(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . The grass on the other side [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-11-12 A European perspective, but only mine — it’s not like I’m running the joint here (or even that I have written constitutional rights any more...) I’m so sorry that you’re all going through this in the US. If you feel that I’m misunderstanding anything in your situation, not showing proper empathy, or my non-US spelling makes you grind your teeth, I apologise in advance. I’m a first time poster here. I’ve seen various threads on the internet where posters are speculating about leaving for somewhere, very often for Europe. If anyone really needs my advice on moving in this direction, I’d be happy to help - but I agree with (the majority?) of you, who would prefer to stay and do what you can, as long as you are safe enough. There is sometimes a romanticised idea of how much safer / more liberal Europe would be, and how easily you could move and integrate here. Hell, I’m still struggling with it, and I’m from here. A few disconnected thoughts: - if you have family connections, or a LOT of money to invest, awesome! Otherwise, some realism... - “Europe” (Western Europe?) is SMALL. In the most populous country in Europe there’s still only one city with even the population of Brooklyn. - We hugely underestimate the difficulty of learning language and assimilating. Reddit will claim that you can “basically” learn a language in six months and fit in. Yeah, no… that’s straight up BS. Six years, maybe. - You (the US) are BIG, and not even the biggest. Between yourselves and India you have 1.75 billion people. You’re not the only highly educated English speakers interested in reasonable lifestyle and safety. Yes, there are jobs in Europe in fields like tech and design, where English is often standard and the skills are international. But for an English language front end SW development role in Berlin, I’ve noticed applications come in on the LinkedIn job board alone at more than one a MINUTE immediately after publication. 50-100 applications a day isn’t unusual. - Not everything is liberal, even in classically liberal countries. Some already have far-right governments or coalitions including the far right. Others are selectively liberal — enthusiastic on gender diversity, say, but rather going through the motions with respect to ethnic diversity. - Why y’all so down on the UK? It never seems to be even considered as an option. Honestly, for those Americans who have the strongest cause to feel vulnerable, it should be right near the top of your list. Contrary to popular belief, it didn’t stop being fundamentally liberal after Brexit. - REALLY IMPORTANT — don’t ever tell yourselves that Americans are somehow uniquely stupid to be in this mess. There are at least as many people here in Europe who believe in surveys that the sun orbits the earth, and probably more. Sometimes mistakes are made, there is certainly malice involved, but part of it is also just rotten luck (an unfashionable explanation, I know). You didn’t morally deserve this more than any other nation ever has, or any more than Lisbon deserved an earthquake in 1755. It doesn’t mean you’re condemned to be unlucky in perpetuity. Also, you aren’t alone in this. ...I think that about covers it. In summary, I think your preferred option of staying and doing what you can is still the best and the most realistic. This could “merely” end up as the saddest folly, and not something worse. Good luck! [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/11/12/2285541/-The-grass-on-the-other-side?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/