Musings of an Immigrant
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Just over 20 years ago, I and my family packed our most precious belongings and boarded an Austrian Airlines flight in Johannesburg on our way to Dulles, Washington via Vienna. My most precious belonging at the time: An IBM PC with a Pentium 100 chip! We huddled close as the future was so uncertain. My greatest concern: Am I doing the best for my family? Is this the biggest mistake of my life? Well, as it turns out transplanting my family from a third world toilet in Africa is turning out to be my greatest legacy. Barely a month goes by without my kids expressing gratitude for that move. And I must confess it took courage! People who have not gone through the travails and tribulations of moving to a different country have no idea of the obstacles that you have to overcome. Avoiding the details I can tell you that my son today has a PhD in Physics from MIT and is currently Associate Professor in Physics at a prominent university on the East Coast. My one daughter is running her own business doing graphic design for very large entities, including the Military and some multi-national corporations. My entire family is today American citizens. We are extremely grateful to the American people for warmly accepting us as one of your own. My family will not disappoint you! We have a lot to contribute to the welfare of the USA! Thank you!
Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!
There is a vast difference between a skilled migrant and a destitute refugee, I don't think the world has an issue with migrants (well some of us bigots do but you can ignore us) but the flood of migrants across the planet is frightening. I would like to assume you integrated into your host society and became a positive asset to your community. It is when migrants and refugees not only bring their own culture and religion to a host nation but then attempt to force their culture and religion into the host (fuk makes then sound like particularly nasty wasps).
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
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There is a vast difference between a skilled migrant and a destitute refugee, I don't think the world has an issue with migrants (well some of us bigots do but you can ignore us) but the flood of migrants across the planet is frightening. I would like to assume you integrated into your host society and became a positive asset to your community. It is when migrants and refugees not only bring their own culture and religion to a host nation but then attempt to force their culture and religion into the host (fuk makes then sound like particularly nasty wasps).
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
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There is a vast difference between a skilled migrant and a destitute refugee, I don't think the world has an issue with migrants (well some of us bigots do but you can ignore us) but the flood of migrants across the planet is frightening. I would like to assume you integrated into your host society and became a positive asset to your community. It is when migrants and refugees not only bring their own culture and religion to a host nation but then attempt to force their culture and religion into the host (fuk makes then sound like particularly nasty wasps).
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
A lot of people who came to the USA from Europe in the early late 1800's early 1900's fit the "destitute refuge" label, but they were determined to make a good life for themselves and just wanted to be part of the new country. I think a lot of refuges today are the same. There are unfortunately some who fit the second part of your post. Those aren't wanted anywhere even, probably, in their own country. In fact, they're probably some of those who caused the refugee problem in the first place.
#SupportHeForShe Government can give you nothing but what it takes from somebody else. A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you've got, including your freedom.-Ezra Taft Benson You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun
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Just over 20 years ago, I and my family packed our most precious belongings and boarded an Austrian Airlines flight in Johannesburg on our way to Dulles, Washington via Vienna. My most precious belonging at the time: An IBM PC with a Pentium 100 chip! We huddled close as the future was so uncertain. My greatest concern: Am I doing the best for my family? Is this the biggest mistake of my life? Well, as it turns out transplanting my family from a third world toilet in Africa is turning out to be my greatest legacy. Barely a month goes by without my kids expressing gratitude for that move. And I must confess it took courage! People who have not gone through the travails and tribulations of moving to a different country have no idea of the obstacles that you have to overcome. Avoiding the details I can tell you that my son today has a PhD in Physics from MIT and is currently Associate Professor in Physics at a prominent university on the East Coast. My one daughter is running her own business doing graphic design for very large entities, including the Military and some multi-national corporations. My entire family is today American citizens. We are extremely grateful to the American people for warmly accepting us as one of your own. My family will not disappoint you! We have a lot to contribute to the welfare of the USA! Thank you!
Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!
