It’s easy to complain about the idiocies of our government, but it’s also a good idea to put things into perspective. Last Thursday’s Wall Street Journal had an article by a former Briton entitled Why I Chose the Red, White and Blue. Among other things he wrote,
I wish that those Americans who trash their country for its failings or doubt the value of their citizenship could give it up and reapply for it, just to see with fresh eyes what an astonishing gift it still is.
He makes a good point.
January 8, 2014
Among the many sarcastic things I say about the American flag burning Pakistanis is one where I say that just offer green cards to the whole lot and see what happens.
…They’d be flooding into India. We offered that in the U.S. to get cheap labor & now they want citizenship, schools, & to make the same wages as Americans.
Rummuser,
I partially agree. Unfortunately some of them would probably come to blow us up.
BHB,
So you agree that we’re incredibly lucky to be Americans? Two of my grandparents came from Sweden, two of my great grandparents came from Ireland during the Potato Famine. Where did your ancestors immigrate from? I assume you’re glad they did!
great last point in your comment to bhb monk.
and actually … unless we have true american indian blood i suppose we are not even bonafide americans either!
i keep thinking it would be fun to fully explore my roots… i know a little… but not enough. right now ancestry.com is free for a little introductory period i think. but i never do it.
I don’t know much about my ancestors, but apparently one of them was a drummer boy in the army against Napoleon. And the ancestor of one of my high school teachers was a drummer boy in Napoleon’s army. We thought that was funny. My non-Swedish, non-Irish ancestors were Germans from Alsace Lorraine — they came to the U.S earlier than the other ones.
Link didn’t work for me.
The US is a great place to live – if you’re wealthy.
How is it in Australia for the non-wealthy? Andy and I weren’t even close to being wealthy when we were kids, which is one reason we were such savers during our working lives. We were lucky to have a good work ethic, to value education, to have good health and to find good jobs.
I changed the link. As I write this it is working, but who knows?
Hi Jean, in Aus it is somewhat easier for the poor. Better minimum wage, way better health services and in some places I think (the US varies by state I understand and I don’t know the situation in each one) better unemployment benefits. Also you are less likely to get shot or put in gaol (but this applies to everyone, not just the poor).
It sounds as if you’re happy to be an Australian. That’s great.
Well on some things. Unfortunately the current lot of elected oppressors are set on destroying what I value and creating a place more like the US – great wealth disparity and poor public services. I sure hope they get voted out next time (they have made a hash of the first few months so there is hope. Unfortunately both the major parties are committed adherents to neo-liberal economics so the other lot are almost as bad.).
An interesting article about the author applying to be a citizen and suggesting that all incumbents, I guess Americans – give up their citizenship and reapply again. Along with savouring the thought you have a great deal of protection on home turf – if you are already “home” and should you start to celebrate where your permanent “home” is.
I appreciate mostly what I have here in my homeland, although I am not the indigenous race but rather the off shoot of Irish, Scottish and British colonials who chose to make a lengthy and hazardous journey from their homeland on a rickety old steamer/ship…
Writing my blog “travelling through NZ” I thought – a week maybe of words but I am only going to arrive in the Auckland region today – less than 1/3 from the top of the North Island…so many interesting places, I had forgotten about.
Our county land mass is the size of Colorado; and of course our population is tiny weeny but we have a huge x-section of ethnic groups; some of whom arrived in the gum digging and gold rush days – a looooooooooong time ago.
The message for me was what I already believed — appreciate what you have. And if you can, try to help change the things you don’t like.