Nov. 11, 2016, I wrote about "tearing down the walls of separation". It was right after the Presidential election where half the country was elated and the other half was angry, upset and unhappy.
Three years later instead of us getting more united, we are as fragmented as ever. Why? It is so sad. We are supposed to have freedom of speech, but if people don't agree with your views, they want to harm you or slander you. The PC, politically correct agenda, has gone out of control. You never know when to open your mouth to say something, and when you do, you may offend somebody, somewhere. What I was able to say yesterday, I am not allowed to say today. If you disagree with something or someone, suddenly you are a racist. If you want immigration reform, or the existing laws enforced you are NOT compassionate and you hate immigrants. What?? I am an immigrant. I am also a naturalized citizen. I don't hate anybody! I don't discriminated against anybody!
My family and I came to this country legally, after many years of waiting. We had to get medical checkups, immunizations, and background checks before entering the United States. My brother who was already here, sponsored us. What that meant was that if we were to default on any debts, or we were not able to support ourselves, he was responsible for us. We were not here to become burden to the country. Once we were here, we learned the English language and tried to assimilate as much as we could. I went to high school, and did not demand the teachers to speak my language, I learned to speak English. My parents got jobs, albeit not the most glamorous, but jobs that paid our bills. My parents who were in their mid to late 50's, also learned to speak English, broken, but it was enough to get by. When they needed an interpreter, I went with them, we did not expect the country to supply us with interpreters. They tried to adjust the best they could and never complained, thankful to be here.
Istanbul, Turkey, where the population is now 99% Muslim, was hostile to Christians in the 1950's and 1960's, and my father's business was burned down and destroyed in the riots of September 1954 and I believe at another time as well, but I was too young to remember details. (Muslim countries persecute Christians and Jews, why can't people accept the truth? is it because they have not experienced it?). We left everything behind and started a new life. A peaceful life. A life free of discrimination and religious persecutions. A life of freedom to be able to express yourself without fear of retaliation. My father had finally realized his dream of coming to America (my mother was not so thrilled). We paid our taxes and obeyed the laws. We were proud to become American citizens, as soon as we were eligible. We did not wave the flag of our old/native country, but the flag of our new, adopted country.
Oh yes, did I also mention that before coming here we had to first immigrate to Sweden? The quotas for entering the US were closed. Why am I telling you all this? Because what is happening in our country today is very personal to me. It has nothing to do about being a racist, it has nothing to do about not being compassionate, it has nothing to do about not wanting immigrants. On the contrary, I embrace diversity. Diversity teaches us tolerance, new ideas and makes us grow. People are the same and want the same things, no matter what country they come from. The good people are good, and the bad people are bad. Most people want to be left alone and care for their families. They want to be good citizens, regardless of their skin color, religion or gender.
In my 50 years in this country, it is the first time that I have seen such violence in the streets, and hatred towards our President. When he speaks of unity vs hate, and of healing and forgiveness, they mock him. Why? Who is the one doing the division? Why is the media focusing only on the negative? Why can't they give him also the credit he deserves.Yes, we may not agree with all the policies, and how some things are run, but we need to remember that this is still the best country in the world. It is still the most prosperous country. That's why people from all over the world still want to come here. Let's keep it that way. The President is doing his best. We need to help him do better, instead of working against him, day in and day out. It is exhausting, childish and hateful. Oh, and yes, please don't call me names, such as deplorable, and don't lump me together with all the feminist movements, just because I am a woman. YOU do not represent me! I am educated, successful, have travelled the world, and have seen how the rest of the world lives. I don't call anybody names, just because they don't agree with my views. I show them respect, and that is what I expect in return.
Over the years I have learned that life is what you make of it and what you look for. You can see the glass half full or half empty. We didn't expect handouts. We didn't look for 'opportunities' to be offended, so we can sue somebody. With God's help and protection everything worked out.
Now everyone wants to take God out of everything and everyday life, and expect great things to happen. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. Everyone wants their 'rights', but goes about it in an aggressive, hostile and disrespectful way. If we want to be a united country, we all have to learn to work together, accept and respect each other without hate and violence. It would be nice if the people we have elected too Congress and Senate, on both sides of the isle, remember why they are there. They were elected to work FOR the people, it is time they start doing that. This is not for them to promote their agenda, but the will of the people. If they cannot do that, then they can step aside.
