As a kid in the 50s, my heroes were baseball players and Borscht Belt comics. Myron Cohen, Henny Youngman, and Alan King were the high point of my Sunday night (see Ed Sullivan). Back then, I didn't realize the backstory of the Jewish standup comedian as I do now. I look to these performers as guides to clear truth of the American immigrant experience. I agree that there's a chasm in this country - and I feel that it divides the striving immigrant mentality and the smug entitled mentality. As to who will prevail in the end - my money's on the former (and the key is maintaining a healthy immigration policy).
As a kid in the 50s, my heroes were baseball players and Borscht Belt comics. Myron Cohen, Henny Youngman, and Alan King were the high point of my Sunday night (see Ed Sullivan). Back then, I didn't realize the backstory of the Jewish standup comedian as I do now. I look to these performers as guides to clear truth of the American immigrant experience. I agree that there's a chasm in this country - and I feel that it divides the striving immigrant mentality and the smug entitled mentality. As to who will prevail in the end - my money's on the former (and the key is maintaining a healthy immigration policy).