When I first immigrated to the U.S., I felt out of place – until I realized that except for Native Americans, everyone in this country is or once was from somewhere else. I enjoyed the @nytimes' compelling analysis of that history, which uses Census data to visualize the immigration patterns that have shaped our country since before its founding.

Their conclusion: "Melting pot, tapestry, mosaic, kaleidoscope, salad bowl. Every cliché is true.” For me, whether during my childhood in Lebanon or my adolescence in Canada, I always loved the idea of the United States as a melting pot: all of us from somewhere else, blending together to make a nation. A gift link to the piece is in the comments; I recommend you read it, and hope you take away what I did: immigration is not just what makes America distinct; it is what makes it great.