Citizenship: A precious perspective

Thank you for publishing the article in today’s (July 8) Press simply entitled “Citizen.” It expressed the feelings that only someone living outside our great country could express, the desire for opportunity and personal freedom to pursue his/her dreams and goals.

I too, came to this country with my parents as a legal immigrant. When I was of legal age, I went through the lengthy and thorough 18-month naturalization process to become a citizen.

The perspective of your article comes from a person who had a choice to stay in their home country or immigrate to the U.S. Her perspective is far more insightful than that of the disgusting ignorant people who are rioting in major U.S. cities and trying to tear down the system of life that those of us that immigrated came here to enjoy.

Why do these rioters and U.S.-haters choose to stay here? Mostly because they are spoiled, entitled, uneducated, media brain-washed people that have no idea what it’s truly like to live somewhere where they aren’t allowed the First Amendment right to complain about everything that makes this country great.

Is the U.S. perfect? NO. Is it without mistakes? NO. Does it provide a better quality of life? A resounding YES. If life in the U.S. is so horrific, why do so many people risk their lives to come here every year, legally or otherwise? If these loud-mouthed rioters believe life is better in Cuba, Russia or any of their other socialist utopias, I invite them to please go there and leave the rest of us law-abiding citizens alone. I’m sure I could raise enough money to buy them a one-way ticket out of here.

Those of us who are trying to make our communities better don’t need them, so I invite them to please go somewhere where they think defunding the police is the answer. I’m sure they’ll thrive there.

STEVE EDWARDS

Coeur d’Alene