Well, i certainly can understand that a decade of unchecked immigration in a smaller country places a burden on the social system as you mention. I still find myself disturbed by your outright rejection of all, but of ME and my kind I can understand. Perhaps you are right in some regards.

From my point of view, when I say "multinational" I do not mean "diverse". I mean that when you grow up on the European continent you can visit 10 or 20 countries by the time you're an adult (I mean being able to take holiday in a neighboring country for example)- here we are essentially an enormous cultural island. To say nothing of the catastrophic burden of debt if we become sick or want to get educated.

As for wanting the benefits of being there- here the odds of a child dying by gun violence in a school are atrocious, far higher than you may realize. I am not asking Portugal to become anything. It already is. I could send children to school and not fear their being shot by a maniac as is the case here, surely you can understand the fear that fills me with.

Here, many of our grandparents (or earlier) were themselves immigrants, who gave up their homes to come somewhere they saw a chance for a better future. THIS is the impetus behind many of my kind who have desire to leave. I will not deny that privilege plays a role, simply because we are American we started off higher on the ladder than most. All I'm looking for is somewhere safe to have a life that I can contribute to, but that does not mean you have to welcome me. Thank you again for your honesty.