By David Heiller
The memory of a fishing incident last summer is still with me. Itís not a pleasant memory.

I had caught several catfish at one of my favorite fishing spots along the Reno spillway. One was a real lunker, by my standards at least, probably 20 inches long. I hung it from the handlebars of my bicycle, and was pedaling along with a fishermanís smile on my face. All right, it might have been a smirk.

I saw a group of people up ahead, and slowed down to show them my beauty.

Then I saw that they were Hmong. A thought flashed into my mind: I do not want them to know where I caught these fish.

So I didnít stop to talk. I didnít even slow down. They exclaimed some words in Hmong when they saw my fish. I said a curt hello and kept pedaling.

Why didnít I stop? It was strictly due to the color of their skin, their nationality, and my perceptions of their behavior. And that by my definition is a racist.

I havenít thought of myself in those terms before. Iím ashamed of it now.

What was it based on? Fishing horror stories about Hmong not obeying limit laws, keeping more fish than they are entitled to. Almost every fisherman I know has a story, usually second hand, about Hmong breaking fishing regulations. Or eating song birds. Or shooting too many squirrels.

Yes, this has happened. But is it fair to project that to all Hmong? And wouldnít it be better for me, if I want to break that chain of behavior, to engage the Hmong I meet? Visit a bit? Try to get to know them?

These thoughts arise as a result of the tragedy near Rice Lake, Wisconsin, on November 21, when a Hmong man who was trespassing shot eight hunters, six of whom died.

I absolutely agree with local game warden Scott Fritz, who said it was not Hmong-related behavior. Shooting eight people, including one in the back, is not a cultural phenomenon. It is an irrational act, the act of a sick human being.

I also agree with Gary Solie of Spring Grove, who told me in an interview that we need to let justice run its course before we rush to judgment.

But it has brought to the surface some thought-provoking discussion.

I have heard stories from more than one hunter about Hmong people building tree stands on private property, of recurring incidents of trespassing.

It is almost a logical step to then say that the shooting tragedy was Hmong-related. After all, he was trespassing.

But I really donít think it was.

We need to deal with Hmong the way we deal with everyone else, with respect and civility. With educational programs about our laws. Without making excuses for their bad behavior or for ours. It starts with each of us.

My rotten fishing memory is a reminder of that.

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