AMERICA IS...As I set out to discover what America is to my fellow Angelenos, I expected to encounter patriotism Patriotism See also Chauvinism, Loyalty. America, Captain comic-strip character known as the “protector of the American way.” [Comics: Horn, 155–156] American elm traditional symbol of American patriotism. as well as cynicism Cynicism See also Pessimism. Antisthenes (444–371 B. C.) Greek philosopher and founder of Cynic school. [Gk. Hist.: NCE, 121] Apemantus churlish, sarcastic advisor of Timon. [Br. Lit. . What I didn't expect is that America, with all its good and bad, ultimately is what its people make of it. Take Valery and Ellen Moiseyev, who 19 years after they emigrated from Russia still are emotional about their arrival in America, still fiercely proud of being Americans. They knew that in their homeland and under communism, they could never had made a better life for themselves, no matter how hard they tried. In America, however, they found they could work hard - and prosper. My parents emigrated from Mexico almost three decades ago, and although they revere Revere, city (1990 pop. 42,786), Suffolk co., E Mass., a residential suburb of Boston, on Massachusetts Bay; settled c.1630, set off from Chelsea and named for Paul Revere 1871, inc. as a city 1914. their culture, they still speak of how blessed they were to leave the rampant crime and economic disparity dis·par·i·ty n. pl. dis·par·i·ties 1. The condition or fact of being unequal, as in age, rank, or degree; difference: "narrow the economic disparities among regions and industries" of their native country. It is easy to forget the freedoms that America offers - to speak freely, to prosper, to think independently. That's why it is a blessing to be in a country of immigrants - each new wave of newcomers knows what it is like not to have this freedom. And so, if you ever feel disillusioned dis·il·lu·sion tr.v. dis·il·lu·sioned, dis·il·lu·sion·ing, dis·il·lu·sions To free or deprive of illusion. n. 1. The act of disenchanting. 2. The condition or fact of being disenchanted. with what America is, then talk to the Moiseyevs, or Linda Tillman, a native of the Philippines - they know. America is what we the people make it. ``America is being able to do whatever you want to do whenever you want to without breaking the law. - Joe Suarez, 49, police officer, Highland Park Highland Park. 1 City (1990 pop. 30,575), Lake co., NE Ill., a suburb of Chicago on Lake Michigan; inc. 1869. It is a retail business and medical center for the North Shore area. ``America is a melting pot melting pot America as the home of many races and cultures. [Am. Pop. Culture: Misc.] See : America , but the melting pot isn't too cooperative. It's supposed to be a land of opportunity, but it's exactly the opposite. - Jeremiah DeSpain, 23, exotic dancer, Reseda ``America is a place of a bunch of hypocrites. Take Prop. 187. Americans voted yes ... and what happened? Just because we're scared of riots we don't enforce it. - Robert Cooke
In 1916 Robert Cooke and Albert Vandeveer demonstrated the role of heredity in the origins of allergy. , 23, construction worker, Van Nuys ``America is a great place to live. You have freedom of speech. America is not run by one person, but by a lot of different people and a lot of cultures. - Darryl Richardson, 35, MTA (1) (Message Transfer Agent or Mail Transfer Agent) The store and forward part of a messaging system. See messaging system. (2) See M Technology Association. 1. (messaging) MTA - Message Transfer Agent. bus driver, Pacoima ``America is a place where I can be anything I want to be. Where I can own land if I want to, where I can be prosperous if I want to be prosperous. - April Gonzales, 24, student at United Education Institute, Van Nuys ``America is beautiful. America is opportunity. I've been here for 27 years and I've got what I've wanted, things that I couldn't get in the Philippines like a job and material things. - Linda Tillman, 48, laid-off lab technician, Burbank, originally from the Philippines ``America is beautiful. I waited 16 years until I got citizenship here. I prayed I beg; I request; I entreat you; - used in asking a question, making a request, introducing a petition, etc.; as, Pray, allow me to go s>. See also: Pray for this country because we love it. We almost kissed the ground because here we have everything. - Valery Moiseyev, 50, dancer, singer and master of ceremonies, North Hollywood, originally from Russia ``America is the land of opportunity. It's all there for you, all you have to do is seize the moment. - Michele Yoffe, 51, teacher, Northridge CAPTION(S): 8 photos Photo: (color -- 1 -- 8) Linda Tillman, 48, laid-off lab technician, Burbank Michele Yoffe, 51, teacher, Northridge Valery Moiseyev, 50, dancer, singer and master of ceremonies April Gonzales, 24, student at United Education Institute, Van Nuys Darryl Richardson, 35, MTA bus driver, Pacoima Robert Cooke, 23, construction worker, Van Nuys Jeremiah DeSpain, 23, exotic dancer, Reseda Joe Suarez, 49, police officer, Highland Park |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion