This essay made me tear up, and my heart swell. I feel this in my bones, as well. I am native born, 3rd generation family. I went to school when they taught actual History.
I Am Proud To Be An American, today and every day.
As a legal immigrant from a communist country in the 60’s I totally relate to the essay. We waited patiently years for an American visa and another 5 years to take the oath. And now I celebrate the 4th every day 🇺🇸!
How sad is it that the only thing your grandson knows about George Washington is that he owned slaves. Nothing at all about Washington's critical role as a leader and strategist during the Revolutionary War, or the importance of his leadership as a new nation was formed. Just slaves. But that's what today's educational narrative focuses on.
Wonderful article for the 4th of July. I am an immigrant too, much more recent than you. Yet, amazingly, when I arrived from Brazil, in 2014, I still had the opportunity to be amazed at how Americans "trusted their institutions and praised their country." How lucky they are, I thought, to be able to be so proud. I knew too well this feeling of despising one's country and believing it is the worst. I was so relieved that as an American citizen I could freely trust, and love, and be proud, like you said. It didn't last. I lost it so fast. Are these "progressive" young Americans stupid, crazy or what? How do you let such a treasure slip of your hands? Come on, people. If you are so "woke," (regular English, "awake") wake up from this nightmare today.
Oh my goodness, what a beautifully articulated article. A genuine pleasure to read. I haven't seen or heard the true American spirit in many years but this article certainly refreshes and consoles.
I also started to cry reading this ringing defense of America. I am going to print this out as a reference guide for my own (16) grandchildren who also know “George Washington was a slave holder”.... and not much else😔. Thank you. God bless your family , and mine ( Italian immigrants. My grandfather arrived as a 4 year old. Was functionally illiterate his whole life. His grandchildren finished college with Advanced degrees. My own son has earned an MD and PhD. All of this in 120 years. This is the gift and promise of America. ) God bless America
Lovely essay. There isn't a day that goes by when I don't think at least once about how _fortunate_ I am to live in the United States. A woman of my singularly mouthy, contrarian disposition would have a hard time prospering as I have prospered anywhere else on this planet.
I'm not entirely sure, though, that I would use the verb "atone" to describe what I have to do about the disgrace of slavery and Jim Crow segregation.
The thing that makes reparations and systemic racism such a hard sell to so many Americans is that a sizeable portion of us are descended from people who immigrated here after the Civil War. My ancestors did not benefit economically from the institution of American slavery. In fact, the system my ancestors lived under, though called "feudalism," had a great deal in common with enslavement. Feudalism was officially abolished in Sicily in 1812, but since aristocrats owned all land, it hardly mattered what they called the system that allowed them to continue exploiting peasant labor well into the 20th century.
My grandfather was smart enough to get out.
I'd like to implement an even playing field. I'd like opportunities to be present in equal measure for everyone in the U.S., irrespective of cultural, ethnic, or racial distinctions.
But that's not really the same thing as "atonement."
Well said, this article should become basic reading for all. It is the best explanation of what this country is. Sadly, there are a group of people who think they prefer another country, one they can rule. But it amazes me how few of those people leave. I suppose it is human nature to want control, but those who do seek only to enrich themselves. They are weak and need to subjugate others because they cannot find their own self-worth.
Nice piece. My family were also immigrants coming here as poor southern Italian farmers escaping poverty in the early 1900s. My great grandparents were born in the late 1800s and came here very early. THESE STORIES should be told to the younger generations in schools by the actual immigrants themselves because many young people today have NO IDEA what it was like. It is ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT to tell these stories to people who think communism is so great. Happy FOURTH ‼️
“Half of the American economy was built on slavery, you will say.”
——————————————————-
I’m not even going to bother looking up what percentage of our economy is ‘cotton from 150 years ago’ but it’s gotta be less than half.
