others like us

From today's New York Times, a story on Americans who are voting with their feet by emigrating to Canada:
Yet immigration lawyers say that Americans are not just making inquiries and that more are pursuing a move above the 49th parallel, fed up with a country they see drifting persistently to the right and abandoning the principles of tolerance, compassion and peaceful idealism they felt once defined the nation.

America is in no danger of emptying out. But even a small loss of residents, many of whom cite a deep sense of political despair, is a significant event in the life of a nation that thinks of itself as a place to escape to.
Thanks to Marcie for pointing it out.

Comments

  1. Anonymous8 February 2005 at 14:48

    I must say, seeing your blog was refreshing. It's nice to know that someone such as yourself, with such a grand viewpoint, has moved on to Canada. Good riddance! Instead of staying in your own country, working with the rest of the citizens to rectify our problems, you run to Canada with your tail between your legs. And you are probably reading this saying that you went there with your head held high. Please. You may think so, but it's a good thing you're gone, because we don't need cowards like you in this country. Enjoy your stay, and please, make it a permanent one.

    ReplyDelete
  2. laura k8 February 2005 at 14:51

    Please explain how staying in the US is an act of courage and moving to Canada is an act of cowardice.

    I am moving for the same reasons as all immigrants: for a better life. Canadian society is more in tune with my own values. Instead of always being an outsider, and always angry, I can join the mainstream and find some relief.

    In any case, yes, my head is held high. Yours should be, too. Each to her/his own.

    I hope you'll comment again to explain your accusations. I really don't understand how staying put - not changing your life - is a brave act.

    ReplyDelete
  3. laura k8 February 2005 at 14:53

    Also, if you can, please explain to me why Americans leaving for Canada makes other Americans so angry. No one has answered this question yet. Since you appear to be so wise, perhaps you can.

    ReplyDelete
  4. laura k8 February 2005 at 14:57

    Also: I'm not in Canada yet. I live in New York City. When I am cleared by immigration, I will indeed live in Canada permanently, or at least I will not live in the US again. You would know this - and not just my grand viewpoint - if you read my blog.

    Two more questions for you. Are you working full-time for the greater good? Shall we compare hours spent bettering society? I'd bet I've already put more time in than you will in your entire life.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Doctor Marco8 February 2005 at 15:33

    Hi, I was going to send you a link to that same article you mentioned in the post. There are some interesting numbers in there. Those were facts that I was looking for, as I pointed out in a previous comment.

    One extra thing. I cannot withdraw myself from commenting the incredibly stupid first comment to this post. Is leaving a country an act of cowardice? Is searching for a better life or a better future an act ot traitors? He obviously lacks the experience of living below his or her own expectations. I had that problem, and I moved to the US. A coward? No way. I left my family, my friends, my culture. I decided to start again. An act of a coward for sure. And, but the way, the guy/girl signs as Anonymous, do you see the paradox?. Laura, I respect your wish and efforts to move to a society which you consider a better one and I will stand by you (although you dont need me) always.

    ReplyDelete
  6. laura k8 February 2005 at 15:44

    Dr Marco, I truly appreciate your support. And I do need you - we all need each other.

    Here's another paradox inherent in the stupid comment above. Are all immigrants cowards? If immigration is cowardly, then America is populated by cowards and their descendants, cowards from Ireland, Italy, Russia, Poland, Germany, Korea, Pakistan, Mexico (etc. etc. etc.). In fact, unless you're Native American, or your ancestors were forced to come here as slaves, you or your parents or grandparents or their parents were cowards!

    Why does immigrating to America make one a brave pioneer, but emigrating from it makes one... You get my point.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Linda9 February 2005 at 03:45

    I'm with you L-girl. I live in Australia, which is also moving so far to the right it's unbearable. I feel a responisibility to stay here at the moment because of ageing parents who have nobody but me, but if it were not for that I'd be emigrating too. It's no act of cowardice to emigrate, as the idiot Anonymous said. Far from it, it's just the opposite. To stay in the place you know, even though you now feel estranged and alienated from it, is cowardice. To go off to a new country, to find new friends, and to face the unknown with the knowledge that you are moving because you know to stay would be to give tacit support to a government you know to be wrong -- that is courage. It is also being true to yourself.

    (PS. I've been to Canada, and it's a great place. You'll have a wonderful life there, I'm sure. Best of luck to you.)

    ReplyDelete
  8. laura k9 February 2005 at 04:40

    Thank you, Linda! That is well put, and so nice of you to say. I think we've talked about this before - I said I would have considered New Zealand if not for aging mom (and other family) here.

    Good luck to you Down Under. If you have to stay, you'll have your hands full trying to stem the right-wing tide.

    ReplyDelete
  9. laura k9 February 2005 at 06:56

    Oh. My. God. I never heard of this guy, but that doesn't mean he's not well known to the Fox crowd.

    Wow.

    Wow.

    I'm having one of those occasional speechless moments.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous9 February 2005 at 07:00

    BTW that was me ALPF

    Take Care
    I should probably do some work now.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Kyle_From_Ottawa9 February 2005 at 07:34

    You've never heard of Gibson? He's the loudest blowhard Fox has, making Bill O'Reilly seem meek in comparison, and even beats Hannity in the uninformed opinionated moron department.

    You should hear him on France or on torturing prisoners at Gitmo, and worse yet he has a whole book out called "Hating America" where he rails on everyone, but especially France, Germany, and Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  12. laura k9 February 2005 at 08:29

    If he out-Reillys Reilly, than I thank my good fortune I never heard of him. What a friggin maniac.

    ALPF: I knew that was you. :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. laura k9 February 2005 at 10:17

    Apparently yes! As long as I'm a US citizen I'll be able to vote in US elections. Whether or not my vote will be counted, that's another story...

    But the misinformation around this stuff is amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  14. laura k9 February 2005 at 10:18

    Change "misinformation" to ignorance.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Kyle_From_Ottawa9 February 2005 at 10:21

    No, I think misinformation is the right word. You're ignorant if you don't know about a subject. But if you're being deliberately ignorant about a subject your talking about, then its pretty much the same as lying.

    ReplyDelete
  16. laura k9 February 2005 at 10:24

    Right. It's a combination of both. The lazy law student in Arizona (earlier post) was ignorant. With Fox it's misinformation - or disinformation, in the Orwellian sense.

    ReplyDelete
  17. laura k9 February 2005 at 10:25

    I'm signing off for the day. Please talk amongst yourselves. :)

    ReplyDelete

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