The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Tradition and Customs Quotes

Basically, the Hmong believe in the interconnectedness of all things. It doesn't matter if it happened one million years ago or on the other side of the planet—everything affects everything.

Yup, that's just about the definition of insular. It's pretty clear that the Hmong have a long history of refusing cultural assimilation. In fact, they've been persecuted for their customs so often throughout their history that the sense of being persecuted practically becomes hardwired in their cultural DNA. With this in mind, it's no wonder that they don't exactly blend into the giant melting pot when they arrive in America: they don't want to. It's as simple as that.

Hmong clan structure is alive and well in Merced, California. While it's frustrating for their doctors—not to mention any feminists lying around—sticking to this rigid hierarchy helps the community adjust to life in a new country. In fact, you could argue that this is yet another defense mechanism fostered by the Hmong's history of persecution.

See what we mean about fish soup? In Hmong culture, there are no distinctions between different aspects of society—everything is mushed together into one glorious mess, like a bag of skittles left in the car on a summer day. Too bad it doesn't apply to the melting pot thing.

Of course, there are some downsides to this adherence to tradition. Maybe poor little Sue shouldn't be rewarded for becoming Americanized, but she certainly shouldn't be punished for it. In the end, however, it's hard to have an insular, traditional community without some hostility for outsiders.

Yet another reason it's literally impossible to see eye-to-eye. The Lees don't even measure time like Americans. This is yet another Hmong tradition, formed by their long history as an agrarian society, which proves to be completely useless in their new urban home where Swatches abound. This is one of those times when cultural assimilation must seem pretty tempting to the Hmong.

The Hmong are proud of their cultural legacy, and rightfully so. No matter how badly they were persecuted, no matter how much they were demeaned, no matter how much they were mocked, they never lost hold of their traditions.

Though Nao Kao and Foua have adapted to certain aspects of American life, they still have little interest in abandoning their traditions. Can you blame them, though? Do they really have anything to gain from wearing Crocs and watching The Bachelor? Well, aside from the window into high fashion and the intellectual core of society, we mean.

And to have a unicorn and a vacation home on Mars. We jest, because it doesn't really sound like all that much. These folks don't want fancy cars or diamond necklaces or even an early version of the iPhone—they just want a bit of land that they can call their own, where they're free to practice their culture however they see fit. Unfortunately, that's a dream that simply won't come true as long as they're in America.

Trust us: don't bother trying to force American culture on the Hmong. People have been forcing their traditions on the Hmong for thousands and thousands of years and no one's succeeded yet. Whether you admire or despise them for it, you're better off just quitting while you're ahead.