Historical Concerns (Second Edition) -- One Close Look at America

Author: Lin Da
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not available
Features: The area of the United States is about the same as that of China. Like most international students and new immigrants, when we first set foot on this vast and unfamiliar land, the choice of our initial settlement was quite. We landed in an ordinary place, living in a mundane and tranquil environment. The Americans around us, young and old, were all working hard, leading lives that were as ordinary as could be. For them, achieving a better life was not an easy task either. Before we had time to think about anything, the pressures of life as a new immigrant immediately threw us into the same hard work. In this way, we naturally shared a common language and experiences with the ordinary Americans around us, as well as their joys and sorrows. Many Americans even became our good friends. Unconsciously, we realized that the United States had gradually moved beyond a set of abstract concepts and had become the land beneath our feet, a patchwork of forests and pastures, and a collection of individual Americans. We too have experienced the frustration of being called "peripheral people." It was clear that we could not instantly enter its culture upon entering this land, and our original cultural background, distant as it was, began to feel increasingly unfamiliar. In daily life, two entirely different cultures often clashed abruptly before our eyes, leaving us initially feeling lost and unable to avoid the awkwardness. However, over time, we began to accept the situation of being "peripheral people" more calmly, even gaining some insights. When we calmed down, we realized that for the first time, we were able to sit in a quiet place while maintaining a distance from both cultures—one that was neither too close nor too far. They began to take on the form of a landscape, and for the first time, they presented us with unprecedented meaning. The suffering of "peripheral people" is very common among new immigrants—it is a tragic effect produced when two dominant cultures focus on a small individual. We are grateful that we managed to escape it. However, our situation made us unable to help but think that as immigrants caught between two cultures, we still felt the contradictions and pressures. Then, when these two cultures, two major powers, truly confront each other, how unfamiliar and confused they must be—perhaps it would not be an exaggeration to say that the situation is fraught with danger. Our position allows us to see more of their differences. We found that they not only have their own complete value systems but also different vocabularies, contexts, and logic. Sometimes, starting from the same premise and following their respective logic, we end up with results that are completely unrelated. On this basis, dialogue could only be painful and difficult. Therefore, it seems that before making a decision to welcome or reject each other, there is a long and arduous path of mutual understanding that must be taken. Otherwise, easily calling "yes" lacks justification, and speaking "no" at the slightest provocation can also be off-topic. Moreover, history has already determined that they cannot avoid each other forever. They have tried, but to no avail, so they have once again tried to draw closer. Sometimes, if we do not temporarily distance ourselves from our habitual way of thinking, we cannot take a step forward on the path of mutual understanding. We are approaching this strange country as ordinary new immigrants. Once we arrive, we must accept it—we have no other choice. The United States is not a country good at hiding its flaws. It casts a shadow wherever it throws sunlight. All its shadows are exposed without any concealment before everyone, even strangers. Thus, even ordinary outsiders like us can immediately spot a multitude of problems. However, we quickly realize that we must shake off our complacency, because later we soon discover that this does not necessarily mean we are wiser or more perceptive than Americans. They seem to be very aware of this shadow, but they are forced to accept a simple truth: if you pursue sunlight, you cannot avoid the shadow behind you. We begin to wonder, when Americans tolerate this shadow (a tolerance that often causes them immense pain), what is the unwavering light in their hearts? What are they seeking, to the point of paying such a heavy price? This is truly a question for us. In the process of understanding it, we have grown increasingly interested in this unfamiliar country with a short history. Based on our experience as ordinary people, we found that the first step in understanding is simple interaction. No matter how hard a major power may appear, its people are all ordinary, and the greatest power is still made up of these ordinary individuals. When people become friends, and communication turns into friendship, mutual understanding naturally begins. For either side, it is always a good thing to view the world from a broader perspective. Last year, we gradually wrote these letters to our good friends back home. We hoped to share our thoughts, observations, and reflections with them. Here, we sincerely thank the editors of the Joint Publishing House and all the friends who helped publish this book.