Letter: Make America Kind Again

Dear Editor,

I agree with BU professor, Dr. Miles, and his letter about “making America kind again.” To begin by adding to the comments, let me explain my hat. The hat I wear is from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) which reads, “make America gay again.” Some people might remember it being featured on the television program Will & Grace a number of years ago.

But the words on that hat can also be changed to “make America kind again,” especially when considering the meaning of the word “gay” and how it goes far beyond just “homosexuality.” Gay happens to be a word adopted by the gay community. In my humble opinion, it is better than the word “pride.” But then, knowing the history of the gay community over a number of years, I can also understand why “pride” is an important word for our LGBTQ brothers and sisters and does not mean to degrade its use.

The story Dr. Miles offers is about an immigrant from Iran. Perhaps I can add this commentary about Iran. Sadly, I have heard of LGBTQ in Iran being taken to the tops of tall buildings and pushed off to make it look like a suicide. When visiting the United Nations, the leader of Iran was asked about this, and he denied such allegations. Whether he denies it or not, there is evidence of this happening in Iran.  

Nevertheless, I have fellow feelings for the Iranian Dr. Miles mentions and make that the point of why I write this letter to the editor.

In recalling my days as a Florida professor (now retired), I think about putting myself in the shoes of any immigrants. I have empathy due to the many immigrant students whom I met while a professor in Florida.

Yes, Dr. Miles, I agree that such immigrants are very good students and work hard to do the best they are able to do. At the risk of being negative, because I was a professor in a wealthy Florida area (Palm Beach County, where Mar-a-Lago is located, just minutes from the college where I was a professor), I had a number of students from wealthy areas who were, shall I say, very snotty. They expected the grades from classes to be handed to them on a platter and not earned. They were Americans, in contrast to the immigrant students you mentioned.

In contrast, many times, I found immigrant students to work much harder than the wealthy Americans who wish to have everything given to them. The immigrant students were usually more interested in EARNING their grades.

With that being said, I must clarify that I have also found many American students to be very good, too. 

My background: I grew up in Newark Valley, N.Y. Most of my career was in Florida. I have now returned to Newark Valley.  

As I compare those days when I grew up here in the 1960s and 1970s, I am appalled at how there is so much LESS kindness here than when I grew up in this area. Perhaps this extends further than just my hometown?

Examples from the days I grew up here in the 1960s and 1970s.

One of the foreign exchange students in Newark Valley, from Sweden during the 1970s, has returned here several times with his parents. His father authored a Swedish language book about experiences and travels in his life. One chapter was devoted to how wonderful it was in Newark Valley and how accepting people were when he visited. Our exchange student friend translated that chapter from Swedish into English. I have read it, and it portrays Newark Valley the way I remember it during those years in the past. And I am not talking about how much commerce was here compared to today. I speak about the people and the kindness of the people, as extended to this Swedish man and his family. 

Furthermore, in 2009, following the death of my mother, I received a call from a Norwegian foreign exchange student who had spent time in Newark Valley. I think we were on the phone for about two hours, with her explaining the high regard for my mom and dad, but also about this area called Newark Valley and the community of people who were here in the mid-1970s. 

Another exchange student from the 1970s was from Africa. He did not wish to return home after he spent a year in Newark Valley. Yet, there were few African Americans living in Newark Valley during the 1970s. Again. He really liked the people here.

Offering three examples of foreign students with whom I attended school here (or, being a college student during the 1970s and returning to my hometown at various times), I fondly remember those days when I often mingled with such foreign exchange student “immigrants.”

One more thing, not about immigrants, but about local people today. While standing in line at a local restaurant, someone came out of the restaurant so quickly that she bumped into a person standing in front of me. That person in front of me asked the person moving so quickly if she would apologize. The fast-moving younger person refused to apologize and gave the older woman a lip. Then, the younger woman simply departed. Whereupon I overheard the older woman in front of me expressing disdain that Americans no longer respect one another. “Make America kind again” means having respect for one another and regularly communicating with one another so as to overshadow the thumbing done on technological devices.

How true are the words of Dr. Miles, whether it be with other Americans or with all human beings, no matter who they are or where they are on life’s journey.

Therefore, I will explain how some foreign people viewed America and its people in the past. The letter concludes with an experience today, hoping to inspire people to take notice that we need to “make America kind again.” There are fond memories of my life here. Positive thinking is that we could once again turn it around and “make America kind again.”

Thank you, Dr. Miles, for your comments in your letter to the editor.

Sincerely,

Professor (Retired) Douglas W. Cornwell

Newark Valley, N.Y.