Truth Thursday

I did not grow up with an appreciation for our country. My
family was not patriotic in any way. In fact, we were probably a little
anti-patriotic. Although my parents were
too old to really be part of the counter culture, they both cared about issues
of social justice and fairness, and in those days, the Left did not embrace the
flag.
It wasn’t until I worked for a pro-immigration advocacy
organization that I began to understand and appreciate the great privilege it
is to live in this country, and the great lengths to which people from all over
the world will go to come here and try to build a life here.
During the time I was in that job, our own world came
toppling down, and 9/11 was a moment where everyone, no matter their political
stripes, believed in America. It was the moment when the Democrats reclaimed
the flag as a powerful symbol of what it means to care about your country in a
way that mirrors my own upbringing – with a deep devotion to equality and
justice for all.
In my next job, I had a co-worker from England who became a
citizen, and I went to his naturalization ceremony. Over 800 people from all over the world had
their names called out as they intoned the pledge of allegiance to this
nation. And just last month, I attended
my son’s high school graduation ceremony where over 700 teens took their place
in the world as young adults – with well over half of the graduates bearing
names from foreign countries.
This is a great country. We are so fortunate to be a nation
of immigrants, to be a safe haven, and to be the world’s largest democracy. We
are lucky to have freedom of choice in terms of where we live, how we pray,
where we send our children to school, how we dress, eat, and live our lives.
Yes, there are many problems, not the least of which is the enormous divide
between wealth and poverty. But the hope
and the promise is ever there – the opportunity to do better, rise up, become
successful, and live a good life.