It's strange to me how much more open we are about discussing America's flaws now. As a millennial, I never imagined that talking openly about how "America isn't that great after all" would be so accepted - growing up, it felt like a conversation that would be immediately shut down. But now, it seems like it's finally part of the discussion, which might be exactly what we needed all along. Why has this kind of conversation been so closeted for so long? It seems like so many Americans are now experiencing the same rude awakening you're describing - believing in and hoping for the best only to be faced with the harsh reality of what we're dealing with today. It's a sobering realization, but perhaps it's the beginning of a necessary reckoning. Great read!
Thanks so much for this great essay. Much appreciated. This expresses so well what many of us are thinking. And to Gregory and Cassandra, be careful. Don’t fall into that trap of thinking you are the first generation of US citizens who felt the ability to critique the US. From Thoreau to John Dewey to MLK to James Baldwin to Abbie Hoffman to John Lewis and on…there has always existed - thank goodness - a robust counter culture. Certainly it has ebbed and flowed. It is now time, once again, to join in, to reconnect with that culture. Regardless of where we live. My life is in the Loire Valley and yet my soul is split. I celebrate my life in France, good and bad, and I mourn for what is happening in the US. In doing so, I hope to connect in some small way with that long and distinguished history of protest.
Terrific piece! I have a somewhat similar one lined up for publication tomorrow, and I suspect I am not alone. As Cassandra suggests below (above?), the taboo against criticizing the US has finally been shattered. And we who left long ago are leaping into the breach with our hard-won but probably fruitless wisdom. Oh well. I really enjoyed this essay; thanks for writing it.
It's almost strangely destabilizing, the way the 'radical' conversations I was thrust into as a child and teen have become mainstream. And yet, US media still don't engage very much with Americans who have moved to other countries. I can't think of an NYT columnist who explicitly writes from outside the US, for example...
I wonder if that will change now, as US citizens stream across the border and take up residence in other countries. It's a bit like a reverse brain drain, isn't it?
I really appreciated this observation. Great essay. I'm all about accepting a thing for its good and bad. Every country has them, some are just older than others and have had more opportunities to fall on their faces and pick themselves up. As an American living in Paris for a year, I can say that there is a LOT I miss about the good 'ole USofA and also, there is a lot to appreciate and mine from being here and seeing how life operates in a socialist world, again, there is "good" and "bad" everywhere. The US will get through this and morph into the next USA. And then we begin again.
Thank you for a sensible observation among all the hand wringing. I am 83 years old and have watched my country change both for the good and the bad over the years. It is still and always will be my country.
What a beautifully written essay about such a profoundly sad moment. It will not be until we look back on this time from some future one that we will know the permanence of the changes we now see and what they represent about this complex and vexing country. But the piece captures in vivid color the complicated experience of watching the situation unfold from afar by those of us whose belief in the high ideals of America eventually led us to leave it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Alexander.
Saudade seems like a very appropriate word here. I really feel for Americans who are watching their country go up in flames. As a Canadian, it's also pretty scary for me, but at least our threat is just a threat. It's really happening to you guys. I can only imagine what it's like watching that from afar.
And good for you for passing your French citizenship test, Alexander! Felicitions pour ton nouvelle passporte!
It's strange to me how much more open we are about discussing America's flaws now. As a millennial, I never imagined that talking openly about how "America isn't that great after all" would be so accepted - growing up, it felt like a conversation that would be immediately shut down. But now, it seems like it's finally part of the discussion, which might be exactly what we needed all along. Why has this kind of conversation been so closeted for so long? It seems like so many Americans are now experiencing the same rude awakening you're describing - believing in and hoping for the best only to be faced with the harsh reality of what we're dealing with today. It's a sobering realization, but perhaps it's the beginning of a necessary reckoning. Great read!
I know, right? I always felt like this was a taboo thing to talk about, and now you go online and it's everywhere
Weird times, for sure!
Thanks so much for this great essay. Much appreciated. This expresses so well what many of us are thinking. And to Gregory and Cassandra, be careful. Don’t fall into that trap of thinking you are the first generation of US citizens who felt the ability to critique the US. From Thoreau to John Dewey to MLK to James Baldwin to Abbie Hoffman to John Lewis and on…there has always existed - thank goodness - a robust counter culture. Certainly it has ebbed and flowed. It is now time, once again, to join in, to reconnect with that culture. Regardless of where we live. My life is in the Loire Valley and yet my soul is split. I celebrate my life in France, good and bad, and I mourn for what is happening in the US. In doing so, I hope to connect in some small way with that long and distinguished history of protest.
Baldwin is definitely a writer who has had a major impact on my relationship with the US from afar
Terrific piece! I have a somewhat similar one lined up for publication tomorrow, and I suspect I am not alone. As Cassandra suggests below (above?), the taboo against criticizing the US has finally been shattered. And we who left long ago are leaping into the breach with our hard-won but probably fruitless wisdom. Oh well. I really enjoyed this essay; thanks for writing it.
It's almost strangely destabilizing, the way the 'radical' conversations I was thrust into as a child and teen have become mainstream. And yet, US media still don't engage very much with Americans who have moved to other countries. I can't think of an NYT columnist who explicitly writes from outside the US, for example...
That’s a good point. I wonder whether they see us emigrants as irrelevant?
Oops I missed your follow up! In my experience the US has never paid much attention (in an in-depth way) to things beyond its borders…us included
I wonder if that will change now, as US citizens stream across the border and take up residence in other countries. It's a bit like a reverse brain drain, isn't it?
I really appreciated this observation. Great essay. I'm all about accepting a thing for its good and bad. Every country has them, some are just older than others and have had more opportunities to fall on their faces and pick themselves up. As an American living in Paris for a year, I can say that there is a LOT I miss about the good 'ole USofA and also, there is a lot to appreciate and mine from being here and seeing how life operates in a socialist world, again, there is "good" and "bad" everywhere. The US will get through this and morph into the next USA. And then we begin again.
I sure hope so!
Thank you for a sensible observation among all the hand wringing. I am 83 years old and have watched my country change both for the good and the bad over the years. It is still and always will be my country.
What a passionate, grounded, fluid essay. For this American et citoyenne de France), every word you wrote resonates.
Thank you so much Mira ! I’m honored that you read this and that it spoke to you
What a beautifully written essay about such a profoundly sad moment. It will not be until we look back on this time from some future one that we will know the permanence of the changes we now see and what they represent about this complex and vexing country. But the piece captures in vivid color the complicated experience of watching the situation unfold from afar by those of us whose belief in the high ideals of America eventually led us to leave it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Alexander.
Thank you for the compliment !
Saudade seems like a very appropriate word here. I really feel for Americans who are watching their country go up in flames. As a Canadian, it's also pretty scary for me, but at least our threat is just a threat. It's really happening to you guys. I can only imagine what it's like watching that from afar.
And good for you for passing your French citizenship test, Alexander! Felicitions pour ton nouvelle passporte!