Coming to America

A different perspective on America's history as told by immigrants to the U.S. who left their home countries to pursue life, liberty, and a dream of happiness. Immigrants who have lived under varying degrees of socialism, communism, or dictatorships, and many of whom lived through conditions and horrors that most Americans thankfully will never experience. These are heartfelt stories from average men and women who do not take freedom for granted.

This thought-provoking compilation was born of a desire to portray what these hope-filled people experienced, and illustrate what Dr. Kathleen S. Roos sees as deleterious actions of some in our own government for political power and not the betterment of the country or its people. Far beyond the rhetoric of blustery sound bites and agenda maneuvering, these simple, emotional stories illustrate the important human journey that accompanies each and every immigrant who reaches our county.

Knowledge of these impactful stories will encourage readers to delve deeper into our history, and to stop believing everything they are told but rather to educate themselves about the promises and rhetoric made by both politicians and activists in this country today. As Country Singer/Song Writer John Rich and Commentator, Candace Owens state: "Experience outweighs your opinion."

Auteur

Dr. Kathleen S. Roos obtained her BA from Hartwick College, her MS from Long Island University, and her PhD from Columbia Southern University. After a 40-plus year career in the environmental science industry working in the private sector, academia, government, and the military, Kathleen is currently a professor of biology and energy physics at the University of La Verne, California. In 2019, she received the Marquis Who's Who Albert Nelson Lifetime Achievement award as a leader in the environmental science industry and was listed in 2020 as Top 100 In Industry Leaders. She was inducted into the Norwalk High School Wall of Honor for Lifetime Achievement in Science in 2007. She has received numerous awards from local agencies, federal and state EPA, and for her contributions to environmental protection both nationally and internationally. For her service in Iraq, she was awarded the Civilian Service Medal by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and by the U.S. Army, she was awarded the Civilian Service Medal for serving in the Global War on Terror. Kathleen has authored articles in environmental technical publications and journals. During her career, she traveled nationally and internationally, and little did she realize how much those experiences would support the interviews contained in this book. Her hobbies include volunteer work with the Channel Islands Maritime Museum, The National Parks Service, and Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary, playing violin in the Ventura College orchestra, teaching yoga at Naval Base Ventura County, reading, and field studies with her students, and hiking with her dog, Brigadier.