Dutch journalist uncovers the silent revolution taking place in the USA

Writer and journalist Charles Groenhuijsen shows that “We the people…” do have the power to bring about change.

How people really feel is at odds with what they say on the news

If you follow all the news headlines about immigration, for example, you tend to come to the conclusion most Americans want fewer immigrants. But that’s simply not true. If you look at the numbers, about one third says fewer immigrants, but about one third says: keep it the way it is now and one third says: Let’s increase the number of immigrants. Charles Groenhuijsen, a Dutch journalist and writer who has lived in the US for over 20 years as a correspondent for Dutch public television, reminds us that the USA is a nation of immigrants, after all, because most US citizens are descendants of immigrants themselves. 

“This is not about Republicans or Democrats. This is way more fundamental…”

Charles Groenhuijsen is a Dutch journalist and writer who has lived in the US for over 20 years as a correspondent for Dutch public television, reminds us that the USA is a nation of immigrants.

“The very first day I arrived in the US, we arrived in New York and saw the Statue of Liberty. And that is a symbol of tolerance, a symbol of saying to immigrants and refugees: you’re welcome in this country. We are a nation of immigrants. And that’s why I like the United States. Her message is so much more constructive and positive and about the future than what we hear about from politicians in Washington.

The silent revolution is taking place also in the United States. Make it a more progressive country, and unfortunately, we rarely hear about it. When you look at the short term news cycle, it’s all about polarisation and people yelling at each other. 

“But the second underlying current is probably way more important for the long-term future of the United States and the younger generation there. A totally different picture. There you see a picture of a clear majority of Americans who want another USA. They love the country and they want more equality. I mean, the difference between rich and poor is way too big. They want to sustainable economy. They want better education for poor people. They want another justice and prison system. 

If you look at opinion polls, there is a clear majority for these more progressive ideas about the future of America. That’s the undercurrent. The undercurrent is something that’s mostly ignored.

“When I talk about the United States becoming more progressive, this is not about Republicans or Democrats. This is way more fundamental. Let me give you two examples: The prison system in the United States, it puts away people and takes away all their hope. And right now you see a tendency Republicans and Democrats say we have to change that system. Yes, he did something wrong. Yes, we put him in prison. But, yes, we have to give him a second chance to move back into a society that has been basically absent in the system over the last 30 to 40 years.

“Two. Gay marriage. Very fundamental. I remember in 2004, George Bush ran for election as president and promoted a constitutional amendment saying: marriage is between man and woman and that’s it. The very same year, Massachusetts was the first date to legalise gay marriage. And look at it, 10 years later Supreme Court said this is now the law of the land.

One of the things that makes me really hopeful about the near future is the younger generation. Their approach when it comes to the future of their own country is so different from previous generations. They really are very conscious about the long-term challenges: climate, immigration, inequality. And what I hear from them is that it is a different set of values and ideals compared to the previous generations.

More geared towards more sustainable society, and more just society. It makes me hopeful that so many of these young kids say: yes, we have to do something about it. There is a change coming. This is a generation that is going to leave the country into the 21st-century. These are not the leaders of the day after tomorrow. These are the leaders of tomorrow. And sometimes the leaders of today.”

Journalist Charles Groenhuijsen on the State of the Nation

“You see a lot of initiatives very often local. It’s not Washington. Not big cities. No, very localised. You see entrepreneurs, you see neighbourhoods. You see people taking initiatives and saying these are new Americans and we’re going to help them and help them, in a sense, to stand on their own feet and do their own thing. 

And eventually, if you look at just statistics, the number of big companies founded by immigrants or sons or daughters of immigrants, it’s staggering. 

The United States will be in big trouble if they wouldn’t have let in… millions and millions of immigrants over the last 30, 40, 50 years. It is a nation of immigrants. It’s the core of the success of the United States.

Well, you know, the people who are who say let’s kick them out or stop immigration, they should look at the numbers is just economics. The United States economy needs immigrants. Companies need immigrants. Hospitals need immigrants. In the longer run, the United States is like European countries, by the way. We cannot do without immigrants. And in the long run, every single research report will show it to you. It has a great and very positive effect on economic growth on society in general. 

This is the future of the country and this is the future of the new generation and this young generation, the millennials and Generation Z. You know, early 20s and up to early 30s. This young generation is really different from, for example, my generation. I’m a baby boomer. Right. They’re really different in the sense that they think very consciously about the future of the country.”

SEASONED JOURNALIST UNCOVERS WHAT MOST MEDIA IGNORE BUT IS CRUCIAL FOR US ALL TO KNOW. 

“Good news is no news.” That’s the message most media want to give us, but veteran journalist of over 40 years Charles Groenhuijsen believes that’s a dramatic mistake, and reveals why there’s good reason for optimism. Learn more.