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American dreamers
The Kesbeh family were called the Palestinian Cleavers when they were deported to Jordan after 9/11. Now living in dire conditions, they are determined to get back to the U.S., the only place they call home.
By Katharine Mieszkowski [2006-09-10]

  • We LIKE to think "everyone" wants to come here

    I hate to burst bubbles, but not everyone wants to come here. That is a myth that we like to tell ourselves. For some odd reason, maybe it's our isolation, maybe it's our Christian god that's better than anyone else's god, we think the rest of the world is still in the dark ages and America is the shining beacon for the world. Many of you reading this are saying, Well it IS. . . ISN'T IT? Sheesh. You need to get out more--I mean travel out of the country. People in other lands love their homes and culture, and in most places are far more generous and hospitable, ie., civilized, than we here in the US imagine ourselves being. True, there will always be the more adventurous, desparate, or highly capitalized wealth-seekers who will be attracted to this society. But don't believe the whole world is "clamoring to get in." This leads to skewed concepts of reality that Americans have, such as the "we're the greatest and your culture is inferior," which is at the root of many of our conflicts with other nations and cultures.

    -- shackindawoods
    [Read shackindawoods's other letters]
    Sunday, September 10, 2006 02:17 AM
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