海角大神

The sidewalks outside the White House are teeming with life again, a welcome sight after more than a year closed to pedestrians. Cue the protesters, a reminder that free speech is a bedrock American value 鈥� and a sign that, despite its challenges, Washington remains a beacon of hope for Americans of many proud national origins.聽

This week, it was Cuban Americans, shouting 鈥淟ibertad!鈥� 鈥� liberty 鈥� and wearing 鈥淪OS Cuba鈥� T-shirts in support of the taking place on the communist island nation.

鈥淲e want a military intervention to throw out the regime,鈥� says Havana native Camilo Sanchez, a Cuban flag draped over his shoulders.聽

On Sunday, it will be Belarusian Americans staging a rally, on nearby Freedom Plaza. The former Soviet republic鈥檚 opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, will be in Washington next week for meetings, . Her supporters view her as president-elect of Belarus, after strongman Alexander Lukashenko claimed electoral victory last summer amid allegations of widespread fraud.聽

Belarusian immigrant Denis Baranov, who arrived here as a teen 20 years ago, tells me the best outcome of Ms. Tsikhanouskaya鈥檚 visit would be quick U.S. actions that 鈥渞eally hurt Lukashenko and his cronies鈥� 鈥� say, stricter economic sanctions.聽

Haitian Americans, too, are watching the Biden administration closely after the July 7 assassination of Haiti鈥檚 president. And even though Haitian authorities requested a U.S. military intervention to stabilize the country, Haitian Americans are wary of the idea, given the U.S.鈥檚 fraught history 迟丑别谤别.听

Each country鈥檚 situation is unique, but there鈥檚 a common thread: the deep connection many U.S. immigrants feel to their native land.聽