Posted on 05/16/2009 8:49:17 PM PDT by bootless
Hello everyone,
I'm working on a book about my passion (and, I think, yours): American exceptionalism through the eyes of immigrants who haven't always had the fortune of living in freedom.
This book consists of first-person stories of Americans who lived under authoritarian regimes: Cuba, Eastern bloc countries (Poland, Russia/former USSR), Vietnam, Zimbabwe, Laos, and so on. Unfortunately, there are many, many such countries to choose from.
The local talk station I listen to has broadcast calls from new Americans who came here for liberty, which they weren't accorded in their homeland. Every call I've ever heard from one of them expressed alarm and recognition over the past two years, since Obama started his campaign. They'd heard that song before. I can only imagine the chill they feel and see, having left a country where individual liberty was not respected, allowed and tolerated, only to see the foreshadowing of the same old song here.
I intend this book to be truthful and straightforward, in their own words and with great clarity. I truly believe that the U.S. is the last, best hope of individual liberty on this planet, and if we fall into the drugged half-sleep of even pseudo-socialism, what then? Each chapter will be prefaced by a few paragraphs of introduction, followed by the person's story, in their own words and lightly edited for clarity. Also, if any person would like their name, identifying details, etc. to be masked, I will keep that promise.
I'm going to post this on the overseas countries lists as well. Please Freepmail me if you'd like.
I want to get the proposal for this book out as soon as I can. I have two fantastic interviews completed already (emigres from Cuba and Iraq), which I can include in the proposal. I do need to keep going with the rest of the interviews as quickly as I can - I believe in this project with everything I have, and want to complete it as quickly as is possible.
Thank you all! If anyone needs an emailed resume, letters of recommendation or anything else, just contact me by Freepmail. I already write (and edit) for a living ... this is not my first encounter with the printed word. :-)
In liberty...
Bump for liberty!
To my FRiends on the Albania list...
My wife grew up in Morocco, not as brutal as the totalitarian countries, but nonetheless unfree.
I know a Russian builder who has a remarkable story of his parents/grandparents (father was only child of 8? who survived the family being sent to Siberia) and THEN he went on to WIRE all of MOSCOW (all THREE levels of the city) (hi-tech)....and almost didn’t get out on a religious visa (Reagan).....but, did...his children (this builder is one of them) feared they would have to leave without him up to the last hour....I could probably contact him and get him to give you an interview...
Great idea
For my FRiends on the China list...
I’d like to see your end product.
Oh I forgot....the family was plucked from their home and sent to Siberia with ONLY the clothes on their back....
Good luck!
Funny, I think this is EXACTLY the kind of thing Repubs need to do - gather up immigrants willing to present to the public how different America is from where they came from. Put THEM on the stages rather than just another bunch of white guys who mostly don’t even get past the mealy-mouth half-assed platitudes that Dems have convinced them they must embrace.
For my FRiends on the China list! In freedom...
My grandfather was a poor mud weasel hunter from bratslavia. The only way to earn a living in bratslavia was to hunt a weasel species that burrows into deep mud, using your bare hands. You reached into the mud weasel hole and pulled out the mud weasel and quickly ring it’s muddy little neck before it bites your fingers off.
He’s a proud walmart greeter today.
Hi cookcounty...
If she would like to talk with me, I’d love to do that... There is one man I know through Facebook who grew up in Morocco - I think it would be really valuable to have more than one story from each area... Please FReepmail me if you’d like to find out more...
Hi goodnesswins -
I’d *love to talk with him! Please FReepmail me if you’d like to...
reminder to self to post some stories Sunday for bootless.
Thanks, CCC. This idea came to me as I watched the election results last November.
As you know, I call into Brian Sussman’s show on KSFO from time to time, and I remember waiting on hold one night in September 08, listening to a man who came here from Russia to be free. He was very worried, and asked where he would go if the USA became a socialist country. I almost got off the line ... there wasn’t much more I could add.
And, listening to Levin’s show, as well as Sussman and Barbara Simpson ... this is coming up in the calls more and more.
Thanks for your vote of confidence, and best to you...
Thanks, Cyber Liberty!
(Me, too!) I’m going to the wall on this one. I’ve had a number of really good book ideas banging around for a while - this one shot to the front of the line.
Family has been here since the early 1600s. My latest arriving ancestor was driven out of France by the Huguenots after becoming a Protestant in 1774
Wow. WOW.
:-) Thanks - maybe I should call Mark Steyn...
I hope you hear from folks from Vietnam, you know, the ones who love America, and who start talking, then pause, look around, and say, "you know, in my home country, you could get your tongue cut out for talking like this."
