I had a nice day yesterday at my 84-year old uncle's home in Connecticut. He was a graphic artist in New York City for decades and had a chance to rub elbows with some very big names. He had a penchant for that; as an adolescent he caddied a number of times for Babe Ruth (excellent tipper; gave my uncle $5 tips, which was a king's ransom in the late 1930's). Uncle's art career yielded a lunch once with Joe DiMaggio, a collaboration with Grace Kelly ("she thought I was nuts"), and professional relationships with many captains of industry. But the man my uncle looked up to the most was not a CEO, MVP, or Academy Award winner. That would be my grandfather, a humble barber who never owned a car and arrived in the US penniless in the 1900's at Ellis Island.
Last month, Ann and I were honored to be guests at the wedding of Eileen Hsu and Morgan Evans, and the event took place on a boat ride in New York Harbor. We cruised past Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, and I paused for more than a moment at what must have gone through my grandfather's mind when he first saw Lady Liberty. I don't need to look far to know I'm not alone- Ann's parents both came to America from Seoul, Korea when she was a toddler in 1969. South Korea was experiencing tension with the North in those days (sounds familiar) and her parents saw the USA as a safe place to raise their daughter. Ann went to NYC public schools, including Stuyvesant High, and graduated from Columbia University.
While I may look like a descendant of the Mayflower, I am only one generation removed from a penniless Ellis Island immigrant. My wife is a first generation citizen, having become naturalized many years ago. Our children are true Americans, like millions of others, not because of any similarity in how they appear but the similarity in their story. They know nothing of the tension and prejudices of even 25 years ago.
Freedom from fear is a big theme in our home, because both sides of my family came to America, not just for a better life economically, but to go to bed at night knowing that we'd wake up safe- safe to express ourselves, safe from persecution, and free to go about our lives with no thought of repercussion from the state about our chosen faith, occupation, or opinions. We live where we choose. We earn our living as we choose, and when we looked for a home in 2007 the only doubt was our mortgage rate. In 1950 my marriage would have been a scandal in some precincts. I've never gotten a hint of that. America moves forward rapidly.
So in between the barbecues and fireworks, those are the things I think about lately. Capo D'Orlando, Sicily and Seoul, Korea, living in Briarcliff Manor, on our own terms, free from fear. That's America to me.
Here's how another son of an immigrant put it in 1945:
Great post. As an international adoptee, my son is an immigrant too. Our relationship would have been a scandal in days gone by as well. America still has a ways to go but it's still the greatest country on earth.
My wife turned to me yesterday, out of the blue, and asked, "If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?"
I was watching TV, and I think I said, "I don't know," hoping that might satisfy the conversation, knowing full well it would not.
So she asked again. "I mean, if you could go anywhere and not worry about money ... if you had $20 million in the bank and enough income to pay your bills every month -- where would you like to live?"
OK, now I'm intrigued? Do you have something to tell me? So I said, "I hadn't thought about it -- probably somewhere near the water."
Her response: "You wouldn't move to another country, like, say, in Europe?"
I must have looked at strangely, because she stopped talking. "No way would I ever move away from the U.S. This is the greatest country on the planet. There is no other place with so much opportunity. People die trying to come here.
Phil: This is a nice snapshot. Many of us are just one or two generations from Ellis Island. People refer to America as a melting pot and others refer to it as a salad bowl where each unique flavor can be recognized and appreciated. I prefer the salad metaphor!
J Philip, my Grandparents came to this country through Ellis Island and my Wife is a naturalized citizen. It is people like them who made this country what it is today. Thanks.
Very nice post Philip... I am an immigrant, first generation, I wonder what my children (who are Americans) will be writing about me when I'm in my 90-s...
USA is a wonderful country, and I feel so blessed to be able to live and work here. I do love my home country - Russia - very much as well. To me it's like having parents, a mother and a father, you love them both, and both of them influenced you to become who you are.
Brian #7- That is so awesome. You should blog about that.
Cheryl- I am one of 300 million stories.
Melissa- I hear smörgåsbord as well. It's all the same and it makes us great.
Missy- I found this song on a 2.99 bargain bin Sinatra CD. It is from a 10-minute 1945 short called The House I Live In, starring Old Blue Eyes. The link has the song edited out, you can hear the 1945 recording on Youtube. GREAT stuff.
Michael- I'm with you, America is great because we are a nation of immigrants.
Terrific post. None more appropriate for me to comment on and cross the hurdle to 100,000 points. Thanks! I will include a link to your post when I write my "100,000 Points" post today! Hapy Fourth of July!
