Happy Fourth of July!
This is a holiday for every proud American at home and abroad, native born and naturalized citizens, young and old. When I see the red, white and blue Star-Spangled Banners flying outside buildings and monuments on this special occasion, I’m very moved and proud. I’m a five-year-old American from the day I sworn in at the citizenship ceremony. And this year marks the 10th anniversary of “Karen’s Landing”. (For definition, click here) So I’ve been doing a lot of reflection over the past decade.
For many Chinese, the United States is an aspiring destination for living. In their eyes the U.S. is a country of freedom with top-notch technology, education and medical care. When I was a kid, a few of my parents’ friends immigrated to America. When they returned to China for family visits, their accounts of their life overseas were always positive. I didn’t know whether they told the truth, that they enjoyed their life in America so much that they were not used to the Chinese lifestyle during their visits.
On the contrary, I’ve met natural-born Americans who have lived in China for many years. No matter how much they like China, and how appealing Chinese culture and people are, they still would like to return to the States or travel outside China for a short period during their long stay in China. Yes, they say they want to go home to visit family and friends; they say they miss certain food or hobbies or entertainment that they cannot get in China. The life in China is very different from that in the US. But these Americans never say they rather live in China for good than in the US. There will be a “someday” these American expats will return home. And China is most likely not home to them.
I think the similar reason has drawn new immigrants from all over the world to make a living in the United States. The U.S. is “the land of the free and the home of the brave”. As an emerging writer, China gives me materials to write, and the States provides me with freedom to create. On this land, as long as you dare to dream, and put your dream into action, step by step, you’ll obtain something–it could be your goal, it could be another opportunity better than your goal. Even it’s a failure in the end, you have lived a free life with dreams.
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness–nothing is more succinct than this well-known phrase to describe the common values of humanity. Not many society around the world can truly enjoy and celebrate these “unalienable rights”. China is definitely not on the list of free countries. On this Fourth of July, this famous phrase in the US Declaration of Independence, which also appeared in my citizenship test, reverberates in my mind loud and clear.
And I can’t help saying, “I’m proud to be an American. And I can’t believe I AM IN AMERICA.”
