I am not of "immigrant stock" myself, but my wife is an immigrant, who chose America. She could have easily went to the UK or Canada, but she wanted to be here - I think her mindset was similar to your father's, as she also came here for graduate school and never left.
Being African Americans, and having lived in several nations abroad in Europe and Asia, I always try to express to other black people here, that things can always improve, but life is not so bad. I have seen far worse. I have experienced far worse discrimination abroad, with zero ability to appeal to law or "moral authority" to aid me. I still had an American passport, education credentials and work experience to protect me. The worst situations were not mind, but how poor black and South Asian migrants and laborers were treated. While I was overprice ex-pat bars complaining about how I was not treated exactly like white Western expats, they were languishing in 6 people to a room in apartment made for 1 or 2 people, trying to save as much as possible to send back home, working 12 hours a day, living with no AC, etc. They would have been overjoyed to be treated like me.
Yes, but for the threat of violence, I understood exactly how my grandfather grew up clearly, and that also informed me how much had changed. After living in 5 nations outside the U.S., I can say without hesitation that there is no nation that I have been to, let alone lived in, where the standard of living and potential personal and economic growth is better for someone who looks like me.
Good work Razib. My mother emigrated from Soviet union in 1935. My father in law left Vienna in November 1938. I have always thought that any American who does feel a profound gratitude for being able to live in this country was an ignoramus and a fool.
The U.S. military left Bagram and other bases in Afghanistan at night. Ashraf Gani’s regime in Kabul not even notified – talibans already control 188 districts.
Newly appointed Afghan commander Bagram Mir-Asadulu Kohistani: "At night, the lights in the base suddenly went out, a hum was heard ... After a while, the first American military transport plane took off. It was a C-17A Globemaster. And twenty minutes later, the lights came on. It was only in the morning that we realized that the US military had left Bagram ... There was no official departure ceremony. "
According to estimates, American vassals will remain in power for a maximum of half a year.
US lost another war. They killed 9 millions of people around the world (not including indigenous people in stolen country). America has spent 224 years in wars from 1776 until today, in the 244 years it has existed!
--
The governor of the American state of New York, Andrew Cuomo, announced the introduction of a state of emergency (ES) due to the increase in the number of murders and injuries with the use of firearms.
On July 4, on Independence Day, nearly 150 people were killed in the United States. In New York alone, there were 21 shootings with 26 victims. Serious gun clashes have also occurred in Chicago, Dallas and Atlanta. Several U.S. officials have expressed concern that an increase in violence in the United States could lead to a "bloody summer." The American Association of Archives of Violence with Weapons announced that from May 28 to May 30, at least 12 mass shootings took place in nine US states. At that time, 11 people were killed and at least 70 were injured.
Happy 4th of July my friend. I hate social media. But, it is only because of social media that I could meet folks like you. So I guess it isn't all that bad eh?
Thank you for reposting this. It was a moving testament to our country, better than anything I've heard in a while. America is already great. A friend of mine who moved to the US at age four didn't understand the big deal about citizenship. Why bother? Eventually when she was in her thirties she decided to take that step. After her swearing in ceremony she told me in tears that she now understood why it was a big deal. Most of the people in her group had sacrificed much to be here. They were so grateful to become citizens, that their gratitude rubbed off on my friend. I appreciate all of your blogs and Substack posts. DNA is fun!
A story like this makes one feel grateful as well. You are an example of the kind of people who made this the greatest nation on earth. And I hate to rain on your Independence Day parade, but you are the exception, not the rule. I’m not just talking about 1st, 2nd, or 3rd generation Americans. I’m talking about all of us. The 6th, 7th and 8th generations or more. This will not pass. This is the beginning of the end. There is no viable path to recovery.
Razib, this was profound.
I am not of "immigrant stock" myself, but my wife is an immigrant, who chose America. She could have easily went to the UK or Canada, but she wanted to be here - I think her mindset was similar to your father's, as she also came here for graduate school and never left.
