I became an American citizen in 1974 after taking THE test (ie, citizenship). Best thing ever to happen to me and my greatest privilege by far. I check it everyday!
I’ve lived my whole life in western Europe - which is pretty nice! - but I can’t envision being worse off if I’d grown up in the USA, and more than likely much better off.
I love American culture from this distance. It really is the greatest country in the world. Nowhere else will come close any time this century. I simply cannot fathom how or why so many literate Americans are so negative about their homeland. I think that, unlike Razib, they simply cannot imagine anything else.
Was I the only one who didn’t remember you were ever cancelled and was curious enough to google it? In retrospect, it seems so banal, if not to say ironic. Gawker casting stones at glass houses!!!
Btw I subscribe for the podcasts, partly (mostly) because my vision is poor and save my eyes for knitting:)
An interesting thought experiment is what a devout Muslim of the same birthplace and year who remained behind would say about the luck of moving to America. Perhaps from his position in the old country, those whose parents' choices brought them helpless to the Great Satan can only be pitied. Life is short, but eternity is long.
How nice that you and your family had such good immigrant-experiences !
I am an immigrant too, but all I have ever been told was that I was not welcome, and that I should go back to where I came from, ASAP. I had no idea how unwelcome immigrants are in the US, especially if they come job-related. Had I known I never would have come. I lost everything and then some.
P.S. I have known several immigrant families who came here with a baby in their arms, a few weeks/months old. They started a business, worked hard, created jobs, paid taxes etc. But one day their child turned 21 years of age. And had to leave. No DACA possible, because they had come legally. Yes, a wonderful country, especially not for certain hardworking immigrants or immigrants like me who would have loved to work hard but were not allowed !
I became an American citizen in 1974 after taking THE test (ie, citizenship). Best thing ever to happen to me and my greatest privilege by far. I check it everyday!
It's a pity that many who are born in the USA don't have your appreciation of the freedom this country offers. Thanks for the post.
I’ve lived my whole life in western Europe - which is pretty nice! - but I can’t envision being worse off if I’d grown up in the USA, and more than likely much better off.
I love American culture from this distance. It really is the greatest country in the world. Nowhere else will come close any time this century. I simply cannot fathom how or why so many literate Americans are so negative about their homeland. I think that, unlike Razib, they simply cannot imagine anything else.
Was I the only one who didn’t remember you were ever cancelled and was curious enough to google it? In retrospect, it seems so banal, if not to say ironic. Gawker casting stones at glass houses!!!
Btw I subscribe for the podcasts, partly (mostly) because my vision is poor and save my eyes for knitting:)
An interesting thought experiment is what a devout Muslim of the same birthplace and year who remained behind would say about the luck of moving to America. Perhaps from his position in the old country, those whose parents' choices brought them helpless to the Great Satan can only be pitied. Life is short, but eternity is long.
How nice that you and your family had such good immigrant-experiences !
I am an immigrant too, but all I have ever been told was that I was not welcome, and that I should go back to where I came from, ASAP. I had no idea how unwelcome immigrants are in the US, especially if they come job-related. Had I known I never would have come. I lost everything and then some.
P.S. I have known several immigrant families who came here with a baby in their arms, a few weeks/months old. They started a business, worked hard, created jobs, paid taxes etc. But one day their child turned 21 years of age. And had to leave. No DACA possible, because they had come legally. Yes, a wonderful country, especially not for certain hardworking immigrants or immigrants like me who would have loved to work hard but were not allowed !