Negative comments from NON U.S citizens in America (USA, states, green card)

[cpg35223]

You know, I am divided on it.

The fact that they're actually here, rather than back in some country ending in -stan tells me that they made a conscious choice. So I shrug.

At the same time, if somebody is complaining about EVERYTHING, then I tend to get annoyed. I have a problem with people who complain anyway.

[STT Resident]

Let's not get nasty here!

A green card holder and anybody here on a legitimate working visa is of course entitled to express his or her opinion about living and working in the US. They pay taxes like any US citizen and the only thing they CAN'T do is vote in either local or national elections. Free speech is one of the components of living in the free world.

Yes, loudob2, legitimate residents are absolutely entitled to express their views. What's your beef?

[chilaili]

Freedom of Speech protects EVERYone who lives in the US, not just its citizens. Are you saying only citizens should be allowed to criticise the country or its government? Or are you suggesting any form of criticism should be banned? If that's the case, perhaps we're all living in the wrong country.

[ArabEyes]

My husband is from a different county, and he immigrated here when he started college. When he was recruited (by Americans) he was told all of these fairytales about how America was, how everyone was rich and made tons of money, had big houses, nice cars, great jobs, etc. and that if he would spend his family's hard earned money on an education in America, he would also have all of the same things that Americans had (the money, jobs, big houses, nice cars etc.). With that being said, when he got here, and started school, the tuition was three times what he was told it would be. He was told he could not get a job, or else the school would terminate his Visa, housing is expensive (and without a job, how do you pay rent, or bills?), and most Americans were rude to him. He also realized that all of the things that he was told about America were lies. So, I could definitely understand his frustration and his complaints about living here. Even now, 7 years later, he still doesnt understand why so many people are drawn to America. Its very difficult to make money, buy a big house, have expensive things, he doesnt understand why you have to buy insurance for your car, health insurance, home insurance, flood insurance, fire insurance, renters insurance, dental insurance, mortgage insurance, etc., why do Americans have to pay for all of this, when in his home country, you dont have to have all of these things (health insurance is provided by your employer, car inurance is part of your car payment and not mandatory). There's a whole bunch of other things, like taxes, the high cost of food and gasoline, cars, electricity, water, and basic necessities that my husband also has a hard time accepting. I think the reason he has such a hard time with it is because he was lied to by American recruters and is bitter about his mom and dad having to pay for all of these extra things. Not to mention the astronomical costs for legal immigration.

[I_Love_LI_but]

ArabEyes,

Was he lied to by college admissions officers? Is that what you mean by "American recruiters?"

That is actually a common thing and they do it to Americans too. There are too many "institutions of higher learning" here and they get away with too much nonsense. You have to be really careful and often people coming here for school from other countries don't know the ins and outs of judging a school and its curriculum as to whether or not you will actually get a good job out of it. These days it is just getting harder for everyone when it comes to being ripped off by colleges, so no relief in sight yet.

[ArabEyes]

Originally Posted by I_Love_LI_but

ArabEyes,

Was he lied to by college admissions officers? Is that what you mean by "American recruiters?"

That is actually a common thing and they do it to Americans too. There are too many "institutions of higher learning" here and they get away with too much nonsense. You have to be really careful and often people coming here for school from other countries don't know the ins and outs of judging a school and its curriculum as to whether or not you will actually get a good job out of it. These days it is just getting harder for everyone when it comes to being ripped off by colleges, so no relief in sight yet.

Im not exactly sure who the "American Recruters" actually were. I know some of them were college admissions officers, but my mother-in-law said that some Americans from the American embassy also came and spoke with them. There's some language barriers, so its been a bit difficult for me to figure out exactly who the recruters were.

[Fred314X]

Is a negative comment any less annoying (or more acceptable) if it comes from a citizen?

[ArabEyes]

Originally Posted by Fred314X

Is a negative comment any less annoying (or more acceptable) if it comes from a citizen?

Why is it not acceptable for people, whether they are citizens or not, to disagree with their government? I dont understand that, Should we all just keep our mouths shut and keep letting our government, and other establishments take advantage of us? I think that is rather ignorant and passivist.

[DulceJ]

How about the people who are born in this country and are constantly complain

about everything in their own country

What is the difference

[eskercurve]

For some immigrants, coming to this country is a dream come true to simply escape despots, war, famine, disease, etc. Some come because they believe that the USA has more opportunity to expand and grow, and better one's self. Some come simply because they have a shot at a job.

What most immigrants don't realize is that the USA is a free-will society, so pretty much you are what you make of it and most of the time, what you put in is what you get out. So the lazy who come here expecting the streets to be paved with gold and everyone gets a free car and mansion are in for a rude awakening.

But then there are some people here who experience a lot of what this country is that is hateful - religious zealots, insular minded, loud, obnoxious, racist, money-driven, or materialistic, or any combination of the above. Not saying that everyone in this country is like this, but a sizeable portion is. I know of one person on this forum who went back to Japan simply because she had a lot of really bad experiences here. Some simply run afoul of the culture, some simply find it doesn't fit them.

Whatever the reason, immigrants will always make up a motley crew and some will hate it. You can't do anything about it, and this country allows you to bemoan this country and the people in it. Therefore, in my mind, you can't really say "go home" unless it really doesn't fit them or their expectations were totally different from reality.