Resilient America

In Resilient America, as a much-traveled immigrant (and long a citizen), I compare and contrast cultures and experiences from my earlier life with those in the U.S. At a time of growing national self-doubt, I find recurrent resilience and vitality in American culture. I observe that most complaints don't stand up to thoughtful, informed critique. Rather, a centered, enduring, self-renewing nation emerges, leading to tempered optimism . Observations of every-day, can-do Americans suggest that those doubting often lack a sense of their history. Their predecessors have worried since the Republic's earliest days. But the historical record demonstrates steadiness, with variations and fluctuations within a narrow range. From that, emerges a story of continuity and adaptation, with optimism consistently prevailing over pessimism. The resilient Republic marches on, adapting, evolving, changing, at times in ways we don't recognize. America is a serial Comeback Kid. I examine claims that the United States has peaked and that its national character is insubstantial. I observe instead a continuing commitment to hard work, to responsible behaviors, to morality and to tolerance. Inventiveness flourishes as energetically as in the past. The community appears largely solid and vibrant, and the family unexpectedly solidifying. The culture continues to absorb most immigrants, contradicting popular belief. Of course, crime, violence and ignorance continue to afflict as always, but not worse. And the law still prevails against the criminals, unlike in so much of the world. We still defend our personal rights vigorously. During my 50 years in the U.S. I have seen the rights of racial minorities and women in spectacular ascent. Recessions and depressions occur at regular intervals. Each time, Americans have claimed that the sky was falling. Each time the country resuscitated, returned to its prosperous, profligate ways and paved the way for the next downturn. The country's moral, spiritual and institutional conditions have also conjured up periodically the falling of the sky, only to regain their equilibrium. I explore the profounder meaning of these cyclical consistencies and the role of the immigrant in our society. The nay-saying pessimism of many native-born generates cynicism and resignation, infects the susceptible, and undermines the communitarian solidarity which powers American life. The vigorous immigrant counteracts such negativism, bringing energizing can-do optimism in the most American tradition. All these considerations motivate Resilient America.