Two days ago-on the Fourth of July- we celebrated one more
anniversary of the birth of a nation; in this case, it happened to be the United States of America
Each
nation represents, in principle, the aggregate lifestyle of the people who inhabit
it. It also represents the wishes of those who created the original charter, their previsions, thoughts and, often, their dreams for a better future.
Fifty
years ago, when I first came to this country, I was introduced to many of those
dreams, the ones which talk about liberty and the pursuit of happiness; about
being able to think, to hope, to look
forward to the future. To have the right to think and to then be able to
express those thoughts without fearing any reprisal, from any quarter.
Having
then just arrived from a country where all those concepts had been eradicated
by a very dictatorial government, and where I had lived already for some time
under the threat of punishments (in fact,
as a 14 year old I was jailed for such an implied charge)for speaking out
on any subject not of the liking of said controlling entity, the idea of once
again being free to think and to speak out, to express those thoughts loudly
and to pursue whatever I chose to pursue was, well… incredibly welcome.
It
took, as it usually does for anyone coming to live here from a not so free
country, some time to get mentally reacquainted with this grand idea… “Hey…
look at me… I AM!!” what’s more… “Listen to me… I can think and I can talk!!”
For many who come here as adults, the change and the adaptation are not so
easy. It is not the same to accept a new culture and a new way of life as a
child or as a young adult, as it is for an adult to do so. For the adult, a
lifetime of cultural baggage has to be re-examined, sorted out and those that
no longer fit the new profile, have to be eliminated. This can be a long and
not so painless process.
If
a person comes from a traditional environment, he or she will find that society
and rules of family here are more relaxed than in the old country. Young are (as well they should be) taught and
encouraged to think and to express themselves. Not so in many of the older,
more traditional societal structures. There, young people are taught to listen
quietly, to speak only when spoken to and to do as they are told. This is only
of the areas where the new and the old will cause familial chasms… there are
many others.
This
nation was founded by a group of free thinkers, who themselves were somewhat
different from the rest of the pack. Were they free of sin? Of course not. We
had some greedy landowners, some slave masters and others who would probably not be
considered to be paragons of personal virtue. Yet, when together, they created
a beautiful dream, something which the then modern world had not quite witnessed
since the times of classical Greece
Along
with this concept comes an incredible responsibility. We, The People, are
responsible for the well being of this system; we are the stewards of the
dream. Regardless of what my thoughts and inclinations are, it is my
responsibility to defend the system, to uphold what it stands for and to make
sure that those who would destroy it, cannot attain their goal.
A
nation grows on a notion… a notion that tells us we all have to stand alike on
its behalf. Regardless of creed, race or origin or sex. If we have chosen to
live here and to partake of the bounty this country gives us (yes, even in needy times, this bounty is
greater than that which most other countries may afford to offer) then use
it, but don’t abuse it. Take advantage of what is available without forgetting
there are others who also need of the same goods. To learn to take what we
need, not what we want. Then contribute to the overall wealth through the
fruits of your labor.
Indeed,
let’s celebrate the anniversary of the birth of a country which continues to
grow. Which continues to amaze those who often foretold of its doom to failure…
mistakes have been made and will be made but we have come to understand that it
is the system which is important. The system which allows us to continue to
grow, to continue to dream, to continue to hope that our children and
grandchildren will have a safe and secure place in which to grow.
Love
it; learn to understand it, learn to defend what it stands for, even when there
may not be total agreement with circumstances. When we can learn to do this,
then we will have earned the right to be here.
Be
Well … Be Back!!!
Final Notes:
- Pray for those who are fighting an illness which
may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and
counts!!
- Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
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- “La
Otra Caja de Pandora”… The
Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com”
… Bienvenidos!!!
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