Glad to see you able to put your very rough months into the context of folks on an even rougher path. And really glad to see that you seem to be getting decent medical treatment for your most recent mishap, to the point that you're thinking clearly enough to write.
Because I've been through three knee surgeries myself, I still want to hear all the gory details. But I'm glad you're seeing your plight in context.
I am the son and grandson of immigrants. My mother was born in Jamaica, to a Spanish Jew / African and Arab mixed father and a British subject Mother. My father was born in New York to parents who immigrated from Romania. I am about 50% eastern european, 6% African (Nigeria / Benin / Togo), 4% Arab, and most of the rest is Spanish and English. I'm really not very far ahead of a lot of folks being pinched by ICE in "being an American." They may come for me next. I look white, which may help. Or not. I have a good immigration lawyer for a next-door neighbor, and she's aware that I have a recent immigrant genesis. I was born in Urbana, Illinois. And like John, had a home, an income, an opportunity for education, finished college with no student debt, and even got a gift of the down payment for my first house. Or, put another way, I was born on first base, advanced to second on a long fly ball to left, stole third, and made it across the plate on a wild pitch. It's still a point.
As Niemoeller said it well:
"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."
—Martin Niemöller
I'll note that four of the current US President's five children were born by non-Citizen immigrant mothers, and are dependent on Birthright Citizenship. Ivana, the mother of Don Jr (1977)., Eric (1984), and Ivanka (1981) was naturalized in 1988, so all of these are birthright citizens (because they were born here) but their mother was not a citizen at the time. Marla, mother of Tiffany (1992), is a native-born American, but Marla was not married to Trump at the time -- they married a few months later. Melania, Trumps current wife, was a citizen of Slovenia at the time Baron was born. He was born in March, 2006, and Melania was naturalized in June, 2006. So, four out of five kids are citizens by route of "birthright" not some other metric of eligibility.
Good article John. I totally agree with all your sentiments. In Australia where I come from we are distrustful of the Current US president . And indeed all things from America. I also have had experience with helping poor Vietnamese people pay for what to them is extremely expensive health care and surgeries. Only the super rich can afford this as there is virtually no health care system for the poor except a tiny insurance scheme that doesn't work. A bit like America I guess anyway John best of luck with your recovery
Pretty accurate. Getting married or even living as a partner is a very quick way to lose your life savings. And indeed Vietnamese culture is complex and after 15 years here I am only scratching the surface. So my advice is Vietnam is a great society but we will always be foreigners. And cover your tracks
Glad to see you able to put your very rough months into the context of folks on an even rougher path. And really glad to see that you seem to be getting decent medical treatment for your most recent mishap, to the point that you're thinking clearly enough to write.
Because I've been through three knee surgeries myself, I still want to hear all the gory details. But I'm glad you're seeing your plight in context.
I am the son and grandson of immigrants. My mother was born in Jamaica, to a Spanish Jew / African and Arab mixed father and a British subject Mother. My father was born in New York to parents who immigrated from Romania. I am about 50% eastern european, 6% African (Nigeria / Benin / Togo), 4% Arab, and most of the rest is Spanish and English. I'm really not very far ahead of a lot of folks being pinched by ICE in "being an American." They may come for me next. I look white, which may help. Or not. I have a good immigration lawyer for a next-door neighbor, and she's aware that I have a recent immigrant genesis. I was born in Urbana, Illinois. And like John, had a home, an income, an opportunity for education, finished college with no student debt, and even got a gift of the down payment for my first house. Or, put another way, I was born on first base, advanced to second on a long fly ball to left, stole third, and made it across the plate on a wild pitch. It's still a point.
As Niemoeller said it well:
"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."
—Martin Niemöller
I'll note that four of the current US President's five children were born by non-Citizen immigrant mothers, and are dependent on Birthright Citizenship. Ivana, the mother of Don Jr (1977)., Eric (1984), and Ivanka (1981) was naturalized in 1988, so all of these are birthright citizens (because they were born here) but their mother was not a citizen at the time. Marla, mother of Tiffany (1992), is a native-born American, but Marla was not married to Trump at the time -- they married a few months later. Melania, Trumps current wife, was a citizen of Slovenia at the time Baron was born. He was born in March, 2006, and Melania was naturalized in June, 2006. So, four out of five kids are citizens by route of "birthright" not some other metric of eligibility.
You might want to look at some of the pre-marital courtship fotos of Melania. https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/donald-trump-melania-trump-knauss-first-lady-erections
Seems a little odd for the orange blob to get going after birthright citizenship.
Good article John. I totally agree with all your sentiments. In Australia where I come from we are distrustful of the Current US president . And indeed all things from America. I also have had experience with helping poor Vietnamese people pay for what to them is extremely expensive health care and surgeries. Only the super rich can afford this as there is virtually no health care system for the poor except a tiny insurance scheme that doesn't work. A bit like America I guess anyway John best of luck with your recovery
Thank you, Paul
Unbelievable! I sure hope this litany of bad luck ends for you soon. Wishing you a complete and speedy recovery.
Thank you, Gary
Pretty accurate. Getting married or even living as a partner is a very quick way to lose your life savings. And indeed Vietnamese culture is complex and after 15 years here I am only scratching the surface. So my advice is Vietnam is a great society but we will always be foreigners. And cover your tracks