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
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