Great post. I guess I'm a conglomeration from Ellis Island - I think it was my great grandparent's generation (and/or the one before). We are from Russia, Germany, Poland, Romania. No one ever seems to be able to place me. They get even more confused when I tell them I'm from NY and I don't have that accent (I grew up in Chappaqua and am currently in White Plains). And, I guess Gartner isn't even our real last name. One of the relatives on the boat switched last names w/ Gartner as apparently Gartner was running from the law. But, this was so long ago that no one in my family knows our true last name.
Happy 4th and thx for sharing.
I remember moving back to the USA after graduating from High School in Tehran, Iran. I came back to go to college at Boise State University and had two memorable experiences on the way home:
1) I had happy tears in my eyes when they checked my passport and said "Welcome Home"!
2) I stopped in the Washington, DC area to visit some friends and we toured the Washington Monument. A perfect stranger saw my BSU sweat shirt I was wearing and couldn't believe it since they thought "they" were on the opposite side of the "world".
I am also VERY PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN! Anyone who isn't needs to go visit a third world country for a week!
What a wonderful story. Both of my parents immigrated here when they were in their 20's. I was blessed as a child to be shown the United States from north to south, and east to west as my parents went on an ongoing quest to learn about, and see as much of their newly adopted country.
J.--loved reading your post on this historic and very significant day in so many folks lives. With each day that goes by I become more thankful for the country I live in and the freedoms I enjoy. You mentioned that your home's theme is freedom from fear... I wish I could say that I was not afraid of what the future will bring for our country. I do fear that my children will never know or understand exactly what they have by living in America. I fear that with all the PC of our country that they have become tainted and cynical about what America truly stands for. My prayer is that with more knowledge they will see how blessed we are.
Even I was born in different country, America is my home. I am an immigrant from former Soviet Union and happy that my kids have the opportunity to be who ever they decide to be. I am happy that I can open and grow my business and I don't have to bribe government employees. I am happy that any customer service representative treats me with respect. I am comfortable here.
America to me is the country where even a FAT little girl can be signed up for ballet or dance classes and nobody will make fun of her.
Happy 4th of July!
Phillip, I am biased. I have never been out of my country the USA. But what I have seen and heard from other imigrants, my Dad married into family from Iran, I LOVE WHERE I LIVE :)
Great Post, Thank you for sharing!!. Today we all need to take a moment and think about our history. The people that have created this Great Nation!!! YES, IT IS A GREAT NATION!! Whoit all that we have going on WE ARE STILL IN THE GREATEST NATION ON THE EARTH. (YES MY OPINION)
Nicely put, Philip. Above and beyond everything else, you've expressed something that many of us often forget in the day to day dealings ... that we live in a pretty darn good Country.
My comment got so lengthy I decided to put it in a post. Very nice post! Thank you for the reminder of this great country and the men and women from other places that helped make it so!
Philip - love your post. Most of us just have to look a generaation or more back to when our families arrived here in the states. We are blessed to live in this country. I keep this in mind when I see families struggling to keep their families save here in AZ. Most of these folks are just after the American Dream -just like the rest of us.
J. Philip, I think that a lot of the people whose ancestors came over very early in our country's history just don't get it like you do. There is so much of our history that we've never studied and so much n our present that we take for granted.
Hi Philip, What a wonderful post for Independence Day! I came here from Sheldon's ReBlog, and my grandparents also came from Italy to Ellis Island. I thank them today for their courage and the fact that I even exist. Happy Fourth of July and thanks for an awesome post!
Thanks for getting this post out to us today. I ejnoyed the read. Wonderful story, moving emotionally. Just this morning I was thinking as I often do, about being a US citizen and how grateful I am for this. America is the only place I want to live in that's for sure.
Happy 4th of July, great post! I came here from the Dominican Republic a beautiful island in the Caribbean. I have to tell you that it was very hard for me to get adapted, but after I learned the language I Knew that I came here to stay and make this county my new home. This is the land of opportunity and freedom. Tonight I am going to Pier 39 to watch the fireworks. Thank you for sharing. Happy fourth of July 2010!
My story is so different... my paternal grandfather's family was here before Columbus, my paternal grandmother's family before the the revolution. I have 7 generations buried locally on my dad's side (predating the revolution) and my husband is a first generation American. His mom was adopted by an American family after loosing both her parents in WWII (she was born in Ireland). Yet, this is OUR country... mine, yours, and the others who commented here and stated they were not born Americans, but choose it. It's a great country. I hope your family is having a wonderful Independence day.
