A letter from a greatful immigrant
Godfather.
Posts: 12,504
A word of warning to all you jaded, politically correct readers out there: This op-ed piece is not for you. Go read the New York Times.
This piece is written by a grateful immigrant. A legal one, but an immigrant nonetheless.
I was born in Haifa, Israel.
I emigrated to America with my mother, Florence, when I was a child. My mother was a survivor of the Nazi Germany concentration camps of World War II. She was in the camps when she was 14 years old.
If it weren’t for America and the brave sacrifices of its military, my mother and millions of others would have perished.
After the war, my mother found her way to Israel.
Life was hard, but in Israel - finally - there was a place where people didn’t try to kill you just because of your religious persuasion. You could breathe fresh, free air and not be afraid to say “I’m a Jew.”
When I was 8 1/2 years old, my mother took me by the hand, and we emigrated to America. The land of the free. The home of the brave. The land of hopes and dreams.
When we landed in New York, I was simply awed by the majesty that is America. The skyscrapers. Television. Streets full of cars. It was too much to take in all at once.
I soon became an unabashed, unapologetic, dyed-in-the-wool American who believes in standing at attention when the Stars and Strips flies at full mast. To this day, I proudly say the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the national anthem. And I am ashamed when some natural-born citizens of America don’t.
That last phrase makes some native-born Americans uneasy. Being patriotic has become politically incorrect. I refuse to succumb to a numb apathy that seems to pervade some elements of the media and pop culture.
For me, it’s all too real. If it weren’t for America, my mother wouldn’t be alive. If it weren’t for America, this world would be in chaos.
Too politically simplistic, you say? Too black-and-white?
Actually, it’s profoundly true, and it’s time for all Americans to proudly recognize those facts.
I want to be blunt about a message to America:
In the Middle East, you have no greater friend, no greater ally - than Israel. It owes its very existence to America.
A simple political message?
I stand by every word of it.
Op-ed pieces from immigrants in newspapers and statements on television are a good idea. Listen to what we have to say. Hear the gratitude and love for America we all share.
Wake up to what we all have to say: America is the greatest country on Earth.
And finally, thank you for making a poor immigrant boy’s dreams come true.
I found this on the Gene Simmons web site.
Godfather.
This piece is written by a grateful immigrant. A legal one, but an immigrant nonetheless.
I was born in Haifa, Israel.
I emigrated to America with my mother, Florence, when I was a child. My mother was a survivor of the Nazi Germany concentration camps of World War II. She was in the camps when she was 14 years old.
If it weren’t for America and the brave sacrifices of its military, my mother and millions of others would have perished.
After the war, my mother found her way to Israel.
Life was hard, but in Israel - finally - there was a place where people didn’t try to kill you just because of your religious persuasion. You could breathe fresh, free air and not be afraid to say “I’m a Jew.”
When I was 8 1/2 years old, my mother took me by the hand, and we emigrated to America. The land of the free. The home of the brave. The land of hopes and dreams.
When we landed in New York, I was simply awed by the majesty that is America. The skyscrapers. Television. Streets full of cars. It was too much to take in all at once.
I soon became an unabashed, unapologetic, dyed-in-the-wool American who believes in standing at attention when the Stars and Strips flies at full mast. To this day, I proudly say the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the national anthem. And I am ashamed when some natural-born citizens of America don’t.
That last phrase makes some native-born Americans uneasy. Being patriotic has become politically incorrect. I refuse to succumb to a numb apathy that seems to pervade some elements of the media and pop culture.
For me, it’s all too real. If it weren’t for America, my mother wouldn’t be alive. If it weren’t for America, this world would be in chaos.
Too politically simplistic, you say? Too black-and-white?
Actually, it’s profoundly true, and it’s time for all Americans to proudly recognize those facts.
I want to be blunt about a message to America:
In the Middle East, you have no greater friend, no greater ally - than Israel. It owes its very existence to America.
A simple political message?
I stand by every word of it.
Op-ed pieces from immigrants in newspapers and statements on television are a good idea. Listen to what we have to say. Hear the gratitude and love for America we all share.
Wake up to what we all have to say: America is the greatest country on Earth.
And finally, thank you for making a poor immigrant boy’s dreams come true.
I found this on the Gene Simmons web site.
Godfather.
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
Godfather.
That aside, the letter is a bit...sanguine. Whitewashed? Either way. Maybe both.
this guy doesn't appear to know that isreal is the tail that wags the dog...
