An American Juxtaposition

What does it mean to be American? For my family, it means liberty. My great-grandparents on my grandma's side came from the Soviet Union. They fled tyranny and oppression in the East to seek freedom in the West. My great-grandparents on my grandfather's side came from Ireland, around the time of the Irish Famine, to seek opportunities and equality that weren’t offered in Western Europe. They moved into communities that were similar in terms of ethnicity to their own.

Firstly, Civil Liberties are an important value for many. Having the freedom to speak one's mind, write what one wishes, and practice one's faith as one wishes is the appeal of being an American. Back in the Soviet Union, my great-grandparents weren’t given those rights. The communists believed everyone should be equal and prioritized equality or liberty. However, equality without liberty results in equal suffering and equal oppression.

Secondly, Civil Rights are a huge appeal for those who dream of America. Having the power to freely choose your leaders. Both in the Soviet Union and colonial Ireland, the ability to choose your leaders was limited. The Soviet Union was a one-party dictatorship, and Ireland's elections were heavily regulated by the government. But the United States offered free and fair elections for all (At least by 1919). The power the common person had to freely choose their leaders was very appealing to all those seeking freedom

Third, there was freedom from cruel or unusual punishment (8th Amendment) and trial protections. Many who came to the United States. My great-grandmother's brother was deported to Siberia for a crime he didn’t commit. He was given a rigged trial, and the punishment he faced in Siberia was barbaric. The United States protected its citizens from the harsh realities of the rest of the world. Justice could be adequately served in the United States, while the punishment would be reasonable. The people of the rest of the world envied the United States for their judicial process and equal protections

But how do these groups help the United States? After all, those who are already here don’t want to take in lazy immigrants. My great-grandfather from the USSR worked tirelessly for a packaging company, helping everyday people get the packaging they needed, becoming a pivotal part of his local community. My great-grandfather from Ireland had two sons, one of whom was my grandfather. His brother owned a boat-parts factory. He sold nationwide while operating from his factory in Wisconsin, giving back to the nation itself, not just his community. My uncle from Latvia served in the military during Vietnam, defending his country from overseas.

This nation is built on immigrants like my family. They settle in similar-ethnic neighborhoods and become contributing citizens of an American society. To my family, being able to vote, speak, write, and believe freely was American to them. Being able to have the opportunity to work, eat healthy, and build lives is what America is truly about