Leaving America
Saying goodbye to America, Ed Vulliamy points at the dramatic changes this country has underwent in the last three years:
One's love for and faith in America, therefore, would always be tested by counterpoint between opposites - as is that of the rest of the world. The longest queues for visas are invariably in those same countries where the American flag is burned most frequently, often where the liberties that America does afford are in short supply. But it is not uncontroversial to posit that George Bush's America is not regarded as 'cool'; that it's not just me - that the world's American thrill has gone too.
There are people for whom leaving is not an option. That is akin to Cortez, burning his ships: There is no way out, but the work from within.
Comments
"There is no way out, but the work from within." - I really, really like that...
Posted by: JeanNINE | August 26, 2003 12:33 PM
Also outstanding was "this country has underwent". Camilo, conjugate. Conjugate!
Your blog is too good to raise my eyebrows with a glaring grammatical error. I may be (and AM!) a cyber cretin, but I am a language purist!!! Just pretend I'm your mother or high school English teacher and humor me, ok? Please?
Posted by: Indigo | August 26, 2003 4:07 PM
Americans have lost from within
Faith has held us to a constrained illusion
We mingled with faith
We mingled unfaithfully with our lovers, friends, neighbors and ourselves
We watch ourselves with suspicious eyes
Our chameleon skin has been so defined
As a color, status and le Persone cattive
I have now lost will to be american
Posted by: jim | September 23, 2003 10:46 PM
How do I get out? Where can I go where it is safe and humane? I am a music teacher. I can learn languages without much difficulty. Where can I find info? If I stay here I am afraid I will become politically persecuted because I am less and less willing to stand by unhypnotized watching our country devour the world.
Posted by: Mike Glenn | March 5, 2004 11:00 AM
will someone please tell me where I could take my children and protect them from the to come in the u.s. I find all the information on the conspiracies but no one tells where a safe place may be. please, someone help.
Posted by: ginnie | March 12, 2004 4:33 PM
OK. Where to go, when there is nothing safe? Participate, in the place you know, where you can make a difference because you belong!
Posted by: Camilo | March 13, 2004 9:59 AM
I too have been looking for a place to move to. So far good prospects seem to be Australia (easy to get into but may be heading the same direction the US is; just a lot more slowly) New Zealand (but from what I understand it is rather hard to immigrate to), Sweden, Germany and (I have heard the best place as long as you can stand the cold) Iceland. Some of these countries however have a language barrier which for myself is something I have been tackling with. Also finding work in such places is not always easy. Places like Germany and Australia are having economic troubles as far a employment at this time. Being a teach would be a great advantage for both a linguistics and hirability stand point. Unfortunately, I am not a teacher so I am having trouble finding a way in to the job market in such countries. I am single however, so I have the advantage of just uprooting and moving when the opportunity arises. The best way to find out how to move is through the countries Consulate or Embassy and to try a get a hold of one of the countries local (english) newspapers. This gives you and idea of the place and the situation as far as job openings and how you would likely be received by the locals. It would also be a good idea to visit job and realestate websites for the country you are looking to move to. If anyone else has suggestions I too would like to know what steps I can make to further my exodus.
Posted by: joeyjoejoe | May 25, 2004 5:49 AM
What about Canada? Nobody has mentioned Canada.
Posted by: Richard | July 6, 2004 5:45 PM
I`M A SMALL SMALL BUSINESS PERSON. MIDDLEAGE WOMEN
THAT HAS A FAMILY AND LIKE TO CHECK OUT A SAVE HAVAN TO LIVE.
Posted by: smith | November 7, 2004 12:03 PM
A PLACE TO GO WHERE DEMACRATS CAN CONTINUE TO UNITE.
Posted by: smith | November 7, 2004 12:10 PM
I don’t want to stay in America because America is not a pretty place for minorities. Besides, the police department has all the power to brutalize and kill non-white people (Blacks, Hispanics, etc.) even if they are good citizens. My only problem is that this country is so obsessed with me and my children; it is keeping me here against my will. I also feel like a hostage in this country. This country is so obsessed with me because I am a minority person (Black and Hispanics) who wants to move out, and this country is used to throw out people. America, I don't share, and I don't like your policies. This country treat the Mexicans like dogs always chasing and deporting them. America should give legal papers to all the people that want to stay here. America should let me go because I don't want to stay here. I love America, but I don't want to live here because America bullies all the other countries and allows the police department to kill us (minorities) like dogs.
Posted by: Magie | May 14, 2005 2:10 PM
I've like many here, have looked at countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe....etc
The immigration restrictions are just that ....very restrictive. Don't count on getting out of this country unless you have at least 200,000 laying around to make it happen....There are some countries that as long as you have a teaching degree....than there is the possibility that you can make a go of it....,but don't hold your breath waiting for a response to employment inquiries...
At this junction...I am debating on just disapearing into the far north canadian territories....wilderness...being my own bigfoot so to speak..
I am absolutely terrified and pissed at the thoughts of bush having 3-1/2 more years of war, and mangling the American constitution, and I'm scared to pieces what it could mean for this country, and what could happen to me and mine...
The pictures coming out of Abu Ghraib tell me what kind of leadership we are under. Read up on the burning of the Reichstag and replace Hitlers name with Bush, and you will be in for quite the eye opener. This is the direction this country is going in....God help me,but I cannot wait around to try and change things from the inside. I don't wish to be around if they decide I have the wrong kind of faith....
Regards
Posted by: P | May 30, 2005 12:53 AM