Nov 12, 2009
20 Minnesotans Leave the State to Fight in Somalia [an experiment in stereotypes]
Like this post?
You’re picturing white guys named Larson, aren’t you?
Turns out, though, they’re Somali-Americans, which makes more sense if you think about it.
* * * * *
I know this misses the point of your post, but I didn’t have a stereotype of Minnesotans until I saw this picture. I actually thought Detroit was a pretty diverse city.
I’m afraid you’re confusing us with Michigan.
I forgive you.
Gasp!How… dare… you!
You, madam, have offended the noble State of Michigan. Our honor MUST be restored! Pistols at daybreak!
Thankful for all Minnesotans who have served and are serving our country in the military, whether their name is Larson, like mine, or not!
If you said 20 people from Berkeley, CA were going to fight in Somalia, I would assume it was American-born white kids.
My stereotype of Minnesotans looks more like the buck-toothed barn in the picture.
Ha! That’s funny! I hadn’t noticed the “buck-toothed barn”.
Please tell me you Googled “White Guys Larson Minnesota” to find that picture.
Simply awesome.
I clicked the picture.
Even better – a Public Radio story!
Not “White Guys Larson Minnesota” exactly. But something along those lines, yes.
I LOVE those guys!
bachelor farmers?
hey, I’m a white guy in Minnesota named Larson… how did you get a picture of my uncles? i didn’t know they had ever been further than MSP!
no, i didn’t. i imagined white guys named Olaf.
True to stereotypes, however, the western journalists have overlooked the layers of complexity to this story: the suspect motives of the accusers, the extent to which this is clan-based, the disillusioned immigrants and/or ghettoized teens involved…
Now are those just two stinkin’ classic looking Minnesota boys or what!
In fact, I would have guessed them to be Minnesotans even if I had seen the picture on some random, non-Minnesota-related website!
Although, I would never have guessed Oklee. I was thinking somewhere south of Rochester, near Spring Valley or Preston or something.
Check out today’s Minneapolis Star Tribune.
There is a sad ending to the story of these two brothers.
Wow! What a strange coincidence.
I read this New York Times report a few months ago on why these kids are returning to their homeland to fight. Sounds like they are looking for meaning and finding it in defending their homeland.
Very interesting.
The People’s Republic of Minnesota never has had a soft spot in my heart…I guess its just a Wisconsin thing.