America at Its Best

rochtristan (25) · 6 years ago

Americans have their faults, especially with their aggressive unilateral foreign policy, but I noticed myself that they were much less racist and xenophobic than Europeans.

It's probably because their culture favors personal achievement for anyone while that in Europe, people favor rather belonging to an ethnicity, a religion, and a language, and want to stigmatize all those who don't adhere to a common culture and common values.

It's probably for this reason that in the United States, we have few chances to find anyone who would be favorable to "zero immigration" and "remigration" like in France, Italy or anywhere in Europe, and even most hard-rightist Americans oppose illegal immigration, but favor legal immigration.

It's just unfortunate that many Europeans don't want to distinguish those who come in Europe in order to rise on the social scale and others who would want to "invade and colonize fatherland and impose the Great Replacement".

indigoocean (67) · 6 years ago

I've not traveled/lived in Europe so can't say anything about life there. Europeans I've met in other places, including America, have tended to be some of the most open-minded, ethnically inclusive people I've ever known, but then that group is self-selecting for traveling outside Europe when I meet them! And also I think things change over time. One decade can have a very different feel than another, depending on what's happening in the world.

But I will credit America for at least trying to be better on these issues. Until the current president we had a national ideal of moving beyond tribalism and divisiveness. Things have taken a step back, but it is likely to be corrected by impeachment. Even if the impeachment process fails, it will send a clear signal to our youth that just because someone rises to great power, that does not mean they are a great person nor that they should be emulated.

We generally aim high here in America, and are an idealistic nation. That's probably the one good thing we bring to the world. Sorry for all the bombs.

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newageinv (70) · 6 years ago

I have yet to understand what has happened in the US over the years as growing up in NY, I always thought that we owe the greatness and success of the country to our diversity. I guess I haven’t been most places yet to experience otherwise...

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indigoocean (67) · 6 years ago

When you live in cities, especially coastal cities, you're exposed to people from all over the world. There is still a lot of prejudice, but despite whatever amount of that there is, for the most part people simply have to deal with people who are different from them all their lives. But in places where there are mostly just people with the same race and religion, people can get away with carrying strong distrust, anger and fear about 'the other' without being confronted by it every day. This sort of isolationism is a threat to the American ideal, especially when things get hard for people and they now use 'the other' as a scapegoat to blame. This is all pretty human though, not just American. What's unique about us is that as a nation we've embraced at least the ideal of a melting pot. So we keep slowly self-correcting in that direction.

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tcpolymath (68) · 6 years ago

Ilhan is pretty awesome. (I live in the next district over.)

indigoocean (67) · 6 years ago

Congrats to all you folks in MN for electing her. Really the victory is yours as much as hers.

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geekpowered (69) · 6 years ago

Seeing her on TV after the election, I think she well and truly deserved to be elected.

It's easy to frame the congresswoman as a muslim refugee...but she's so much more than that and she won not because of or in spite of being a refugee but because she inspired people to vote for her and convinced them that she was the better candidate.

I'm glad that we elected quite a number of people that weren't simply old white men, but it kinda feels like just a wobble of the scales that we're currently fighting on to stop being such vile hatred filled beasts.

I hope that she proves that she deserves her seat and she's just the first of many and we begin to have a much more varied congress and representatives.

indigoocean (67) · 6 years ago

Yes I’m sure the people who voted for her did so because they expect her to do the best job for them among those who ran. Hopefully their faith in her will prove well founded.

It is reasonably a slow process of getting people to believe that someone from a different cultural background (race, religion, etc) can truly represent their interests. But we’re getting there.

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originalathena (49) · 6 years ago

🎆 👍🏽👍🏽 thank you for sharing your post 😊

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originalathena (49) · 6 years ago

🙏🏽

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rhyscn (49) · 6 years ago

lovely.

thebigsweed (64) · 6 years ago

This is a proud moment for all Americans!
For so many people to look past the stereotyping that seems to be at its peak in this great country, and elect IIhan Omar tells me that all is not lost.

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indigoocean (67) · 6 years ago

Exactly! It is amazing that they looked past her apparent difference and could see her as someone representing their interests!

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friendly-fenix (59) · 6 years ago

Nice article @indigoocean! I hope that Somalia can become a peaceful place! =) Peace
/FF

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indigoocean (67) · 6 years ago

It is unfortunate that her family needed to flee their homeland at all. But this is one of the things that benefits my country so much. We often get these great people who their own country rejected. Perhaps one day she can return to Somalia as the US Ambassador! (Not sure if that is a step up or down from congresswoman though)

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inspiredgideon1 (58) · 6 years ago

That's a good one. If refugees and strangers are treated well, the world will be a better place to be. But when we are desirous of personal gains, the potentials of these strangers can't be fully gotten.

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indigoocean (67) · 6 years ago

So true. Events like this teach me that despite all the hardship and conflict, the world is actually getting better. Some people respond to the changes of the times by being less friendly to others. But some respond by embracing them. Let us who embrace be sure to increase that influence.

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