Philip, well said. We here in Canada enjoy the same freedoms you do in the U.S. My father emmigrated from Italy at 16 with nothing to his name, but managed to carve out a life for himself, married, started a business and we lived a good life.
We should all be reminded of the true meaning of independence and freedom. Thanks for the great post.
I re-blogged this as I want more people to read this great article
J; What a terrific story. But while I agree in spirit with the "going to bed without fear" concept that our country was founded upon, I am fearful that were close to those basic tenets being more of a dream than a reality.
Great post Phil! This is a great country with lots of opportunities but the opportunities did not come easy. Lots of people take things for granted. For us whole took a journey of 15 years to get the citizenship certificate is a big deal. I am proud to call this my home country now. Thanks to all who have stood and defend for our freedom.
Loved the post, the message and hearing Frank Sinatra sing about it. I sure hope things can stay as our founders meant and fought for them to remain as have many others since then.
Sue of Robin and Sue
What a touching post on this 4th of July. Although my family has been in the USA for quite a few generations, I have never stopped feeling how privileged we are to live here. I lived in Jakarta Indonesia for six years, including years when 9/11 occurred and we were evacuated because it was not safe for Americans. Then the next year there was a bomb in Bali and we were evacuated again. The year after that, they bombed the Marriott in downtown Jakarta. That time, we did not get evacuated. Nor were we the year after that when they bombed the Australian embassy. We had to check under the pews in church to make sure there were no bombs underneath. I loved Indonesia but like Dorothy said, there's no place like home! We truly are blessed to live here!
I got here twenty three years ago. I flew into Boston but many of my countrymen sailed into that harbor. That is a great tribute to America and your Grandfather and Uncle.
Hi Phillip,
Thanks for sharing. Those of us that simular stories, but 5 generations earlier and not so closely tied to the coming to america theme, but most of us have roots from foriegn lands. Thank you for reminding me that my ancestors paid a great price, leaving home and venturing to an unknown land. To me, it would have been horrifying not knowing the language or anyone, but your packing up and going anyway. WOW , I salute them all, because of them we have our FREEDOM.
Beautiful post, Phil. I am from a part of Pennsylvania with very ethnic ties. Most of the residents here don't have to go back too far to find ancestors who came over from Eastern Europe and Europe "on the boat". My grandmother's parents didn't speak English.
I think many Americans forget this, especially in today's anti-immigration stance.
I missed it first time, and then caught Maureen's reblog. A wonderful post. I read it in one breath.
I was on Ellis Island, as a tourist. nobody to look for as I am the first generation, coming here in 1991 on a comfortable PanAm flight straight from Moscow, but so many things are similar.
Very great- thanks. A friend once said " everyone here is from somewhere else" -no mention of native Americans, but he was pretty close. Good to remember we all (generations) came from somewhere to be HERE. No offense to native Americans (north or central) who were here to welcome us. We've been to over 40 other countries, nothing compares! -Steve
Amazing post! Thanks for reminding us all what America is about and will continue to be. Also thank you for reminding me of my father, Frank was his favorite! This is cerain worthy of a reblog. Thanks.
J. Philip Faranda is based in Briarcliff Manor, NY. His market covers Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, & Dutchess counties. Almost 100 clients and customers had closed transaction in 2009-2010 from his efforts. Ever the high-producing listing agent, he counts among his specialities hard to sell properties & short sales. You can reach him at (914) 723-8900.
Testimonials
113201
There is no doubt in my mind that the house would still be on the market if it wasn't for Phil's proactive efforts.
5.0/5.0
by drmoi
109285
Phil was very responsive to our requests; he was very professional and respectful; he always gave us his honest opinion on the questions we asked. ... more
5.0/5.0
by junglegirlnyc
106920
Phil is a very honorable and respectful realtor. He has gone way above and beyond the call of duty for me not only once, but twice. He helped sell ... more
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Last month, Ann and I were honored to be guests at 
Posted by 
ave to tell you that it was very hard for me to get adapted, but after I learned the language I Knew that I came here to stay and make this county my new home. This is the land of opportunity and freedom. Tonight I am going to Pier 39 to watch the fireworks. Thank you for sharing. Happy fourth of July 2010!
What a beautiful personal post.
;)
;)
;)
Great post. As an international adoptee, my son is an immigrant too. Our relationship would have been a scandal in days gone by as well. America still has a ways to go but it's still the greatest country on earth.