Promised Land." San Francisco Chronicle. August 31, 1986. Pages 15-21. - Details of Dang Moua's story
 * Bartholome, Arlene. "Future is Uncertain for Area Refugees." Merced Sun-Star. Volume 141 (CXXXXI), No. 144. Page 1 and Page 14, Column 1. - Info about Dang Moua - Could be useful if one wanted to write an article on him
 * "Laotians drop ranching plan"
 * Merced Sun-Star had headlines on October 20, 1982, January 21, 1983, and May 11, 1983