“There is a theory -and it’s a beguiling one- which is that if you think of the population of America; with two incredibly important exceptions, that’s to say most of the black population and the native American population, the rest came [to America] by choice. They wanted to come. They wanted to leave Europe, and come here, and start a new life. So, in a sense the gene pool is people who said ‘No, this isn’t good enough. There can be something better. I’m leaving.’ and they left behind people who said ‘Ohhh I daren’t. Oh, I think we’ll stay.’ So Europe is just just basically a gene pool of people whose ancestors said: ‘Ohh I don’t think I can risk - No I can’t risk it…’. America is a gene pool of people who say: ‘LET’S RISK IT! Let’s try it.’”
Stephen Fry - The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
I am the product of ancestors who tried to leave the country, but failed. My great grandfather was a doctor, and he wanted to move to America, but he couldn’t get past the language barrier so he came back. My grandfather on my dad’s side wanted to move to southamerica with my grandmother but she kept getting pregnant, and after maybe the third kid it wasn’t fiscally or practically possible anymore.
I wonder how I’ll fair. I’ve already failed once.