(slavery built 0% of this country and we are all poorer because slavery took place)
((okay there’s a vanishingly small percentage of people like Joe Biden who still have their slavery money but *almost* all of us are poorer because of slavery))
What a magnificent essay, particularly poignant that you published it on the Fourth of July. It actually belongs in the literary history books. Hoping our nation’s teachers take up this challenge.
Yes America is exceptional. Because, as Mr. Gurri notes, "[t]he American people seemed to have freedom in their bones, in their DNA: so deep that they didn’t even notice." When the subjects of other nations are told to jump, they mumble "how high?" Americans answer 'get lost" or something a bit stronger. That's what real Americans do and have always done. They don't bow to bureaucrats. Or swallow ridiculous notions such as the "ministry of truth." They ridicule and ignore lockdowns of the young and healthy for a virus that affects only the aged and infirm. They demand truth from their news sources. And honesty from their elected leaders. And most of all they have no use or regard for a government that tells them what to say, think or believe. Happy Fourth to all my fellow Americans, - even to the benighted Democrats in the hope that you will soon see the light. America is beautiful and exceptional and worth fighting to keep. Stand proud and tall today on the birthday of the greatest nation on Earth.
I have an Iraqi friend, who came to this country and became a US citizen, and once, talking about his own story he said, with conviction in his voice that I have never heard from anyone else: "I love this country." His voice trembled with emotion and sincerity as he said it. I understood immediately why he said it the way he did. He knew what the alternative was. He knew how fortunate he was. How much better off we would all be if our perceptions were enriched by his perspective and by Martin's perspective on what it means to be an American.
Wow, great start to the 4th and as stated below, tears in my eyes for what we are and what we will continue to be. For those of us who have weathered a number of different eras we know this country has made it through and prospered on many levels. I believe we will do it again and continue the great country that was founded by men who risked their lives to be set free. Thanks for a wonderful and stirring essay.
This essay made me tear up, and my heart swell. I feel this in my bones, as well. I am native born, 3rd generation family. I went to school when they taught actual History.
I Am Proud To Be An American, today and every day.
As a legal immigrant from a communist country in the 60’s I totally relate to the essay. We waited patiently years for an American visa and another 5 years to take the oath. And now I celebrate the 4th every day 🇺🇸!
How sad is it that the only thing your grandson knows about George Washington is that he owned slaves. Nothing at all about Washington's critical role as a leader and strategist during the Revolutionary War, or the importance of his leadership as a new nation was formed. Just slaves. But that's what today's educational narrative focuses on.
Wonderful article for the 4th of July. I am an immigrant too, much more recent than you. Yet, amazingly, when I arrived from Brazil, in 2014, I still had the opportunity to be amazed at how Americans "trusted their institutions and praised their country." How lucky they are, I thought, to be able to be so proud. I knew too well this feeling of despising one's country and believing it is the worst. I was so relieved that as an American citizen I could freely trust, and love, and be proud, like you said. It didn't last. I lost it so fast. Are these "progressive" young Americans stupid, crazy or what? How do you let such a treasure slip of your hands? Come on, people. If you are so "woke," (regular English, "awake") wake up from this nightmare today.
Oh my goodness, what a beautifully articulated article. A genuine pleasure to read. I haven't seen or heard the true American spirit in many years but this article certainly refreshes and consoles.
I also started to cry reading this ringing defense of America. I am going to print this out as a reference guide for my own (16) grandchildren who also know “George Washington was a slave holder”.... and not much else😔. Thank you. God bless your family , and mine ( Italian immigrants. My grandfather arrived as a 4 year old. Was functionally illiterate his whole life. His grandchildren finished college with Advanced degrees. My own son has earned an MD and PhD. All of this in 120 years. This is the gift and promise of America. ) God bless America
One of my favorite concepts is the idea that destitute people with no skills magically improve your country.
Obviously, if this was true, Africa and Central America would be awesome; but they are not.
Go ahead, Democrats. Keep doing it. Doesn’t impact me. You’re just screwing over poor people.