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Just over 20 years ago, I and my family packed our most precious belongings and boarded an Austrian Airlines flight in Johannesburg on our way to Dulles, Washington via Vienna. My most precious belonging at the time: An IBM PC with a Pentium 100 chip! We huddled close as the future was so uncertain. My greatest concern: Am I doing the best for my family? Is this the biggest mistake of my life? Well, as it turns out transplanting my family from a third world toilet in Africa is turning out to be my greatest legacy. Barely a month goes by without my kids expressing gratitude for that move. And I must confess it took courage! People who have not gone through the travails and tribulations of moving to a different country have no idea of the obstacles that you have to overcome. Avoiding the details I can tell you that my son today has a PhD in Physics from MIT and is currently Associate Professor in Physics at a prominent university on the East Coast. My one daughter is running her own business doing graphic design for very large entities, including the Military and some multi-national corporations. My entire family is today American citizens. We are extremely grateful to the American people for warmly accepting us as one of your own. My family will not disappoint you! We have a lot to contribute to the welfare of the USA! Thank you!
Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!
Cornelius Henning wrote:
People who have not gone through the travails and tribulations of moving to a different country have no idea of the obstacles that you have to overcome.
Try a country that doesnt speak the same language as you, makes it 1000000000% more difficult. :) Anyway, congratulations. The US should welcome immigrants like you who can contribute.
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Just over 20 years ago, I and my family packed our most precious belongings and boarded an Austrian Airlines flight in Johannesburg on our way to Dulles, Washington via Vienna. My most precious belonging at the time: An IBM PC with a Pentium 100 chip! We huddled close as the future was so uncertain. My greatest concern: Am I doing the best for my family? Is this the biggest mistake of my life? Well, as it turns out transplanting my family from a third world toilet in Africa is turning out to be my greatest legacy. Barely a month goes by without my kids expressing gratitude for that move. And I must confess it took courage! People who have not gone through the travails and tribulations of moving to a different country have no idea of the obstacles that you have to overcome. Avoiding the details I can tell you that my son today has a PhD in Physics from MIT and is currently Associate Professor in Physics at a prominent university on the East Coast. My one daughter is running her own business doing graphic design for very large entities, including the Military and some multi-national corporations. My entire family is today American citizens. We are extremely grateful to the American people for warmly accepting us as one of your own. My family will not disappoint you! We have a lot to contribute to the welfare of the USA! Thank you!
Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!
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There is a vast difference between a skilled migrant and a destitute refugee, I don't think the world has an issue with migrants (well some of us bigots do but you can ignore us) but the flood of migrants across the planet is frightening. I would like to assume you integrated into your host society and became a positive asset to your community. It is when migrants and refugees not only bring their own culture and religion to a host nation but then attempt to force their culture and religion into the host (fuk makes then sound like particularly nasty wasps).
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
Mycroft Holmes wrote:
the flood of migrants across the planet is frightening.
What is frightening to me is why there are so many. Why can't each country get along and provide for their own? Why are so many people wanting to or being forced to leave? We should fix the root of the problem. :^)
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data. There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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Mycroft Holmes wrote:
the flood of migrants across the planet is frightening.
What is frightening to me is why there are so many. Why can't each country get along and provide for their own? Why are so many people wanting to or being forced to leave? We should fix the root of the problem. :^)
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data. There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
Clearly the way the west run their countries makes them so much more attractive, so much better, that everyone in Africa and the middle east wants to come live there. Hmm, how could we solve this..... how about running their countries for them along similar lines!!!! Ah, yes, that was called colonialism, and we already tried it. They all thought they could do a better job......
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Just over 20 years ago, I and my family packed our most precious belongings and boarded an Austrian Airlines flight in Johannesburg on our way to Dulles, Washington via Vienna. My most precious belonging at the time: An IBM PC with a Pentium 100 chip! We huddled close as the future was so uncertain. My greatest concern: Am I doing the best for my family? Is this the biggest mistake of my life? Well, as it turns out transplanting my family from a third world toilet in Africa is turning out to be my greatest legacy. Barely a month goes by without my kids expressing gratitude for that move. And I must confess it took courage! People who have not gone through the travails and tribulations of moving to a different country have no idea of the obstacles that you have to overcome. Avoiding the details I can tell you that my son today has a PhD in Physics from MIT and is currently Associate Professor in Physics at a prominent university on the East Coast. My one daughter is running her own business doing graphic design for very large entities, including the Military and some multi-national corporations. My entire family is today American citizens. We are extremely grateful to the American people for warmly accepting us as one of your own. My family will not disappoint you! We have a lot to contribute to the welfare of the USA! Thank you!
Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!
