My grandfather’s relentless desire to become American, to join up with the country that had saved his life, was brought home to me recently when I stumbled on his study guide for his citizenship exam
In 1938, my father’s family left Berlin for the United States.
My grandfather Julian wanted a name that would help the family fit in, so “Schybilski” became “Shipley.” Here’s his story:
As I thumbed through the pages, I imagined my grandfather, Julian, thinking: This is what I have to know to be an American.
These were the ideas that bound a nation across its geography and differences, a country’s not-so-secret handshake
In 1944, Julian stood in front of a judge and answered a group of questions to become a citizen of the United States.
77 years later, I’ve recreated his quiz and found a glimmer of hope for America's future
To find out whether you would have had what it takes to stand in front of a judge in 1944, I encourage you to try answering all twelve questions inside this
@bopinion
quiz:
Pete Buttigieg has a half-good idea: bringing Americans together by making national service mandatory.
@KarlbyKarlSmith
has the other half via
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Republicans are running for office as defenders of "qualified immunity" for cops. It's bad policy and bad politics, writes
@RameshPonnuru
via
@bopinion
.
@bershidsky
: "If I were sent to Ukraine as a 20-year-old contract soldier, I know what would be the worst for me: People who are exactly like me cursing me in my language as the worst kind of uninvited guest." via
@bopinion
Pfizer’s encouraging Covid-19 vaccine news doesn’t mean Congress is off the hook. Fiscal relief is still critical for the recovery, writes
@elerianm
via
@bopinion
By now, few of the worlds Donald Trump inhabits have escaped the attention of prosecutors. Some probes may reach years into his past and last much longer than Robert Mueller's investigation, writes
@TimOBrien
via
@bopinion
The global oil market is suffering what’s starting to look like the biggest disruption since Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait three decades ago and the emergency release of reserves does little to ease the situation, says
@JavierBlas
via
@bopinion
In place of the living Constitution that protects liberty and equality from the tyranny of the majority, the court has announced a Constitution that only protects rights that existed in the distant past, says
@NoahRFeldman
via
@opinion
History lesson for Biden from
@nfergus
: When asked what his biggest problem was, U.K. Prime Minister Harold Macmillan replied, "Events, dear boy, events." via
@bopinion
Right-wing nationalists like Narendra Modi and Boris Johnson have done their nations no favors by aligning themselves with Donald Trump, says
@mihirssharma
via
@bopinion
Cancer may only be part of the story: Studies suggest Roundup's active ingredient also pollutes water sources and taints human food supplies via
@bopinion
Trump has been shielded by wealth and celebrity his entire life -- but losing the protections of the presidency leaves him vulnerable to financial and legal trouble, says
@TimOBrien
via
@bopinion
When it comes to infrastructure, says
@mattyglesias
, Congress should worry less about how to pay for it and more about what it's paying for via
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The number of air-conditioning units installed globally is set to jump from about 1.6 billion today to 5.6 billion by mid-century. That might be very bad news for our climate via
@bopinion
What good are arms-control treaties if they don't make the world safer?
@elilake
on the question that drives the Trump administration’s approach via
@bopinion