My family came to America from Ireland in the early 20th century, fleeing famine and poverty. This country promised a chance to build a better life. My grandfather applied for a job at a laundry, barefoot. The manager loaned him the money to buy shoes, then hired him. My grandfather retired as a machinist at GE, having put all five of his children through college.
Subscribe to my weekly Nano-letter:
Our country has bad mood swings when it comes to immigrants. The early Irish-Americans were turned away from jobs, labeled illiterate drunks. Later, when I was growing up, we celebrated the melting pot. In the tech world, I have worked alongside brilliant people from everywhere. Today, that spirit is under threat. Irish drunks have been replaced by other groups, but it's the same targeting of the vulnerable.
I still believe America is strongest when — and because — it welcomes diversity, including immigrants, international students, and LGBTQ+ folks. That belief, to me, is deeply patriotic. Happy 4th.
Teaching