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Just over 20 years ago, I and my family packed our most precious belongings and boarded an Austrian Airlines flight in Johannesburg on our way to Dulles, Washington via Vienna. My most precious belonging at the time: An IBM PC with a Pentium 100 chip! We huddled close as the future was so uncertain. My greatest concern: Am I doing the best for my family? Is this the biggest mistake of my life? Well, as it turns out transplanting my family from a third world toilet in Africa is turning out to be my greatest legacy. Barely a month goes by without my kids expressing gratitude for that move. And I must confess it took courage! People who have not gone through the travails and tribulations of moving to a different country have no idea of the obstacles that you have to overcome. Avoiding the details I can tell you that my son today has a PhD in Physics from MIT and is currently Associate Professor in Physics at a prominent university on the East Coast. My one daughter is running her own business doing graphic design for very large entities, including the Military and some multi-national corporations. My entire family is today American citizens. We are extremely grateful to the American people for warmly accepting us as one of your own. My family will not disappoint you! We have a lot to contribute to the welfare of the USA! Thank you!
Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!
I have no problem with immigration as long as the immigrant follows the rules set up by the host nation. If a person comes across the border illegally and then demands my tax dollars should support them, then I have a problem. Or worse, other citizens say my tax dollars should support the illegal immigrant because I have it too good and it's my fault that the criminal (Did you come into the country legally? No? Then you have broken the law of the land and are a criminal.) doesn't have as much as me, that sends me over the edge. I'm not completely against welfare but we should take care of our citizens before the illegals.
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Mycroft Holmes wrote:
the flood of migrants across the planet is frightening.
What is frightening to me is why there are so many. Why can't each country get along and provide for their own? Why are so many people wanting to or being forced to leave? We should fix the root of the problem. :^)
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who can extrapolate from incomplete data. There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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I have no problem with immigration as long as the immigrant follows the rules set up by the host nation. If a person comes across the border illegally and then demands my tax dollars should support them, then I have a problem. Or worse, other citizens say my tax dollars should support the illegal immigrant because I have it too good and it's my fault that the criminal (Did you come into the country legally? No? Then you have broken the law of the land and are a criminal.) doesn't have as much as me, that sends me over the edge. I'm not completely against welfare but we should take care of our citizens before the illegals.
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I have no problem with immigration as long as the immigrant follows the rules set up by the host nation. If a person comes across the border illegally and then demands my tax dollars should support them, then I have a problem. Or worse, other citizens say my tax dollars should support the illegal immigrant because I have it too good and it's my fault that the criminal (Did you come into the country legally? No? Then you have broken the law of the land and are a criminal.) doesn't have as much as me, that sends me over the edge. I'm not completely against welfare but we should take care of our citizens before the illegals.
MarkTJohnson wrote:
I have no problem with immigration as long as the immigrant follows the rules set up by the host nation. If a person comes across the border illegally and then demands my tax dollars money should support them, then I have a problem.
FTFY, this way it is applicable to the whole world. I am myself migrant (since 2004 in Germany) and it pisses me totally off the people coming as they were the kings of the world...
M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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Just over 20 years ago, I and my family packed our most precious belongings and boarded an Austrian Airlines flight in Johannesburg on our way to Dulles, Washington via Vienna. My most precious belonging at the time: An IBM PC with a Pentium 100 chip! We huddled close as the future was so uncertain. My greatest concern: Am I doing the best for my family? Is this the biggest mistake of my life? Well, as it turns out transplanting my family from a third world toilet in Africa is turning out to be my greatest legacy. Barely a month goes by without my kids expressing gratitude for that move. And I must confess it took courage! People who have not gone through the travails and tribulations of moving to a different country have no idea of the obstacles that you have to overcome. Avoiding the details I can tell you that my son today has a PhD in Physics from MIT and is currently Associate Professor in Physics at a prominent university on the East Coast. My one daughter is running her own business doing graphic design for very large entities, including the Military and some multi-national corporations. My entire family is today American citizens. We are extremely grateful to the American people for warmly accepting us as one of your own. My family will not disappoint you! We have a lot to contribute to the welfare of the USA! Thank you!
Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!
First off, big congrats on the success of your family. You've done a lot more than too many native-born folks who, I fear, take what we have for granted. I have a question though: I've been under the assumption that people who worked hard, paid their dues, and struggled to earn their American citizenship might be offended by the blase manner in which illegal immigrants are now lumped in with them for rhetorical purposes. Is that a fair assessment, or am I dissembling too much?
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics." - Benjamin Disraeli
