Immigrants created America.

[tecelote]

Almost all of our families are recent immigrants unless you're Native American. Native Americans did not know what America was before the invasion, before we'all immigrated here. Yet, even the nations that existed here before it all became America fought and conquered. People are people.

Growing up, I thought America was the world's bread basket or the melting pot. We were great because of, and despite of, all of our differences. America was full of people from here and from all around the world. The theory was that all of this worldly knowledge and experience would bring us to new heights. It seemed to work for awhile.

But, the American Dream is dying. Our respect internationally is at an all time low.

It is ignorance and a lack of compassion that has taken America's dream away. We hate. That is what America is known for now.

Let's stop hating the people in our country because they are us. We are the most diverse place on earth. This is our power.

We are America. Love it or lose it.

[bravenak]

1. We have forgotten who we are supposed to be.

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

[Louisiana1976]

2. Exactly. When--and why--did so many Americans get to be so unwelcoming?

[bravenak]

3. We have been fear of lossed.

We get told that 'those people' are taking from us by the wealthy, while the rich pick our pockets. They need us little people to have a caste system to keep us from chopping their heads off. We do it gladly in some cases, because looking down on others feels so satisfying to ugly people. Once we are all in the gutter, we will listen to the French and make tough decisions. We will get rid of our modern monarchy before they start handing out titles of nobility.

[Cosmocat]

10. When it suits republican poutrage

The sad state of this country at this point in our history is this ...

1) There are right wing "media" types who make a LOT of money toning in on the most base negative aspects of people. These people also REALLY get off on doing this.

2) They spin around daily, trying to find SOMETHING to get people all frothy over with the evil liberal boogyman.

3) Tied in with these scumbag motherfuckers are the republican political establishment, who know that their capacity to keep getting elected and be in power relies on the never ending wave of negativity that flows from "conservative" media, which a) keeps THEIR voters angry and motivated to get out b) creates an element of apathy that helps to suppress the turnout of all other voters.

So, the media types relentless throw shit at the wall until it sticks, the polls jump when they sense something that will get traction, they wear it out with fury and hyperbole, then move on to whatever they can come up with next when it burns out.

Benghazi, this asshole freeloading POS who doesn't want to pay for using government land, the jackass who killed a kid in the hoodie ... Just one completely blown up outrage after another.

[freshwest]

6. We memorized this in public school growing up. What do they teach the kids now?

It still moves me to tears, just like anything MLK, Jr and others said.

[bravenak]

7. One of my favorites. Always.nt

[freshwest]

8. I edited it... Do you know the answer to my question, though? No kids in school for me now.

I was born a couple of years after FDR died. A lot of belief in unity and compassion, imperfect, but carried out.

[bravenak]

9. They never emphasized it to my class much.

We spent alot of time learning what was going to be on the tests. One teacher did expect each one of us to pick something to memorize and present it orally in class. I picked this one.

I was in weird classes sometimes, in the PACT program so i missed what they were doing sometimes. I think the regular kids may have done more of that and less of the boring stuff i had to do.

Many things were just brushed over and then we moved on. So much extra stuff to learn, like computers. Not enough time was given and not enough autonomy to the teachers.

[DreamGypsy]

4. History will repeat itself again, again, again, On the immigration totem pole the low man never wins

The Outcast, performed by Dave Van Ronk, from Tom Russell's album of his family history and the settling of America: The Man From God Knows Where.

We should love this land for what is and not for what it ain't.

[freshwest]

5. Perfect: We are America. Love it or lose it.

[Joe Nation]

11. 10,000 Years Native People

In the roughly 10,000 since the native people first arrived in North America they kept this land a paradise. When the Europeans showed up some 400 years ago, they had never seen such a beautiful place with huge forests, tons of bison and other game, and rivers, streams, and lakes full of fish. Now, in less than 400 years, mercury can be found in every stream, river and lake. The planet itself is in danger thanks to global warming. Maybe we should have come to this place and tried to learn something from the native peoples instead of learning how to kill them. Ya think?

[whistler162]

12. Nope tectonic motion did!