I had come to our awe-inspiring capital only to realize that I no longer believe in our promise to the world that a better life exists for you here if you are smart and hardworking. If you don't agree, just ask a D.C. cabdriver.
Less of a Land Of Opportunity
Sunday, April 20, 2008; B08
Last week, I visited Washington for a routine meeting, but what I experienced on my trip was more than mundane: It was eye-opening. Of course, there were the little things I noticed, such as the fact that there are still people in this country who smoke, that white men in suits seem to remain the dominant paradigm and that the Kennedy Center looks much better at night than during the day (but, to be fair, who or what doesn't?). The most enlightening part of my visit, however, came during a cab ride from Dulles International Airport to my hotel in the District.
En route from the airport, I struck up a conversation with my cabdriver. I learned that he had moved to the United States from an African nation 10 years ago and was struggling to decide whether to return to his home country. There he had worked in the computer field; here he delivers pizza, drives cabs and barely makes ends meet. He was worried about the high cost of gas, but more so he and his wife were concerned about the schools his young daughter would attend; he described them as "terrible." On the other hand, he said, in the United States, girls have more opportunity. As we chatted, I gathered from him that conflicting obligations as son, brother, husband and father weighed heavily on his mind.
I asked him whether America had been good to him and whether he had found the opportunities he had come looking for. Without hesitating, he answered "no" -- but quickly added that it was a great country and a fun place to live.
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