#CoSoConfession #Politics #July4
I was born and raised in Hungary. Lived in Algeria for three years as a teen. Been in the US since the mid-90s. For the two decades my country of origin was not shit, I was away from it and living in a US going to hateful hell. Now Hungary is openly shitting on freedom and turning fascist. Some elements of the US are, too. I dragged my feet on becoming naturalized and only did it out of fear, finally, in 2018. ++
As an immigrant woman, I don't even know what it is like to be welcomed and wanted or affirmed in a community. Meanwhile, my country of origin is a source of shame. I have a degree in American Studies and a doctorate in political science. Although my mediocre career was destroyed, my brain cells are still here and I understand what is happening, much better than most. I feel no patriotism. I read accounts of folks being proud of the US, and I feel alienated. ++
@publickovacs š«
I wish I had adequate words of comfort.
@stueytheround @publickovacs
I'm so sorry about how you've been treated. You are welcome here.
@publickovacs Oh Mel, I am so sorry you feel this way. You have every reason to feel the way you feel, but this is your country and you have a right to be fully invested in it. We have a fight on our hands against fascism in the world. You are not alone.
@publickovacs Sending good vibes your way.
More than a few of us feel that sense of alienation, but for you, I think it's more painful and acute, and I'm very sorry for that.
@publickovacs it's so very easy to feel isolated. Know you ha e a community of support and caring here on CoSo. Reach out.
@publickovacs Do you cook or have favorite recipes from your youth? Lots of folks here love to swap recipes and enjoy hearing about foods of other places.
@SimplyZippy
I do cook. Recipes, well. It is traditional cooking where the teaching from my elders was like 'then you put in as much paprika as looks right' ...
@publickovacs You vould make me goulash any time š @SimplyZippy
@stueytheround
I stopped making it because I stopped eating beef for about 15 years. Now I can digest small amounts of beef, kind of. So I could, maybe, attempt it.
@publickovacs Is there a similar but still traditional plant based recipe?
@stueytheround
There are traditional meatless dishes, but they will still use eggs and dairy. No vegan Hungarian dishes spring to mind.
@publickovacs I eat anything!! (within reason)
What I really want is for you to share your personal favourite food that reminds you of the best of your homeland, whatever that may be.
I only mentioned plant based because of you saying you struggle with beef. Please. Show us what *you* like. ā¤ļø
@publickovacs I love cooking like that. Post the steps as you prepare such a dish se we can follow along and ask questions. Hashtags help too. It's fun to hear about foods.
@SimplyZippy
Do you eat chicken? I could make the favorite dish of @junation and try to document it
@publickovacs Do I eat chicken? Yes. I eat whatever appeals to me at the moment.
@publickovacs I am a US Citizen born abroad and never known a different home than America.
However, I prefer seeing my place in the world as a #GlobalCitizen which may seem vapid, but is comforting to me. I am at home with that.
That sounds really awesome. I think the immigrant experience makes globalism look really different.
@publickovacs I had the immigrant experience in part. I helped my mom study for her naturalization exam.
I was an asian kid in the projects.
@SECRET_ASIAN_MAN
I think that certainly counts.
@publickovacs , you belong here. Your experiences and expertise and the knowledge you offer are valued. You are wanted here. Look at your dance circle, the outreach you do with your fur fam ... you make a difference every week, even if you can't see the results right now.
@publickovacs You belong on the Earth. You are not in the wrong place. We just have people who are wrong.
You are not alone.
@publickovacs You belong here just as much as I do. Lived here 65 years and feel alienated too.
@publickovacs Unfortunately, many Americans have a very poor understanding of our history. And those who built this country, quite often on the backs and with the blood of others different from themselves, who've held the reins of power here since our founding, are slowly fading from relevance as they are eclipsed by the shades of history, and this terrifies them. Their biggest fear is that one day, karma will come knocking and those long oppressed will exact their revenge.
.... š
@publickovacs We are a nation of immigrants, for the most part. Americans come from every nation on earth, some of which no longer exist. Over 200 languages and dialects are spoken in this country. We have no official language, despite the desires and beliefs of many.
So, if anyone ever tells you to "Go back to your own country," emphatically point out that THIS is your country every bit as much as they think it's theirs. Then sweetly tell them to go fuck themselves.
@publickovacs Never forget that hatred is simply the bastard child of fear, nothing more. Hatred is fear by another name, a defense mechanism against the monsters we imagine are lurking in the dark, coming to gobble us up.
You are welcome in this country, the home you adopted. You've more than earned your place here, far more so than some native born Americans. ššš
@publickovacs I also cannot say anything that could make up for the isolation you feel and I am so sorry for that.
When my husband was naturalized in 2020, it was a simultaneous sigh of relief tainted by shame and disgust of what our country has descended into. He feels much of what you are feeling and I wish I felt better equipped to comfort him too.
@MotherDucker
Thank you. Sending solidarity to you and your husband.
@publickovacs Sorry you feel that way. Just know that while you don't hear it because of the vocal minority, most people here welcome everyone. If you live here, everyone I know considers you one of us. When we celebrate the US we celebrate all who live here, regardless if you were born here, or moved here, later. Even if you feel hostility from some, most of us don't speak loudly because we feel its a given that you're one of us. Those who say otherwise are full of it.
@publickovacs Too few chars to write it all out in one go.
That isn't to say you should leave behind your home country's heritage. The point of the US is supposed to be that we all come from wherever, but come together as one whole. Celebrate your heritage, and as you do, you are still one of us.
@publickovacs
I am glad you are here. And yes, patriotism is hard these days in the US.
@publickovacs I have some empathy for your perspective. What I have been learning, and it is encouraging to me despite the fascistic tendencies we see all around us, is to "look to the heroes:" for me, John Lewis, for one, who despite having his head bashed in on Pettus Bridge, became one of the most articulate and passionate voices in Congress. When folks like him still want to fight for the dream, I need to up my game.
@FinnegansWhacked
I like how you concluded that - thank you for your perspective
Not only do I feel alienated, I feel homeless. I can't go back because the country I left in the mid-90s really isn't there any longer. What came in its place is a dystopia. The US I chose in its place at that time, also doesn't exist any longer. I am lost. And July 4 is exceptionally apt at emphasizing that I don't belong.