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
you guy's kill me...millions of people risking and sometimes losing their lives to get in the US and all you ...guy's can do is bitch about how bad it is and not think about the good thing's this country has done for you and your familys before you, I'm all good with making a stand and trying to change the thing's that are wrong but to just bitch on a PJ forum and sound like the spoiled Americans you've been called and the one's that don't live here ????please get a clue kiddies if you don't like America please don't bring you sorry ass's here..nobody will even know you never came here or even care that you didn't, so aside from the anti-Americans bullshit what did you think of this guy's letter ?
....ahhh fuck it.
Godfather.
Its awesome that they are so appreciative of the US. But I wouldnt call people spoiled for voicing their opinion. Obviously the US props up Israel with every chance and there is a lot of criticism surrounding that.
I'd also say that is a little over-dramatic.. I mean this quote: "If it weren’t for America, this world would be in chaos." is pretty strange to me.
american patriotism and nationalistic jingoism is based a lot on narcissism ... what op-eds like this fail to recognize is that blind faith and support of a nation actually hinders the reputation of a country ...
listen - i know you and a whole bunch of folks on here are die-hard patriots and hate hearing bad things about their country ... but, the lack of objectivity is only going to make it worse ...
america is not well liked in many parts of the world and it ISN'T because you guys have big macs and SUV's ... until people like you realize that there are actions done in the name of the red, white and blue that are not true to the values you believe america should uphold - it will not get better ...
america is not the greatest country in the world by any stretch ... it could have been and still can but until a nation is willing to look themselves in the mirror with an honest and objective eye - it will never happen ...
Gene Simmons website? your better than that.
I'm not nearly as self-loathing, but I found this letter a little hokey. The author himself even said it was a little black and white, as well as politically simplistic. It almost sounds like something ghost written by Glenn Beck.
Plus, I don't really back any statement that calls America "the greatest country on Earth". Or a statement where anybody calls their country, whatever that may be, the greatest country on Earth. It just pisses on the leg of other countries.
actually I was just kinda happy see someone how apreicates America and did it legally without jumping a fence or sneak over on a boat, I think ALL immigeration should stop now untill this place get's it's finances in order then open up selectively to new citizens, I was just thought his familys story was kinda cool.
Godfather.
Polaris! I went to Montreal this past weekend and LOVED IT. Sweet city. I wish I could have seen more, I was there on a bachelor party :shock:
As far as America and what people think of it - I think you make great points above. If people look at America for its politicans, over-reaching military intervention, and big powerful corporations only, there really isn't anything to love there. That truly is the slim minority of what this country really is-- however, these groups possess a very loud bullhorn that tend to speak for a lot of people who DO NOT agree with what these entities do. The biggest gripe foreigners should have with Americans, and rightfully so, is that Americans do not exercise their power at the voting booths nor the powers of their purse strings to reign in the jerks that make us all look bad. In my honest opinion, it would only take 25% of us to start giving a shit and exercise our powers as voters and consumers to make the world an infinitely better place. We wouldn't be the most loved, nor the most hated. We'd be kind of like Cartman in South Park. Kind of a dick, but kind of fun to have around anyway
you coming to the toronto shows!?? ... you may not want to leave! ... haha
You know, I probably would if I wasn't all traveled-out, weddinged-out, bachelor-partied-out, rocked-out (with my own band). I just want to be at home for a month consecutively. Next time though, next time. I will definitely be visiting Canada again in the next year. Is that where you are? Toronto? There are some serious babes in Montreal, but the hottest girl I met was from Toronto, but she moved to Greece.
Seriously, though. That letter seems kinda fake like an email forward.
"With our thoughts we make the world"
the toronto pj shows are gonna be pretty intense i say ... with the world premier of the documentary plus neil young and u2 in town ... could be one of those shows! ...
i think montreal has toronto licked for babes tho ...
we are already the 51st state ... target is moving in ... we already have walmart and 5 guys ...
Many times the USA seems to feed off weaker countries around the world. We tend to tear them down then glorify ourselves by building them back up in our own image through military protection. I've said it many times we need to say out of other countries businesses and take care of what we face here...which are plenty all by themselves. We love to come to the rescue of other countries but tend to shun our own and to me that's a sad day indeed.
BTW KISS rocks only because it was the first real rock concert I ever saw back in '78 and because of that I probably would never be here.
Peace
*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti
*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
Godfather.
Godfather.
From my short travelling experience, and considering every country has its share of problems, I would have to go with either of these:
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Finland
- Norway
- Belgium
- Canada
- France
I also really liked Australia, but the weather is just too damn hot for me...
Mexico City - July 18th 2003
Mexico City - July 19th 2003
Monterrey - December 7th 2005
Mexico City - December 9th 2005
Mexico City - December 10th 2005
Mexico City - November 24th 2011
sadly ... you don't have it right ... perhaps you are the one who needs to wake up ... free your mind from the partisan biases you are being fed (fox news) and see the world for what it really is ...
we live in a world community. to me when people spout off about how great america is, it just reeks of a superiority complex that we seem to have here in this country. it is like trash talking on the basketball court or something. participating in that does not help the situation...all it does is piss off people from other places or those on other "teams"...
i am a good guitar player. i don't brag about it. i work in medicine and help people every day. i am good at that and i don't brag about it. i don't gloat about it and i don't celebrate the fact that i have it better than a lot of people. i also have a lot of bad things about me as well, but all of those things make up who i am. this country has a lot of good things and a lot of bad things about it. i choose to accept it for what it is. i give it credit when deserved and i criticize it when deserved, which is much more often than i care to admit unfortunately... and there is nothing wrong with calling things as they are.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
my friend I respect all that you have done with your life and your talents and as I have said before ..your word but on this topic "America is best" as far as I can see you are wrong this time,can you tell me a better place to live ? or is your statement not about living here but the flaws we have as a country ? but still to me and many others this is the best country in the world even with it's flaws.
Godfather.
I don't think anyone is about opening our borders to just anyone. Of course there should be an application process, but the general criteria should be that whoever enters is not a criminal and is here to make their life and this country better.
I'm not sure what you mean by a single democratic system? Do you mean a strong federal government with most laws coming from there and less decided by the states? I know that I personally am not for that arrangement. Others may argue differently. I prefer governance to be as localized as possible, right down to the family and individual wherever possible.
Gay marriage? Again-- voluntary associations between adults which have no bearing on the lives of people outside of those associations should be 100% permissible in my eyes. THAT is liberty. You definitely don't have to like it, or even accept it for yourself, but why deny others their right to freely associate with whoever they want to, while calling it whatever they want to?
No one advocates having ZERO military. The staunchest of liberals probably actually want as much probably want as much protection from outside invaders as you, maybe even more-- after all, many seem to like the idea of state provided surveillance and police, why wouldn't that translate to our military, FBI, and CIA? Cutting money for "defense" shouldn't be cutting money for actual "defense,"-- the cuts should be for the military industrial complex. There are billions on the books, and probably trillions off the books in wasteful spending blowing up countries, re-building them, blowing up our own vehicles and sending more over that needs to be stopped, just so a few individuals can profit off of this process. Listen to Ike Eisenhower's speech warning against the military industrial complex when he left office. His words couldn't ring truer today.
Death Penalty -- I understand how people think this is a deterrent, and rids the world of some bad people. It does. However, to give the government monopoly use of lethal force in my eyes is wrong. Self defense should be permissible for all people, and the only scenario when lethal force should be used. People who have committed crimes against humanity should be thrown in a cell with bare minimal care provided to them. There lives however, should not be taken from them.
Higher Taxes? I guess it depends on how they are used, and how "together" the people of a country are, as well as the size of the country. I personally would never advocate higher taxes for America, ever. Too much of the money is horribly mis-spent and disappears trillions at a time to some black hole somewhere, all while 300 million people with 300 million different agendas try and figure out a way to get a piece of their action back through the same system. I was just in Canada this past weekend, and I was in one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen, Montreal, where businesses appeared to be thriving, and the tax rates are probably greater than America. Now, I was only in one city for a few days, so it's really hard to say if that has anything to do with it, but I'll say that Montreal had their shit together. Canada's overall population is only the size of California's, and I have no idea what their debt to GDP ratio is, or what their government is REALLY like. I know that I saw tons of competition in businesses there, about 3 cops the whole weekend who really didn't need to lift a finger, the cleanest city I've ever seen in my life, good infrastructure, food was kind of shitty
So how does America get to becoming the greatest country ever, undisputably? Stop bombing the shit out of everyone, end all corporate subsidies and corporate welfare immediately, legalize all forms of personal freedom first, and then transition out of the social safety net programs by allowing people to opt out of them. Give it 40 years with these ideas put into practice and I believe people would find us to be the most peaceful, prosperous, and diverse country in the world.
hahahaha
You know you and I really aren't all that different. Just the labels. Although I REALLY, REALLY am a voluntarist at heart, I wouldn't mind getting there by completely eliminating parts of government in tons of areas, while improving its efficiency in others, before completely doing without it all together.
I don't know if I've made it clear yet,
Then again, I was WASTED for 3/4 of the experience