God Bless America! Let's keep America Great!
Three years later instead of us getting more united, we are as fragmented as ever. Why? It is so sad. We are supposed to have freedom of speech, but if people don't agree with your views, they want to harm you or slander you. The PC, politically correct agenda, has gone out of control. You never know when to open your mouth to say something, and when you do, you may offend somebody, somewhere. What I was able to say yesterday, I am not allowed to say today. If you disagree with something or someone, suddenly you are a racist. If you want immigration reform, or the existing laws enforced you are NOT compassionate and you hate immigrants. What?? I am an immigrant. I am also a naturalized citizen. I don't hate anybody! I don't discriminated against anybody!
My family and I came to this country legally, after many years of waiting. We had to get medical checkups, immunizations, and background checks before entering the United States. My brother who was already here, sponsored us. What that meant was that if we were to default on any debts, or we were not able to support ourselves, he was responsible for us. We were not here to become burden to the country. Once we were here, we learned the English language and tried to assimilate as much as we could. I went to high school, and did not demand the teachers to speak my language, I learned to speak English. My parents got jobs, albeit not the most glamorous, but jobs that paid our bills. My parents who were in their mid to late 50's, also learned to speak English, broken, but it was enough to get by. When they needed an interpreter, I went with them, we did not expect the country to supply us with interpreters. They tried to adjust the best they could and never complained, thankful to be here.
Istanbul, Turkey, where the population is now 99% Muslim, was hostile to Christians in the 1950's and 1960's, and my father's business was burned down and destroyed in the riots of September 1954 and I believe at another time as well, but I was too young to remember details. (Muslim countries persecute Christians and Jews, why can't people accept the truth? is it because they have not experienced it?). We left everything behind and started a new life. A peaceful life. A life free of discrimination and religious persecutions. A life of freedom to be able to express yourself without fear of retaliation. My father had finally realized his dream of coming to America (my mother was not so thrilled). We paid our taxes and obeyed the laws. We were proud to become American citizens, as soon as we were eligible. We did not wave the flag of our old/native country, but the flag of our new, adopted country.
Oh yes, did I also mention that before coming here we had to first immigrate to Sweden? The quotas for entering the US were closed. Why am I telling you all this? Because what is happening in our country today is very personal to me. It has nothing to do about being a racist, it has nothing to do about not being compassionate, it has nothing to do about not wanting immigrants. On the contrary, I embrace diversity. Diversity teaches us tolerance, new ideas and makes us grow. People are the same and want the same things, no matter what country they come from. The good people are good, and the bad people are bad. Most people want to be left alone and care for their families. They want to be good citizens, regardless of their skin color, religion or gender.
In my 50 years in this country, it is the first time that I have seen such violence in the streets, and hatred towards our President. When he speaks of unity vs hate, and of healing and forgiveness, they mock him. Why? Who is the one doing the division? Why is the media focusing only on the negative? Why can't they give him also the credit he deserves.Yes, we may not agree with all the policies, and how some things are run, but we need to remember that this is still the best country in the world. It is still the most prosperous country. That's why people from all over the world still want to come here. Let's keep it that way. The President is doing his best. We need to help him do better, instead of working against him, day in and day out. It is exhausting, childish and hateful. Oh, and yes, please don't call me names, such as deplorable, and don't lump me together with all the feminist movements, just because I am a woman. YOU do not represent me! I am educated, successful, have travelled the world, and have seen how the rest of the world lives. I don't call anybody names, just because they don't agree with my views. I show them respect, and that is what I expect in return.
Over the years I have learned that life is what you make of it and what you look for. You can see the glass half full or half empty. We didn't expect handouts. We didn't look for 'opportunities' to be offended, so we can sue somebody. With God's help and protection everything worked out.
Now everyone wants to take God out of everything and everyday life, and expect great things to happen. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. Everyone wants their 'rights', but goes about it in an aggressive, hostile and disrespectful way. If we want to be a united country, we all have to learn to work together, accept and respect each other without hate and violence. It would be nice if the people we have elected too Congress and Senate, on both sides of the isle, remember why they are there. They were elected to work FOR the people, it is time they start doing that. This is not for them to promote their agenda, but the will of the people. If they cannot do that, then they can step aside.
God Bless America! Let's keep America Great!
