A minority of Somalis have brought shame to our community There is a Somali proverb that came to mind when reflecting on the bitter language that has been coming from President Trump recently: the barking hyena warns you, but the silent hyena harms you. In Somali wisdom, the quiet hyena is more dang erous than the loud one. The loud hyena is noisy so you know it is coming. Someone who tells you the truth, even if it hurts, is like a loud hyena, giving you a warning. I would argue that President Trump is a loud hyena, though his truth is mixed with untruth. His simplistic stereotyping was uncalled for, and it is not right to call any human being garbage. But it is true that the Somalis involved in large-scale fraud should face the consequences of their poor choices. And it is true that we Somalis need to ask ourselves what role we may have played in becoming the target of such hostile criticism. It’s time to stop blaming others for our wrong choices. Blaming is self-sabotage; it keeps us stuck in our problems and prevents us from taking steps toward solutions. It’s time to get rid of the victim mentality. Many Somalis lived through decades of state collapse, with corrupt and violent conditions. We saw how rules were enforced unfairly and were used to harm rather than protect people. This experience with broken systems and injustice created rule skepticism. On top of that, moral obligations to one’s clan often outweighed obligations to obey formal laws. Sometimes clan loyalty helped people survive. But these strategies didn’t work in Somalia, and they won’t work here either. Here in the United States, Somalis need to shift their mindset. The government does not exist for personal gain. Too often we approach a situation thinking: “What can I get?” But is it time to ask, “How can I contribute?” It is time to build up the communities that have welcomed us. Research consistently shows that most immigrants are law-abiding and often commit less crime than native-born citizens. Yet a minority of Somalis who have failed to integrate have chosen to engage in fraud or corruption. They have brought shame to the community. We need to remember that when we became citizens here, we took an oath of allegiance to the United States. Such allegiance involves fulfilling our civic duties and following the law in our new home. Badeh Dualeh, St. Paul   Urging a transparent reassessment of the Summit Avenue bike trail Our new mayor hit the ground running to deliver on her promise for transparency and hard work. As we celebrate her victory, I write to urge a transparent and objective reassessment of the planned Summit Avenue raised bicycle trail. It is crucial that we expand the range of alternatives being considered and commit to a truly unbiased process — one where the outcome is not predetermined, but instead reflects a fair comparison of all options. The assessment must include an honest evaluation of the real impact on our tree canopy,  and a thorough analysis of this impact should be a key element of the promised Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW). The assessment must also include an evaluation of safety to pedestrians and bicyclists in view of the fact that e-bicycles, which have become ubiquitous, pose new dangers. Related Articles John Mannillo: Some friendly advice for St. Paul’s new mayor Real World Economics: Tales of economic growth speak volumes Skywatch: Extended stargazing pleasure in January Working Strategies: Resolve to create an efficient job search for new year Mark Glende: Against the odds, this tipsy tree with the leaning star We also need a clear understanding of the true costs involved. Citizens deserve the chance to voice their opinions on whether a full reconstruction of Summit should be prioritized — especially given the City’s looming financial challenges — or if a more targeted approach, such as a mill and overlay for sections most in need, might be more prudent. Selective reconstruction should be considered where inspections show it is truly necessary. If the planned Summit Avenue bicycle trail is genuinely the superior option on its merits, let’s allow the facts to speak for themselves. This way, we can resolve the debate once and for all and move forward as a community. Anastasia (Tess) Galati, St. Paul   Mayor Carter’s graceful exit Kudos to outgoing Mayor Melvin Carter for the way he is exiting office in the aftermath of his surprising re-election defeat. The class  that he has displayed is a sharp contrast to the graceless behavior of the current occupant of the White House after he lost his bid to stay there four  years ago as well as that of one of his acolytes, Mike Lindell, now seeking the gubernatorial position here. Both the president and the pillow maker could learn from the mayor how to handle the agony of defeat and provide an example to others, rather than the way they have tainted the democratic process as perpetrators of petulance. Marshall H. Tanick, Minneapolis   Accountability? Related Articles Letters: Overfed on materialism, starved for enchantment … Letters: If we can sue automakers for car theft, whom should we sue for Minnesota fraud? Letters: Rage rear-ended by hope in the middle of a St. Paul intersection Letters: Tone it down and deliver, elected officials left and right Letters: Both Tim Walz and Donald Trump do the Minnesota Somali community a grave disservice The US Government Accountability Office reports that the federal government loses a billion dollars to fraud everyday – so why are only Democrats and Somali-Americans in Minnesota in trouble? The GOP is all over Tim Walz, holding him responsible for the fraud that happened in Minnesota, when Donald Trump resides over the federal government that loses a billion dollars every day to fraud. But this is par for the course when it comes to Trumpers and accountability. Trump is on tap saying he sexually assaults women, but then when women come forward and say Trump did sexually assault them, Trumpers go after the women and claim Trump is the victim. Trumpers have a very bizarre approach to accountability. Frank Erickson, Minneapolis ...read more read less