Hmong Practice

I was annoyed and enlightened when I read “Hmong’s Sacrifice of Puppy Reopens Cultural Wounds” (Dec. 16). Annoyed because letters of outrage poured in to the local newspaper advising the Hmong to “move back to Laos if they couldn’t adhere to the American way.” Enlightened because the sacrificial use of a puppy runs parallel to use by Native Americans in our sun dances, long before the “American way” was established by the invading Europeans.

The Sun Dance is one of the oldest cultural practices still in existence and the sacrificial use of the dog is done with spiritual guidance and care. Great honor is accorded to the life of the dog and the ceremony is conducted by a selected female member of the family on the last day of the Sun Dance on the fourth and last year.

Europeans brought their culture and values to a foreign land, so why can’t the Hmong do the same? If cultural diversity is the key issue in America today, then we need respect for cultural differences.

RAY C. DOYAH

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