PRESIDENT OF FRANCE, ADDRESS BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF THE U.S. CONGRESS, NOVEMBER 7, 20071
From the very beginning, the American dream meant putting into practice the dreams of the Old World.
From the very beginning, the American dream meant proving to all mankind that freedom, justice, human rights and democracy were no utopia but were rather the most realistic policy there is and the most likely to improve the fate of each and every person.
America did not tell the millions of men and women who came from every country in the world and who—with their hands, their intelligence and their heart—built the greatest nation in the world: “Come, and everything will be given to you.” She said: “Come, and the only limits to what you’ll be able to achieve will be your own courage and your own talent.” America embodies this extraordinary ability to grant each and every person a second chance.
Here, both the humblest and most illustrious citizens alike know that nothing is owed to them and that everything has to be earned. That’s what constitutes the moral value of America. America did not teach men the idea of freedom; she taught them how to practice it.
And she fought for this freedom whenever she felt it to be threatened somewhere in the world. It was by watching America grow that men and women understood that freedom was possible.
What made America great was her ability to transform her own dream into hope for all mankind.
ALP GURPINAR
TURKISH IMMIGRANT, REAL AMERICAN STORIES2
Why I came here? The main reason is: America is the land of opportunity. You can achieve whatever you want. I am a student of mathematics at Hunter College. In Europe or in Turkey, to be a student at 43 years old is very difficult—there are a lot of barriers there. But, here you can. Here you could be an artist even if you are 80 years old. To be able to go back to university to study what you want, to be able to do what you want in the future, makes you feel happy. Freedom is a big concept. For me, America is a place with no barriers. This is a great country with big opportunities. I love America!
JULIA GILLARD
PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA, ADDRESS BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF THE U.S. CONGRESS, MARCH 10, 20113
For my parents’ generation, the defining image of America was the landing at Normandy. Your “boys of Point-du-Hoc” . . . risking everything to help free the world. For my own generation, the defining image of America was the landing on the moon. My classmates and I were sent home from school to watch the great moment on television. I’ll always remember thinking that day: Americans can do anything. Americans helped free the world of my parents’ generation. Americans inspired the world of my own youth. I stand here and I see the same brave and free people today. I believe you can do anything still. There is a reason the world always looks to America. Your great dream—life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness—inspires us all.
. . . You have a friend in Australia. And you have an ally. And we know what that means. In both our countries, true friends stick together. . . . [I]n both our countries, real mates talk straight. So as a friend I urge you only this: be worthy to your own best traditions. Be bold. In 1942, John Curtin—my predecessor, my country’s great wartime leader—looked to America. I still do. This year you have marked the centenary of President Reagan’s birth. He remains a great symbol of American optimism. The only greater symbol of American optimism is America itself. The eyes of the world are still upon you. Your city on a hill cannot be hidden. Your brave and free people have made you the masters of recovery and reinvention. As I stand in this cradle of democracy I see a nation that has changed the world and known remarkable days. I firmly believe you are the same people who amazed me when I was a small girl by landing on the moon. On that great day I believed Americans could do anything. I believe that still. You can do anything today.
IGOR FINKLER
RUSSIAN IMMIGRANT, ON CBS REALITY SHOW UNDERCOVER BOSS, FEBRUARY 21, 2010
I am living an American Dream now. America is the best country in the world. You guys just do not really know how blessed you are, because you take it for granted. I came to the U.S. with little English, no knowledge of any culture, $50 in my pocket—and I survived. That’s a story about America. That’s not a story about me. I am blessed, I am really blessed. And now you ask me why I am so motivated? Because I am so thankful for this country which allowed me to survive and be happy.
FAROOZ
IRANIAN IMMIGRANT, “CITIZENSHIP: THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS,” REASON.TV, JUNE 30, 20104
If you have an idea, you have the freedom to do it or pursue it. Whether you achieve it or not, that’s another question. I am Farooz . . . from Iran. I drive a taxi cab. . . . My passion from childhood was art. So I got my BA and Masters in fine arts. I am a painter.... New ideas and new trends in everything—whether it is in politics, or art, or movies, whatever—starts here in the United States and spreads across the world. This is because of the freedom that exists in this country, in every respect. And each person in their own field are free to do whatever they like.
SUDANESE IMMIGRANT
“CITIZENSHIP: THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS,” REASON.TV, JUNE 30, 20105
I was born Christian. And this is my religion. I am not going to give it up because my government doesn’t want me to be Christian.... I think this is the country where people can speak up. Everyone has rights. And nobody would deny your rights.
TONY BLAIR
FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, TIME MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2, 20106
Americans can be all that the rest of the world sometimes accuses them of: brash, loud, insular, obsessive and heavy-handed. But America is great for a reason. It is looked up to, despite all the criticism, for a reason. There is a nobility in the American character that has been developed over the centuries, derived in part, no doubt, from the frontier spirit, from the waves of migration that form the stock, from the circumstances of independence, from the Civil War, from a myriad of historical facts and coincidences. But it is there.
