We Believe In The American Dream
We Believe In The American Dream
March 27, 2017
Anna from Germany
I ran and ran as fast as I could to escape
being on the other side of the wall
My parents told me to run forward fast
to stay with my Aunt at the farm in the country
I was young and ran as fast as I could
I was chased but I was young and hid
finally getting to my Aunt in the country
I never saw my parents again
I grew up and married a good American man
who brought me to America
we have two children
I am happy to be an American
but I wish my parents had known I survived
Mary from Lithuania
My parents had seven children
there was very little food
mostly potatoes and onions
we were grown enough to leave
one daughter remained at home
to help our parents at home
we six went on the ship
arriving in America
we got jobs in the factories
studying in the evenings
to become Americans
I knew two languages
now I know three
I read the newspapers
front and back because
I am happy to be an American
Eduardo from El Salvador
I came to America to live free
I became a citizen
to practice my medicine
you see in El Salvador
I was a doctor
I am now a nurse practitioner
I could become a doctor again
but I am older and that would be time
for studying so I am happy
I am free and can walk anywhere
I am happy to be an American
Dominick from Lithuania
I was a big strong young man helping my parents in their grocery store
The Russians invaded our country again because we were on the Baltic sea
and they wanted to use and own our shipping area
I spoke seven languages and was a great help to my parents
One day the Russian Army came to me and said I was big, strong
and not married and to be ready in a week to join their Army
I got on a ship and came to America I then went to Chicago
and worked in the grocery stores there in the daytime studying in the evening
to become an American citizen. I learned to speak American English
I married a nice lady from Lithuania who had also become an American
We both worked hard and produced seven children
three of the children died as infants in the big influenza outbreak
I lived and worked in a small town caring for my family
Some people from Syria lived there and their son, an American,
shot and killed me in my store for twenty dollars American.
He was sixteen and went to prison.
Ten years later he was released and on that day he killed another man.
Now he is in prison again.
I was so happy to be an American.
Enrique from Barcelona Spain
My paternal grandfather lived in Barcelona Spain
then went to Sonora Mexico where he fell in love
and married a Papago Indian lady
They had my Father and when he grew up
he went to Barcelona Spain and married my mother
they produced me and when I was five years of age
we went to Sonora Mexico
now that I am grown up
I came to America and became a citizen
I live in the state of Arizona and often go to Mexico
to visit my parents and grandparents I have a good job and
I am happy to be an American
Denise from France
I remember world War two
in France the bombing went on all night and day
I was quite young and rode my bicycle to the country
where I gleaned wild greens, fruit and vegetables
I brought them home to my parents to cook
my bicycle tire was broken and not replaceable
I used a broken garden hose to make a tire
after I was the age to travel I came to America
I went to the state of New York and became American
I went to school and became a Master Gardener
I am in my nineties now and quite busy at home
I am happy to be an American
John from Mexico
Twenty five years ago I came to America
to help pick vegetables and fruits
I saw how much better it was to live
I became a citizen in America
I married another former Mexican citizen
who was now an American we are happy here
I am happy to be an American
©Julia A Knaake