Lucy from Japan
Dear America,
America…it is hard to think of what to say to you as I see the world is in a constant debate to try to define you and find your proper role. To me, strangely enough, America has become my home and a very strong part of my identity that I cannot refute. I have spent most of my life in the U.S. and obtained my permanent residency at a young age. Having had the freedom to choose to live in the united states, I should be in great awe at the vast opportunities America has to offer…and it has….I am one of the lucky immigrants that has been able to take advantage of what the American Dream has to offer…great education system, good wages, internationalization, vast mixing of cultures, etc. etc. Yet, I am still uncertain weather I can fully accept America for what it is. How can you embrace America as your home if America does not listen to us, us as the many multi-cultural residents in the U.S. that has often found that the world is screaming messages to America that she doesn’t seems to hear.
Do you know how it feels to be told by a relative, “Why are you doing this? Why are you sending troops into Iraq?” Apparently “you” (me) is equated with America, and I am lost as to how to explain to my cousin, that yes although I live in the states I and many others around me were not the ones who sent the troops marching. That democracy doesn’t necessarily mean that you are heard.
You think it is right to play the world’s police, and yet what is it telling the world if you decide not to listen even to the UN? We didn’t care, and we didn’t know, but we will get what we want…ignorance and arrogance as one of my friends put it. We need to learn to fully evaluate every situation by looking into more than the intent the government has. Every country has its history, politics, government, etc…and we need to know the other before deciding what to do. It is too late to find out the very complex history and sects of Iraq that could have warned us of the civil war that erupted. America is a powerful giant, there is no refuting that, but as such a powerful country, it must learn to take responsibility for its actions. It is no longer about what Americas wants, or even about saving Bush’s face, we must begin to re-evaluate our prior actions and begin to have a different mind set in evaluating such foreign policies.
About the author:
Name: Lucy
Age: 22
Country: Japan
Gender: Female
Experience with America: Currently Living in the US
5 Comments
Published on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 at 12:02 AM. America…it is hard to think of what to say to you as I see the world is in a constant debate to try to define you and find your proper role. To me, strangely enough, America has become my home and a very strong part of my identity that I cannot refute. I have spent most of my life in the U.S. and obtained my permanent residency at a young age. Having had the freedom to choose to live in the united states, I should be in great awe at the vast opportunities America has to offer…and it has….I am one of the lucky immigrants that has been able to take advantage of what the American Dream has to offer…great education system, good wages, internationalization, vast mixing of cultures, etc. etc. Yet, I am still uncertain weather I can fully accept America for what it is. How can you embrace America as your home if America does not listen to us, us as the many multi-cultural residents in the U.S. that has often found that the world is screaming messages to America that she doesn’t seems to hear.
Do you know how it feels to be told by a relative, “Why are you doing this? Why are you sending troops into Iraq?” Apparently “you” (me) is equated with America, and I am lost as to how to explain to my cousin, that yes although I live in the states I and many others around me were not the ones who sent the troops marching. That democracy doesn’t necessarily mean that you are heard.
You think it is right to play the world’s police, and yet what is it telling the world if you decide not to listen even to the UN? We didn’t care, and we didn’t know, but we will get what we want…ignorance and arrogance as one of my friends put it. We need to learn to fully evaluate every situation by looking into more than the intent the government has. Every country has its history, politics, government, etc…and we need to know the other before deciding what to do. It is too late to find out the very complex history and sects of Iraq that could have warned us of the civil war that erupted. America is a powerful giant, there is no refuting that, but as such a powerful country, it must learn to take responsibility for its actions. It is no longer about what Americas wants, or even about saving Bush’s face, we must begin to re-evaluate our prior actions and begin to have a different mind set in evaluating such foreign policies.
About the author:
Name: Lucy
Age: 22
Country: Japan
Gender: Female
Experience with America: Currently Living in the US
Labels: 20's, american dream, asia, culture, currently living in the US, female, foreign affairs, foreign policy, immigration, japan, military, war and conflict
Australia
Canada
Egypt
Germany
India
Iraq
Iran
Italy
Japan
Malta
Malaysia
Macedonia
Mauritania
Mexico
New Zeland
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Panama
Peru
Philippines
Singapore
Slovenia
South Africa
Sudan
United Kingdom
United States
Vietnam
