Oh America! The land of the free*

Americans sure do love their freedom and rightfully so. The individualistic society allows every person to live life on their own terms. There are no bounds on you, and you are free to dream of a life that suits you best, to take risks and work towards your dream even if convention or societal precedence disagrees. If you wish to be different (within the rule of the law of course) from the people around you, then you can do as you please and your differences will be accepted without much interference or judgement. It is this aspect of a loose society that pushes our thinking forward and brings advancements and innovations in culture, science and technology. It is this freedom that makes America a leader in the world, but is everyone equally free in this country? Right from the 1980s, Indians have been flocking in large numbers to America in search for better career and educational opportunities. They are the cream of the crowd in America with great education and exceptional careers in every industry. Despite the massive wealth Indians in America hold, their life on a visa limits their access to the freedom they yearn for. They live with a chip on their shoulder and must do everything to protect their visas. If a person does not meet their family for years, or despite having insane amounts of money has to take up a job they don't necessarily like, just to prove employment, then is that really freedom? The US immigration system is a complicated web which is restricting the immigrants in terms of their thinking, career choices and risk appetite. For all such immigrants living on the F1 or H1B visa is like living with a sword on your neck. Despite that if Indians have made it to the top, it really shows their persistence and caliber in the world. However, do not expect the next generation of younger Indians to become slaves to this system again. Our dreams and aspirations are frightening, and we are no longer running away from our country, simply in search for more money but are looking for a lot more in what we want from our lives. We choose the option to stay in the land of the free but are not ready to become the asterisk at the end.