What saddens me is that I was born into an America where people still tried to assimilate.

If you had some special religious observances, or your parents spoke a different language, you played it down.

There was still a “culture” to assimilate to.

Nowadays, that’s gone.

My German grandma got sent to boarding school, so she could learn English without an accent.

I hated that my dad was eurotrash and didn’t understand American customs. And I wanted to be just like Laura on Little House on the Prairie.

And yeah, kids are always trying to fit in.

But the adults in this country want nothing more than to be special, special, special.

“Look at me, I’m anti-racist! Vegan! Trad! Poly! Muslim! Ace! Trans!”

Or even, “Yes, I’m a boring, white, middle class American, but let me tell you about my OH SO UNIQUE lifestyle!”

I’m defensive about America, as we were the only branch on my father’s side to live in The States.

The boorish, ugly Americans.

But that’s a label I wear with pride.

I thought my foreign family was holier-than-thou back then, and I eyeroll at the holier-than-thou now.

Funny thing is, no one would argue Me and my kids shouldn’t assimilate into Hawaii culture, since we moved here.

But god forbid you suggest people from other countries adapt to Texas or Minnesota.