Can Immigrants Criticize A Country?

It is my penchant to tell my fellow Indian-Americans, who curse or excessively criticize US, that they are at liberty to leave from the nearest airport with a one-way ticket. Sometimes I'd offer to sponsor the ticket too. Invariably the reaction would be, understandably, disgust and righteous indignation. The reactions would include questions like "isn't criticizing an American thing to do?", "you are a nascent convert to American citizenship hence you act more loyal than the native born","even Americans criticize their country mercilessly so why shouldn't we?"

Great questions all. Barely 3 months after 9/11 I was at a New Year Party in December 2001 when a Sikh businessman, multi millionaire, nonchalantly said "the US is worst terrorist country in the world. 9/11 is payback". I was beyond stumped to hear a Sikh say that. Thousands of Sikhs were murdered in a genocidal manner in the streets of Delhi in 1984 and the then Prime Minister, equally nonchalantly, said "when a huge tree falls the earth is bound to shake". By 2001 it was nearly 20 years since that genocide and not a single perpetrator had gone to jail. And here is a Sikh guy who has enjoyed all the opportunities of a liberal law abiding society to say that the country was a terrorist.

We immigrants choose to leave India. We leave behind everything we knew in our life until then. We leave, primarily, for economic reasons. Amongst the many countries that Indians emigrate it is only in the West that we tend to settle down, raise a family, see our children go to school and college, then live to see our grand children. We enjoy the benefits of a plural secular society. Though Indians emigrate to the Middle East too, in large numbers, very few settle down as compared to the West, particularly the US.

Having come to US we then choose to become permanent residents and then, again, choose to become citizens. After all these volitional choices if we choose to bad mouth, not criticize, it begs the question "why bother". Why would that in turn bother me? Because, in a way, it negates the pain of emigration and the continued pain, I'd not call it sacrifice, we immigrants pay for uprooting. This is especially accentuated by the thought of aging parents back home. When somebody curses US, or any host country, they in a way tell their fellow immigrants that they underwent pain for nothing. In a way it insults the millions who are trying to make it to the US.

Though this blog could broadly apply to many countries there are few things that put the US on a, dare I say, pedestal. US is probably one of very few countries that gives citizenship by virtue of birth and this is a benefit that many Indians have reaped.

Normal life puts us in many situations were we tend to compromise or turn a blind eye to contradictions. However, somewhere we need some basic honesty. After enjoying the fruits of an open and accepting society, the fruits of an economic system that we eagerly sought if we were to turn back and say "there is no difference between US and India" nothing is more disgustingly hypocritical than that.

I've nothing but contempt for those who think that the prosperity of US has nothing to do with its culture, that amorphous catch-all word. I've greater contempt for immigrants who, at the first whiff of conflict with the motherland they left, seek to see US through the prism of 'foreign country'. If somebody wants to only look at US as foreign country they are welcome to do so but they should not forget that country does not treat them as a foreigner. As Indian passport holders everyone enjoys the protection of law, access to a justice system, an equitable society and every economic opportunity. We owe the country at least a thanks.

Patriotism, Johnson is supposed to have said, is the last refuge of a scoundrel. I do not subscribe to Patrick Henry's 'my country, right or wrong'. That said by choosing to become residents and by the fact that we choose to raise our families here we attest to the fact that it is a country where we think not only we, but our future generations, would flourish.

Today in many pockets Indian immigrants completely dominate the demography and enjoy the benefits that come with such domination. Schools in Edison have started to declare Diwali a holiday. Many multi-million dollar temples have been erected. Michelle Obama does a Bollywood jig on Diwali. It is not uncommon in IT sector to see 100% Indian teams.

A popular Tamil blogger, while working for a wall street bank, wrote a highly critical blog on Wall Street and giving full throated support to 'Occupy Wall Street' protest movement. In his blog he disarmingly said "well I work for a bank but thats the everyday compromise we make in life". I told him "its sheer hypocrisy. You chose to work in Wall Street because you love the pay. If you think this is an industry of crooks and thugs you must quit the industry and seek employment elsewhere". He protested  "my skill set in programming matches only this industry". I persisted "nonsense. You can still tweak your skill or learn a different programming language. When you think your colleagues are crooks you owe it to them and yourself to quit".

We do not choose the country of birth. I was lucky to have been an engineering grad and come to US at a time when Green Cards still came in a decent time. I've used the word 'choose' umpteen times in this blog to underscore the fact that nobody compels an immigrant to come or stay or settle. And that fact puts us in a different category.

As an immigrant Ayn Rand declared America to be intellectually bankrupt. Criticism is an American sport. So welcome to play that. Ayn Rand was clear about her criticisms. Just like me she thought this was the greatest country and wanted it to get even better. Her criticisms were from that stand point. At a meeting she was asked by an American "are you not an immigrant". Rand replied "I chose to be American. You were born here what else have you done". Criticize all you want. During the recent Iraq war I heard many Indians talk disparagingly of US and with half baked knowledge. Thats ok too. But when it degenerates into crass denigrations of calling US names, I puke. We all lived as Indians without cursing or calling India names for its foreign policy. How many Indians call India names for what it does in Kashmir let alone in neighboring countries? How many Tamils even remember the simple fact that India actively encouraged, funded and armed a civil war in Sri Lanka? When Indian immigrants criticize US, irrespective of visa status or citizenship, many tend to immediately become the outsider looking at US as 'foreign country'. That gets my goat unfailingly.

I completely disagree celebrating August 15th in USA. Its a sham too. I believe in one nation one flag. And having left a country by choice I'd even say we don't deserve to hold up the Indian flag. It smacks of hypocrisy. What is worse the India Independence day parades have degenerated into grotesque factionalism and Bollywood glamor. Most have no idea of India's glorious struggle. If pressed to name a freedom fighter beyond Gandhi, Nehru, Patel and Bose most would stutter to remember Lajpat Rai or G.B.Pant or Tej Bahadur Sapru or Naoroji.

Criticize US all you want but do so as an American or as one who enjoys this great country else the airports are open. There are thousands standing in queues in front of the US consulates all over the globes to take the place of every one who wants to leave. Your call.