Not sure why I am getting involved in this argument given that I have enough going on in my life right now:)
But here is the perspective of an immigrant to the US from 27 years ago who became a citizen 9 years ago.
I have the utmost admiration for the average American and believe that my decision to come to the US was one of the best decisions that I ever made. I came to the US with all of $1,500 and through a combination of hard work, opportunity, planning and luck, I have been able to "retire" for all intents and purposes at an age when most people, even in the US, are still having to work for a living. I doubt that I could have achieved this in any other country.
The danger that exists in taking the approach that anyone "trashing" the US should leave is that it begs certain other questions. For example, at what point--in other words after how many years of residence-- does one have the right to criticize any aspect of the country of ones adoption and what is one free to criticize without being invited to take a hike. Some examples:
I recently posted my rather critical views about Clinton and my feeling that he should be impeached, if there is credible evidence indicating that he did anything illegal--am I allowed to say this?
I feel that US policy in Asia and especially China with regard to providing missile technology is flawed--am I trashing the US?
I feel that the US and the other nuclear powers cannot reasonably take a "holier than thou" attitude that joining the "nuclear club" is a prerogative that other countries cannot exercise even as the original five nuclear powers seek to preserve their weapons -- can I say that or am I trashing the US?
I feel that US policy towards Cuba--and to some extent Iraq-- is wrong vis a vis the boycott--is that trashing the US?
I think that this whole "soft money" thing is legalized bribery -- am I trashing the US in saying this?
I feel that the war in Vietnam was morally wrong and in my day, I demonstrated against US policy--is that trashing the US?
I trust that I have made my point, in terms of where criticizing the actions/policies of the US ends and trashing the US begins.
What I do know is that the freedoms, justice system, economic opportunities, health care and comparative lack of prejudice against foreigners one enjoys in the US is almost without parallel. And for anyone who chooses to challenge this statement--I am not saying that there are no flaws--just that the flaws are much more glaring in many other countries--some that I have lived in, others that I have visited, and others that I have come to know about through people who have lived there.
So while I empathize with Americans who are sensitive to the US being "trashed", it is important to distinguish between unbridled dislike of the US and all that it stands for and those who feel that there are certain actions/policies that the US takes that are flawed. |