Being African Americans, and having lived in several nations abroad in Europe and Asia, I always try to express to other black people here, that things can always improve, but life is not so bad. I have seen far worse. I have experienced far worse discrimination abroad, with zero ability to appeal to law or "moral authority" to aid me. I still had an American passport, education credentials and work experience to protect me. The worst situations were not mind, but how poor black and South Asian migrants and laborers were treated. While I was overprice ex-pat bars complaining about how I was not treated exactly like white Western expats, they were languishing in 6 people to a room in apartment made for 1 or 2 people, trying to save as much as possible to send back home, working 12 hours a day, living with no AC, etc. They would have been overjoyed to be treated like me.
Yes, but for the threat of violence, I understood exactly how my grandfather grew up clearly, and that also informed me how much had changed. After living in 5 nations outside the U.S., I can say without hesitation that there is no nation that I have been to, let alone lived in, where the standard of living and potential personal and economic growth is better for someone who looks like me.
Good work Razib. My mother emigrated from Soviet union in 1935. My father in law left Vienna in November 1938. I have always thought that any American who does feel a profound gratitude for being able to live in this country was an ignoramus and a fool.
The U.S. military left Bagram and other bases in Afghanistan at night. Ashraf Gani’s regime in Kabul not even notified – talibans already control 188 districts.
Newly appointed Afghan commander Bagram Mir-Asadulu Kohistani: "At night, the lights in the base suddenly went out, a hum was heard ... After a while, the first American military transport plane took off. It was a C-17A Globemaster. And twenty minutes later, the lights came on. It was only in the morning that we realized that the US military had left Bagram ... There was no official departure ceremony. "
According to estimates, American vassals will remain in power for a maximum of half a year.
US lost another war. They killed 9 millions of people around the world (not including indigenous people in stolen country). America has spent 224 years in wars from 1776 until today, in the 244 years it has existed!
--
The governor of the American state of New York, Andrew Cuomo, announced the introduction of a state of emergency (ES) due to the increase in the number of murders and injuries with the use of firearms.
On July 4, on Independence Day, nearly 150 people were killed in the United States. In New York alone, there were 21 shootings with 26 victims. Serious gun clashes have also occurred in Chicago, Dallas and Atlanta. Several U.S. officials have expressed concern that an increase in violence in the United States could lead to a "bloody summer." The American Association of Archives of Violence with Weapons announced that from May 28 to May 30, at least 12 mass shootings took place in nine US states. At that time, 11 people were killed and at least 70 were injured.
Happy birthday, America!
THANK YOU Razib. America is lucky to have you--and my immigrant wife, too!
That was wonderful!
Happy 4th of July my friend. I hate social media. But, it is only because of social media that I could meet folks like you. So I guess it isn't all that bad eh?
Very inspiring!
Second generation American here. Always enjoy reading your posts - thank you.
Really enjoyed this.
Happy 4th everyone and G-d bless America!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I wish I'd read this when you first published it. Even now it's helpful.
Refreshing commentary
Thank you for reposting this. It was a moving testament to our country, better than anything I've heard in a while. America is already great. A friend of mine who moved to the US at age four didn't understand the big deal about citizenship. Why bother? Eventually when she was in her thirties she decided to take that step. After her swearing in ceremony she told me in tears that she now understood why it was a big deal. Most of the people in her group had sacrificed much to be here. They were so grateful to become citizens, that their gratitude rubbed off on my friend. I appreciate all of your blogs and Substack posts. DNA is fun!
A story like this makes one feel grateful as well. You are an example of the kind of people who made this the greatest nation on earth. And I hate to rain on your Independence Day parade, but you are the exception, not the rule. I’m not just talking about 1st, 2nd, or 3rd generation Americans. I’m talking about all of us. The 6th, 7th and 8th generations or more. This will not pass. This is the beginning of the end. There is no viable path to recovery.
What a fierce loving piece, Razib. Thank you.