The Rights U.S. Immigrants Gave Up

British-born pundit Andrew Sullivan, who notes that formal unions between gays are now legal in his birth country but not in the liberty-loving United States, asks a question close to my own immigrant heart.

If I had stayed there [in England, RvB], I'd be a fully equal citizen by now. Which prompts an interesting question: how many American immigrants in the past have actually had to give up liberty in order to come to this country?

I'm not gay, but I've certainly sacrificed some important civil rights with my (unregretted) decision to move to the United States. Chief among those: I went from a country with a pragmatic, common-sensical, successful approach to drug use, to one where jackbooted stormtroopers are the first line of defense against illicit substances.

I'm an American citizen now. I love this country. I even bought an American flag the other week, and I intend to fly it proudly on every proper occasion. But especially in the context of the Drug War, phrases like "Liberty and justice for all" or "Land of the free" are, to me, goals to be attained, not current accomplishments.

Comments

[Jeff the Poustman]

The disconnect between rhetoric and reality.

The lady depends on low light and cosmetics for her reputation of beauty. Great bone structure, and the habit she was raised with of hitting the gym 4 or 5 days a week, but age and various vices leave their marks. Strip off the foundation, mascara, and rouge, and she looks little better than average.

Still, she's got her health, and the wealth to take almost limitless steps to make herself whatever she wants. It all depends: does she really want to be beautiful, or just have the reputation for beauty ?

[Mark James]

Let Andrew Sullivan go back to the UK and take his chances with the Muslims there. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

"Land of the Free: A goal; not an accomplishment."

Nice bumper sticker, that.