nwasianweekly.com
Sept. 16, 2006

U.S. foreign policy may rile people worldwide,
but American values
still endure.

U.S. policy, people aren’t one in same

At first, it seemed something was wrong. The statistics didn’t appear to add up.

A Gallup poll recently found that the reputation of the United States has deteriorated sharply in recent years, especially in countries with large Muslim populations.

New Census data, however, shows that Muslims are moving to America in large numbers. More than 40,000 people from Muslim countries immigrated here last year, the highest number in any year since the 9/11 attacks.

What gives? How can we make sense of such seemingly contradictory statistics?

The answer, we realized, was simple: People still know the difference between the U.S. government and the American people.

U.S. foreign policy may rile many people around the world. President Bush may be characterized as a brash bully. The Patriot Act may seem like a plan designed to restrict the freedoms of Muslim Americans and other ethnic and religious minorities. But American values continue to endure.

People immigrate to the U.S. largely for two reasons: economic opportunity and political freedom. No other country is more closely associated with the idea of freedom — where you can do and say pretty much anything you want, where life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are core principles. Despite stories of immigrant hardship and discrimination, people come anyway because in America, at least you have the chance to carve out a better life for yourself. That’s more than you can say about most countries.

What’s more, the American people continue to prove themselves to be great ambassadors. Many newcomers think it’s so odd that Americans go out of the way to help strangers. In America, volunteering is practically considered a hobby. Many students aren’t allowed to graduate high school until they have completed community-service hours. Some nonprofit organizations are completely run by volunteers.

In the Seattle area, a man nicknamed “the Furniture Guy” helps refugees and immigrants find furnishings for their new homes, from used couches to vacuum cleaners to mattresses. Why does Lloyd Evans do it? It’s not because he’s friends with any of them. He doesn’t make any money from it. He does it out of kindness — simply because he wants to help. He doesn’t care about the political viewpoints of the people he helps. All Evans sees is a human being who is new to this country and needs assistance. That’s a true example of the American spirit.

It’s gratifying to know that foreign policies haven’t hurt the reputation of the American people. We’re also heartened that people all over the world still recognize America as the land of opportunity and equality. Even at political low points, the American spirit thrives. That’s the power of freedom.

Send correspondence to:
Northwest Asian Weekly • P.O. Box 3468 • Seattle • WA  98114
Tel: 206.223.5559 •  Fax: 206.223.0626 • Email: info@nwasianweekly.com
Please bookmark this site: www.nwasianweekly.com.