That nobility isn’t about being nicer, better, or more successful than anyone else. It is a feeling about the country. It is a devotion to the American ideal that at a certain point transcends class, race, religion, or upbringing. That ideal is about values: freedom, the rule of law, democracy. It is also about the way you achieve: on merit, by your own efforts and hard work. But it is most of all that in striving for and protecting that ideal, you as an individual take second place to the interests of the nation as a whole. It is what makes the country determined to overcome its challenges. It is what makes its soldiers give their lives in sacrifice. It is what brings every variety of American, from the lowest to the highest, to their feet when “The Star-Spangled Banner” is played. Of course the ideal is not always met—that is obvious. But it is always striven for.
The next years will test the American character. America won’t be loved in this presidency any more than in previous ones. But America should have confidence. That ideal, which produces the optimism that generates the achievement, is worth all the striving. It is the most precious gift a nation can have. The world is changing. New powers are emerging. But this does not diminish the need for that American ideal. It reaffirms it, renews it, gives it added relevance. There is always one, more prosaic, test of a nation’s position: Are people trying to get into it, or to get out of it? I think we know the answer to that in America’s case, and that ideal is the reason.
A friend of mine whose parents were immigrants, Jews from Europe who came to America in search of safety, told me this story. His parents lived and worked in New York. They were not well off. His father died when he was young. His mother lived on, and in time my friend succeeded and became wealthy. He often used to offer his mother the chance to travel outside America. She never did. When eventually she died, they went back to recover the safety box where she kept her jewelry. They found there was another box. There was no key. So they had to drill it open. They wondered what precious jewel must be in it. They lifted the lid. There was
wrapping and more wrapping and finally an envelope. Intrigued, they opened it. In the envelope were her U.S. citizenship papers. Nothing more. That was the jewel, more precious to her than any other possession. That was what she treasured most. So should America today.
UTKARSH SATA
INDIAN IMMIGRANT CURRENTLY APPLYING FOR CITIZENSHIP, REAL AMERICAN STORIES7
I was doing my chemical engineering in India, and during my sophomore year, I always thought that I wanted to specialize in petro chemicals, and I was always watching Westerns and Hollywood movies in India, and always imagined Texas as a big state with a lot of space and big cars and big hats and everything big. So I came to Texas to get a degree in Masters of Petroleum and Tech Engineering.
I make chemical warfare protective clothing for U.S. Army soldiers. Right now we are trying to come up with material that is better protective and has less logistic burden so that it saves lives. I was in the United States during 9/11. I was very sad that morning, so I chose this research area so that we can do something to protect the freedom of the United States and protect the people and the soldiers who are fighting for that freedom of the U.S., of which I want to become a citizen.
It is very important for me to become a U.S. citizen. It gives me an opportunity to choose in elections people who share the true democratic values which I believe in. It really means a lot to me to become a citizen of the United States—I am in the process—because then I can consider myself as an American. I am really proud to wear any colors that are red, white, and blue.
POPE BENEDICT XVI
APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO THE U.S., WELCOMING CEREMONY AT THE WHITE HOUSE, APRIL 16, 20088
From the dawn of the Republic, America’s quest for freedom has been guided by the conviction that the principles governing political and social life are intimately linked to a moral order based on the dominion of God the Creator. The framers of this nation’s founding documents drew upon this conviction when they proclaimed the “self-evident truth” that all men are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights grounded in the laws of nature and of nature’s God. The course of American history demonstrates the difficulties, the struggles, and the great intellectual and moral resolve which were demanded to shape a society which faithfully embodied these noble principles. In that process, which forged the soul of the nation, religious beliefs were a constant inspiration and driving force, as for example in the struggle against slavery and in the civil rights movement. In our time too, particularly in moments of crisis, Americans continue to find their strength in a commitment to this patrimony of shared ideals and aspirations.
. . . Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. Americans know this from experience—almost every town in this country has its monuments honoring those who sacrificed their lives in defense of freedom, both at home and abroad. The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one’s deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate. In a word, freedom is ever new. It is a challenge held out to each generation, and it must constantly be won over for the cause of good.
JEFFREY KOFMAN
CANADIAN IMMIGRANT AND ABC NEWS CORRESPONDENT, FROM HIS KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT HIS OWN NATURALIZATION CEREMONY, FEBRUARY 25, 20109
When the interview was over the immigration officer reached to the far side of her desk and grabbed a bulky rubber stamp. I watched as it hit the paper. When she lifted it, it left behind a big red imprint. In the middle, the single word “APPROVED.” As I looked at my application and at the bright red stamp, it hit me.
I am now an American.
And at that very moment I wondered how many people before all of us have put so much of their future on that red stamp and that single word: APPROVED.... I know that at least some of you came from lives of hardship to realize this day and this dream. But think for a moment about the people of previous generations who achieved this day. For them U.S. citizenship in a significant way marked the end to nightmares and violations of dignity that we can only begin to imagine.
