Comments on: On Being American…

By: Katie Reus

Katie Reus — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:31:22 +0000

Your post made me cry. Thank you for sharing your beautiful story. It’s such a poignant reminder not to take things for granted.

By: Karen W.

Karen W. — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:31:11 +0000

Thanks so much for sharing your touching story. I think sometimes we Americans forget how lucky we are here, and it’s nice to have such a lovely reminder once in a while. Your post was also a wonderful tribute to your parents.

By: Netti

Netti — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:56:11 +0000

Amazing Caridad, thanks so much for sharing, and I truly love the point you are making. My DH is in the military so we are definitely thankful & proud to be Americans. Having said that, I wish more people felt the same way as us and not take it so much for granted.

xoxo

By: Maureen Child

Maureen Child — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:12:18 +0000

Caridad,

That was a lovely post and I really admire your parents for all they sacrificed to give you and your sister all they wanted for you.

My own family came here from Ireland (the famine) and most businesses posted signs saying No Irish Need Apply. But they felt the same way your parents did and they succeeded.

Everyday I’m proud to be an American and you just gave me even more reason for the sentiment.

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:21:13 +0000

My grandmother, born in Italy, never stopped reminding us what a gift and a miracle and a responsibility it was to be an American. Whenever something amazed or astounded or delighted her, she’d exclaim “America!” with joy and awe.

And I have two recommendations. “Wild Swans” is a true story by Jung Chang that follows three generations of Chinese women–a concubine grandmother, a Red Army-turned-”counter-revolutionary” mother and a dissident daughter. It’s fascinating.

Ditto Kati Marton’s recent “Enemies of the People,” which tells the story of her Hungarian parents’ past as revealed in their secret police files. Through those files, Marton discovered more about her parents’s work than they, in their quest to become fully Americanized, could ever bring themselves to share.

By: Chris Redding

Chris Redding — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:49:44 +0000

Wow. I knew some of this, but the rest explains it all.

By: Irene

Irene — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:48:31 +0000

Sometimes, those of us born here with all the liberties afforded us by our forefathers (and foremothers) forget the privileges we have and what some people are willing to endure to share them with us.
I’m so glad your parents sacrificed so much to get you here, Cha. I wish I had been able to meet them. But knowing you is good enough!