Lovely essay. There isn't a day that goes by when I don't think at least once about how _fortunate_ I am to live in the United States. A woman of my singularly mouthy, contrarian disposition would have a hard time prospering as I have prospered anywhere else on this planet.
I'm not entirely sure, though, that I would use the verb "atone" to describe what I have to do about the disgrace of slavery and Jim Crow segregation.
The thing that makes reparations and systemic racism such a hard sell to so many Americans is that a sizeable portion of us are descended from people who immigrated here after the Civil War. My ancestors did not benefit economically from the institution of American slavery. In fact, the system my ancestors lived under, though called "feudalism," had a great deal in common with enslavement. Feudalism was officially abolished in Sicily in 1812, but since aristocrats owned all land, it hardly mattered what they called the system that allowed them to continue exploiting peasant labor well into the 20th century.
My grandfather was smart enough to get out.
I'd like to implement an even playing field. I'd like opportunities to be present in equal measure for everyone in the U.S., irrespective of cultural, ethnic, or racial distinctions.
But that's not really the same thing as "atonement."
Well said, this article should become basic reading for all. It is the best explanation of what this country is. Sadly, there are a group of people who think they prefer another country, one they can rule. But it amazes me how few of those people leave. I suppose it is human nature to want control, but those who do seek only to enrich themselves. They are weak and need to subjugate others because they cannot find their own self-worth.
Nice piece. My family were also immigrants coming here as poor southern Italian farmers escaping poverty in the early 1900s. My great grandparents were born in the late 1800s and came here very early. THESE STORIES should be told to the younger generations in schools by the actual immigrants themselves because many young people today have NO IDEA what it was like. It is ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT to tell these stories to people who think communism is so great. Happy FOURTH ‼️
“Half of the American economy was built on slavery, you will say.”
——————————————————-
I’m not even going to bother looking up what percentage of our economy is ‘cotton from 150 years ago’ but it’s gotta be less than half.
(slavery built 0% of this country and we are all poorer because slavery took place)
((okay there’s a vanishingly small percentage of people like Joe Biden who still have their slavery money but *almost* all of us are poorer because of slavery))
What a magnificent essay, particularly poignant that you published it on the Fourth of July. It actually belongs in the literary history books. Hoping our nation’s teachers take up this challenge.
Yes America is exceptional. Because, as Mr. Gurri notes, "[t]he American people seemed to have freedom in their bones, in their DNA: so deep that they didn’t even notice." When the subjects of other nations are told to jump, they mumble "how high?" Americans answer 'get lost" or something a bit stronger. That's what real Americans do and have always done. They don't bow to bureaucrats. Or swallow ridiculous notions such as the "ministry of truth." They ridicule and ignore lockdowns of the young and healthy for a virus that affects only the aged and infirm. They demand truth from their news sources. And honesty from their elected leaders. And most of all they have no use or regard for a government that tells them what to say, think or believe. Happy Fourth to all my fellow Americans, - even to the benighted Democrats in the hope that you will soon see the light. America is beautiful and exceptional and worth fighting to keep. Stand proud and tall today on the birthday of the greatest nation on Earth.
I have an Iraqi friend, who came to this country and became a US citizen, and once, talking about his own story he said, with conviction in his voice that I have never heard from anyone else: "I love this country." His voice trembled with emotion and sincerity as he said it. I understood immediately why he said it the way he did. He knew what the alternative was. He knew how fortunate he was. How much better off we would all be if our perceptions were enriched by his perspective and by Martin's perspective on what it means to be an American.
Wow, great start to the 4th and as stated below, tears in my eyes for what we are and what we will continue to be. For those of us who have weathered a number of different eras we know this country has made it through and prospered on many levels. I believe we will do it again and continue the great country that was founded by men who risked their lives to be set free. Thanks for a wonderful and stirring essay.
Deeply moving, thank you for your words on this day.