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An American for Dinner
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An American for Dinner An American for Dinner In the fall of 93 I found myself teaching British and American Literature at a Chinese university–kind of on the edge of the world one might say. I was in NE China not far from the borders of Korea and Russia. For the first few weeks or so I was so overwhelmed with the culture shock I still smile with joy. This was the great adventure of my life, and no matter what happens with the rest of my life I will always consider this experience as being awesome beyond description. I still warn my American students, don’t ask me about my life in China while I am caffeinated. Of course, they seem still eager to do just rather than endure another lecture on Romanticism or Modernism. I think it was during this first month I found myself in a crowd. This is not unusual in a country with such a large population. Someone asked me where I was from, so I said, I am an American. One would think I turned pink or something as the faces of those nearby changed–they beamed with joy. It seems the historical relationship between China and Russia has never been very good (to say it mildly). In this part of China especially, the weather gets cold and the relations with the country to the north is just as cold. During the great famine on the late 50s and early 60s the Russians were willing to feed people starving to death–at a , a . This part of the world will not have a short memory–look at what the Japanese had done to them, and later the Russians and their interest. Anyway, so here is an American standing in their midst. I learned most people assumed I was Russian as our appearances are similar. But once I was identified as an American, the dinner<b> invitations </font></b>did not stop. Everyone wanted to meet the American. I felt like Michael Jordan. Of course was decades ago–not long after the Tiananmen Square massacre. Given the events of the past few days and years, I think of the response of those wonderful people now. I wonder if they still see America as being the home of the brave and the free for it seems we are neither of these things anymore. We are watching our leaders shouting at non-white people to “go home,” even if this is their home, even if their fathers or grandfathers fought and died for America a generation ago. How quickly we forget. Where is the celebrated freedom? Where are the brave people who should be standing up to these anti-American chants? I do not think I will even return to China, especially now. I would be too heartbroken to see the looks on the interested faces change from joy to fear and disgust. It will be another generation at least until America can celebrate its freedom and bravery–if it ever happens at all.  |
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"I wonder if they still see America as being the home of the brave and the free for it seems we are neither of these things anymore" Things have changed for them too. The China you wrote about is almost two generations ago now . . .
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I agree--how the world has changed since then.
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President Trumps primary goal is to send illegals back to their homeland , and they can come back here through legal channels. Obama deported many more illegals than Trump, so far. Illegal immigrants has been a problem for many decades, possibly as far back as when you and I were 10 years old. I'm almost certain China doesn't want Russians crossing their border illegally. Even Americans traveling to certain countries need a special visa , along with a passport. What President Trump actually said, was reported as the following, not what you are saying..... In his tweet, he only referred to congresswomen “who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all).” He accused them of “viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run.” He then suggested that they go back and “fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came” before coming back to “show us how it is done.” .
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