Two Sundays ago I was holding an open house for a listing of mine in Redmond. The home is just minutes from Microsoft. There were people looking at the home virtually the entire time I was there. Much of the time there was more than one person or more than one group of people. Most of the visitors spoke English as a second language. Throughout the day I heard at least five different foreign languages; it may have been six. At about 3:00 there were three families in the home. One was from Russia, one was from India, and one was from France. They spoke to each other in their native languages. I was the only one in the home who couldn't understand a single word that was being said. It was fascinating and kind of amazing.
How many other places on the planet could this happen? Yes, we have experienced a serious recession. Even now where else is there the economic opportunity for people like there is here? What other country welcomes people of such varied backgrounds? Where else on the earth is there such diversity on so many levels? There could easily be a few countries that have the opportunity, tolerance, and the freedom that we do but not very darn many if any at all.
I am far from perfect as an individual; I have plenty of room for improvement. My country isn't perfect; it has plenty of room for improvement. I stood in that home, listened to families talking in three languages, smiled, and felt grateful to be an American.
Mr P, This was a wonderful thing to read, Good job, i felt like i was there with you. Being an American is something we both value.
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