A Proud Day for America

Today is the one day that all Americans should rejoice in celebrating their nationality and pledging their allegiance to the land of the free and the home of the brave. The inaugural ceremony of the 44th President of the United States – the Honorable Barack Hussein Obama, is the only ceremony I have ever watched on TV in its entirety; and the profound pride that I felt through out the entire program was overwhelming.

I immigrated to the US in the mid 70’s as a child and became a naturalized citizen in the mid 80’s. I can chronicle the world’s reaction to America, as gleaned from the prism of my own immigration and subsequent travels. So how did the world view America through the years? Let me recollect from my memory bank:

1) The mid 70’s/ 80’s: America was the land of opportunities; it seemed everyone wanted to immigrate to the USA, because it was the wealthiest, biggest and strongest country in the world. As a child, I was taught the fable that America’s mountains & roads were paved with gold!! Our family was the envy of many, because we had secured a passage to the country with gold. Sadly every immigrant story comes with toil and sweat; I will save this for another post.

2) The 90’s / the turn of the century: Rest of the world began to boom, especially Asia and other emerging countries, there were more job opportunities overseas. America was still seen as powerful, bringing intellectual and financial capital to other parts of the world. But certainly the rise of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) began to eclipse the US.

3) 9-11-2001: the world sympathized with Americans as they witnessed the horrific attack on WTC. George W Bush had the highest approval rating soon after that.

4) US invasion of Iraq in 2003: Americans were branded as imperialistic pigs! I think this was the defining moment for the decline of the US as a world leader. In all my travels since then, people I met in other countries would rant about our leader and the war on Iraq. Most assumed that one day I will return to China as they can’t understand why I would voluntarily choose to live in the US!

5) US Election - Nov. of 2008: The startling contrast in the reception of Americans pre and post our election is nothing short of remarkable. Americans redeemed themselves in the eyes of the global community! The world was shocked and awed by the election of Obama, the same America that had one election determined by “hanging chads” and another determined by the red states. Over 70+ foreign countries rooted for Obama while America was practically split down the middle until Election Day.

I don’t profess to know what it means to feel 100% American with native blood coursing through my veins. But I know this much, today I am proud to be an American! The people of this country has chosen a man who is on his path to renew a nation with hope and pride; and one who has enough political goodwill on the global stage to restore America’s respectability.

Let us salute the dawning of a new era!!