As a Foreign Born Living in this Country, I am Thankful

I am one of the 43 million people living in America that were not born here. And my thanks today belong to the group called Americans, who have always been the harbingers of the glorious times ahead; if only we keep the course straight. I am an expat, an immigrant, yet not once was I reminded in this beautiful country that I am "a foreigner". I have been all but cheered on my way up, I was solaced when I tripped or stagnated and again cheered loudly to go on. The only way when I was reminded I am a foreigner was in a complimentary way: My imperfect English was praised (God bless those who praised), some European dishes and manners were questioned, my story was inquired, all in good nature....but other than that, I was always treated as one of "them", one of Americans. I cherish enjoy appreciate and love that.

The Americans I met, are the most tolerant people; the most accommodating, patient, considerade, and kind. They are also the most decent, and the most honest.

I came only with my ideals to "their" land and I built a beautiful life here from nothing. I could do that because this country offered me the most inspiring conditions to do well, as only a country populated by kind citizens and a country where dreams come true, can do. Many doors were opened, many encouragements said, many people were helpful and everyone kind. And to top that — everyone seemed to be interested in my story and that made me feel so nice and, as a newcomer, welcome. I grew up in Communism and in the wide world of the West I always felt invisible, someone that is less than those from the glorious colorful happy world outside the Iron Curtain. But not here in America. I always felt invigorated by the smiling and welcoming. Americans in my circle. And I wanted to win the Americans' approvals — I never flinched from hard work and always did extras, I always offered help, I did not ask for any special treatment, I always paid back and always wanted to please with perfection any of my bosses. And I enjoyed every job I had here as all seem meanigful: from cleaning houses to waitressing to moving furnire to cooking to professional jobs I finally landed. I have one rule, I never want to be a burden to my host and I want to pay back pleantiful for accommodatig me here. And I did and I do. And even after years living here, I still feel that excitement to live right here where the essence of humanism was always so grand.

For centuries we are thriving to live a just life for all: Solon, Kleistenes and Pericles in ancient Greece laid out for us the beauty of democracy, John Lock in 1689 wrote beautiful essays, Two Treatises on Government. in which he suggests that all humans have an equal right to the "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness" that should be protected by the democratic government. How simple and natura! Only some always feel to have an upper hand...Benjamin Franklin loved that Lock's essays, brought it back to America from France, where he was a diplomat, and the thoughts were incorporated it into the sweetest book of all, the Constitution of the United States of America.

Only about a third of the world lives in democracy, and I cherish daily the luxury to live in freedom. Only we need to take care of it. It is as delicate as delicate can be. It does not stand crude behavioir, ill will, indecency, rudeness, and a lack of insight into the human soul. I am an idealist and so on this 2018 Thanksgiving I believe we will make sure to protect the most precious gift humans can posses: freedom and democracy in the hands of a selfless, inspiring, decent and charismatic government.