I think it is fair to say that what drew you and me and all of those before us to this country and this moment is a simple concept that we can all understand and share. It is summarized in a single word: FREEDOM.
Perhaps it was to escape a state of oppression, or extreme poverty, corruption, or violations of human rights. Or perhaps, as in my case, you simply came here to pursue a dream.
What we all share is a thirst for Freedom: a desire to live as we want, without unreasonable interference, without unfair obstacles. A dream that through determination and hard work we can rise to a level we deserve.
CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS
BRITISH IMMIGRANT, AUTHOR, AND COLUMNIST, INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN LAMB, C-SPAN, APRIL 26, 200910
The American Revolution, the one that says build your republic on individual rights not group rights; have a Bill of Rights that inscribes these and makes them available and legible to everybody; separate the church from the state; separate the executive, the judicial, and the political branch. Do all these things. It doesn’t sound like much, but it is really a very revolutionary idea. There is hardly a country in the world that would not benefit from adopting those principles. I think that gives the United States a really good claim to be a revolutionary country, as well as of course, paradoxically, it’s a very conservative one. So, it makes me very glad, very proud to become a citizen of it.
ANTONY KIM
KOREAN IMMIGRANT AND PROFESSIONAL GOLFER11
What is the American dream? I am the American dream....My mom told me that she came over here with $300 in her pocket and knew absolutely nobody. So, it’s an amazing story.... I know that one of [my father’s] goals was to have a son that could maybe play professional golf. . . . They did everything they could, they sold the house, they maybe overextended and gave me the opportunity to go out to La Quinta [to live near a golf course]. . . . The fact that a kid that really wasn’t supposed to be doing what I’m doing right now, is playing on the Ryder cup team and has won two tournaments by the time I’m 23, those are accomplishments I am very proud of. I would say I am the American dream right now. I am living it.
ANONYMOUS VIETNAMESE IMMIGRANTS;
HASSAN ASMAN ALI, IRAQI IMMIGRANT; JASMINE GRACE EMAD, SUDANESE IMMIGRANT, “I AM AN AMERICAN,” NEBRASKA STORIES (SWEARING IN OF NEW AMERICANS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE)12
Vietnamese immigrants: The whole family comes together, because he [a newly naturalized American] was in the military for South Vietnam and was in a prison camp for five years. . . . In Vietnam, you work hard, but you do not see the results. That’s one nice thing in America. If you work hard and believe in whatever you believe in, you can get it. . . . She [another newly naturalized American] now has the benefits of life. She can vote, and she feels like she is an American now.
Hassan Asman Ali: We are thankful they gave us a home, food, and everything. We are very thankful for everything. We are very thankful to be in America.
Jasmine Grace Emad: I feel special. Free to be you and just get the best out of it.
GIULIANA RANCIC
ITALIAN IMMIGRANT, HOST ON THE E! TV NETWORK AND STAR OF REALITY TV SHOW “GIULIANA AND BILL,” REAL AMERICAN STORIES13
I was born in Naples, Italy, and I moved to America when I was about six or seven years old. At a young age, I realized just how much my parents had done for us. They left their life behind. They left all their friends and a huge family to come to America, a country of complete strangers, just for us. I was an Italian kid who moved to America and didn’t speak a lick of English. We didn’t really look like a lot of other people. We had no money and to come to this country with no connections to the entertainment business, and the fact that I was able to become a journalist and actually make a living from being on TV and speaking English and giving people news—it’s incredible. So
, now when my parents see me on TV it makes them so happy.
We are so lucky to live in this country. I think that when you’re from somewhere else you really appreciate America even more and you don’t take it for granted, because you know what it’s like to live somewhere else. This country is incredible. There are no walls that you can’t break down. One of the things that definitely unites us is freedom and the fact that we are free to do pretty much whatever we want to do. I am free to express myself, and I am free to advance in my career and not be held down. And, you can’t say that for every other country. I love this country more than anything. Yeah, you know there are bumps in the road, but for the most part, the citizens of this country do a pretty darn good job living in harmony. We are all so different. This is a country based on people who are different living together. That’s what makes it so great.
TEUTA DEDVUKAJ
ALBANIAN IMMIGRANT, REAL AMERICAN STORIES14
I was born in Shkoder, Albania, we moved here when I was just about eight years old. When I was younger, as I sat down with my father, I said, “Dad, what is the one thing that actually made you move here?” And he said to live in a country where you don’t have freedom of religion, freedom of press, freedom of opportunity, and you’re told what to do, was certainly not a place he wanted to raise his own family. He just wanted us to be able to achieve so much more. He knew that America would be the only place to do that. And they left everything behind. They left their families, their work, everything that they had ever achieved, and just started from scratch—not speaking a word of English, not having anything to them.
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