Comparing China and America, I Believe in and Love America

Published in World Journal
(China) on 3 November 2016
by The Old South (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Kartoa Chow. Edited by Elizabeth Cosgriff.
I agree with the author of the article, “I Believe in the U.S., I Have Confidence in the U.S.,” published on Oct. 10 in the World Forum issue of the World Journal: Although the U.S. is not perfect, and sometimes even ugly, people, whether native or emigrated from various countries, love and are willing to sacrifice for this nation.

Sometimes I wonder why there are so many people flocking to the U.S. Especially for Chinese people, there is an endless stream toward America. There is a simple reason why Chinese people leave their country: Most are fleeing from communist rule. Being from China, we are fed up with the communist dictatorship, with political movements one after the other, opposing landlords then anti-capitalists, fighting against the right wing then against capitalists, contending with the counterrevolutionary, fighting selfishness and repudiating revisionism, from the depths of the soul calling for a revolution. Escaping this time does not guarantee escaping the next. Especially for those from lower social classes, the future is unclear. They are being thrown to the wolves with every political movement. Their underprivileged background becomes a punishment.

Coming from a family of landlords, I have been deeply affected, walking on eggshells for decades, being wary of every statement and action. Unlike my classmates who have become part of the political cadre, I, despite working extra hard and feeling untethered, often get the stink eye. I can care less for fame and position, and view these empty recognitions as worthless, but I lack even basic human dignity. Not only do we have to hand over the exploitation history of our ancestors during every political movement, and get dragged into the ring during every fight while obsequiously admitting guilt, but we also have to complete a variety of forms on our background. I am most afraid of filling out the field asking about my family. Once the word “landlord” is written, I become fearful.

I do not know how I managed to endure through the last few decades. Let the past be dead and buried! I caught wind of the start of the tide of studying abroad in the 1980s, and immediately sent my son to the U.S. to study abroad, got him a green card, and immediately moved my entire family to the U.S. I had not reached my retirement age then, but I did not care whether or not the authorities would approve my pension, and simply left for good. I went through customs in Shenzhen, and once the train crossed the Lo Wu Bridge, I suddenly felt relieved, feeling like I had finally escaped from a cage, like I could fly away.

I did not know what human rights were in China, but I understood the value of human rights when I arrived in the U.S. In the U.S., although I cannot speak fluent English, and have a difficult time integrating into mainstream American society, I can live my life standing tall, not having to be at someone’s disposal, not having to tolerate other people’s yelling, and especially not having to servilely report to someone, with endless self-criticism and repentance.

All the Americans I have met have been very friendly. As new immigrants, we had not paid a cent in taxes, yet we could fully enjoy American welfare benefits for the elderly. In China, we claimed to be owners, yet we faced discrimination and could not own homes. In the U.S., we are guests, yet there is not a sense of discrimination. Therefore, I believe in the U.S., love the U.S., and feel extremely grateful toward the American people.


世界日報10月10日「世界論壇」版刊「我相信美國,對美國有信心」一文,我同意該文作者論點:雖然美國不完美,有時甚至很醜陋,但無論是美國本土人還是來自各國的移民,都熱愛這個國家,為這個國家獻身。

有時我在想:為什麼這麼多人往美國跑?尤其是中國人,源源不絕跑來美國。中國人往外跑理由很簡單:多數是為了逃避共產黨統治。我們從中國來的人都受夠了共產黨專政滋味,政治運動一個接一個,反完地主反資本家,鬥完右派鬥走資派、鬥反革命,還要鬥私批修,靈魂深處鬧革命。你逃得過這次逃不過另一次。特別是階級出身不好的人,今天不知明天事,每次政治運動都拿他們開刀,出身不好罪加一等。

我地主家庭出身,深受其害,幾十年都夾著尾巴做人,處處謹言慎行。雖然我加倍努力工作,然而我的同學都當上什麼主任、局、廳了,我除了兩袖清風外,還常招白眼。我可以不在乎這些名位,可以視虛名如糞土,但我連做人的起碼尊嚴都沒有。每次政治運動除了要交代祖宗三代的剝削史外,每次鬥爭會都要把我揪上台陪鬥,要低頭認罪,還要填寫各種履歷表,其中我最怕填寫家庭出身這一欄,一寫上「地主」兩個字,就心驚肉跳。

這幾十年,我都不知道是如何挨過來的。既往矣!上世紀80年代中開始留學潮,我聞風而動,馬上把兒子第一批送來美國留學,當他拿到綠卡,我全家馬上移民來美。我那時還不到退休年齡,根本不理會當局批不批准給我退休金,一走了之。那時我從深圳過關,火車一過羅湖橋,我的心豁然開朗,有終於逃脫牢籠之感,終於可以遠走高飛了。

在中國不知道什麼是人權,到美國才知道人權之可貴。在美國我雖然英語不流利,難融入美國主流社會,但我可以挺起腰桿堂堂正正做人,不必看人臉色,不用受人呼喝,更不必低三下四請示匯報,也不必寫不完的撿討,話不完的悔過。

我所見到的美國人都很友善。我們新移民沒有納過一分錢稅金,卻全額享受美國老人的福利。在中國我們號稱是主人,卻不能當家作主,被歧視。在美國我們是過客,卻全沒有被歧視的感覺。所以我相信美國,愛美國,十分感激美國人民。
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

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