How much we take for granted - or will that all change...
Ugh - "change". Change is not value-less, nor does it happen in a vacuum.
Yes!!
Holy cow. I’ve never even heard of Bratslavia! Thanks for sharing that story... if you think he’d like to tell his story, please let me know by Freepmail.
Of course it should be a given that each person’s story will be treated with the utmost respect, and I check everything with them for accuracy.
Thanks...
Bump!
One thing I remember from traveling over there was just the most absurd, irrational thing I'd ever heard of. We were really cold, it was September, and I mentioned it to our hostess, and she apologized, but said they hadn't turned the heat on downtown yet. (Moscow) Apparently, they pipe heat the way we do water - and they turn it on in October. The closer you are to the center of town the warmer your apartment is, so she said, and the further away from downtown, the colder it is. Writing this now it's still hard to believe, but watching Obama, suddenly it seems that bureaucrats really can be that clueless.
hi Markos33,
I know what you mean. I spent over an hour on the phone last weekend with a friend who moved here from Cuba when he was 14. He still has that really charming Cuban lilt to his speech, 20+ years later. A friend of his will also be talking with me.
I don’t know many people who love this country more than he does...
If he’d like to talk with me, please let me know...
Thank you, gitmo. I can Freepmail my email address to you if you’d like...
A note to everyone - I’m generally asked for them to tell their stories, and I’m also framing the interviews on the Bill of Rights... all the things that the US has respected and established, that these countries did not.
Interesting thread!
Holy cow! It looks like we’re in-state neighbors...? I love the Bishop area. :-)
I escaped from The Peoples Socialist Collective of Detroit some 20+ years ago. Does that count for anything?
Seriously (series-lee?) I’m looking forward to your product!
Ask in in about a year.
I worked with a lady in the early 80’s, she was Russian. Her sister lived in Russia and it took her over 10 years, to get a visa to come and visit her sister here.
What I remember is, she actually cried when she went to a grocery store. She could not believe the selection and the fact there were not lines. They waited 2 hours in Russia for a couple of rolls of toilet paper.
Dude, just go south of the border, or any 3rd world country and you can find examples of why this country is the best country on earth!
Thank you, elk. I really want to talk to as many people from SE Asia as possible. One friend in the AF knew a guy from Laos who, unfortunately, has gone out of touch... the stories he told. Even the freedom we have of choosing where to live and what to do - he didn’t have.
Rush has had some calls from immigrants also....Cuba, Eastern Bloc, etc.
Thanks, TG. I’ve spoken with one family whose church is working to help the Ukrainian orphans who have to leave the group homes when they’re 17. What happens to many of them is truly unspeakable.
I moved to the USA from San Francisco in 1985. Unfortunately, the authoritarian libtard cancer I was attempting to flee seems to have metastasized and infected every rattin’ frattin’ nook and cranny of the country.
I had an acquaintance from Poland who told of growing up in buildings where the heat would be turned OFF in April (I think) and back on in November (I think) ....no MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER!!! The GOVERNMENT controlled the HEAT!
:) Congratulations on your liberation!
Thanks for your kind words.
Seriously, because of the nature of the regimes these people have left/escaped from, I get the sense that a personal recommendation would be more trusted than just a cold contact.
One friend knows a woman who moved here from China, but because her family is still there, she’s very reluctant to speak in any way, for fear of endangering them.
Bratslavia is where they invented bratwurst.
Just kidding. I made the whole thing up. I don’t have any living grandparents and I have to go back 4 or more generations before I find any immigrants in my family tree.
Hi goodnesswins...
I believe it. Are you still in touch with your Polish friend?
I am of very proud Polish descent. I have a feeling that Poland will be one of the few countries who would have our backs if we needed it.
:-D
No wonder! You wretch! (GRIN)
Thanks for the grin!
No, Unfortunately I lost track of her...
I’ve heard them... they’re trying as hard as they can to get this message out.
What nightmares they must have... finally getting to the USA, and seeing the same thing happening to our country!
I've got a great idea! Lets take that idea and have the government use it to regulate our health care!
I’m hip. I’m still 40 miles away from SF, and it’s still not far enough.
Sorry to hear that.
Absolutely.
Ask anyone I know... one of the most frequent questions out of my mouth is, “What is WRONG with these people?!”
I have a second cousin, thrice removed, that lived in Elbonia for awhile though. They don’t have any mud weasels there though...mudchucks instead.
Wanna hear that story?
To my FRiends on the China list.
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