I remember the first time I learned about the concept of a melting pot, what that meant to me. That we were a country of immigrants. That were a beautiful, and sometimes challenging, mix of ideas of cultures. That we welcomed diversity of thought and color, all under the notion of unity and "one people".
I built my very foundation of history and politicial theory, and ultimately my college education, that America was a melting pot. I pursued a career that would help those less fortunate, that would support the idealists, and encourage diversity. I traveled around the world and saw evidence of our country's impact, both positive and negative, on other systems and people. But I held in my heart that they were not "other" - they were "us".
America is so integrated into the sense of immigration creating a productive economy, and that by accepting people into our fold, we are becoming stronger, more unique, more beautiful - more American. That is MY AMERICA.
Today I felt like that was taken from me. I have never been incredibly political, nor have expressed my political opinions openly in the past year. However, today, during the inaugural speech, I watched the 45th President of the United States strip away my America in a few statements.
And they I heard the words of our President: America first...America will start winning again.
I didn't know this was a game to be won or lost.
Unlike him, I see the faces of the immigrants, those who who climb out of poverty, the blue collared families, those of color. I see them because I see their face every time I look in the mirror.
When he spoke of "home", I thought of his elaborate, gold-gilded, marble-covered house. His America is so different from mine. He concept of "home" is contrasted violently to that of my own.
I feel like I lost something today. An identity, a deeply held value. A belief.
He did not describe my home. No, not MY America. And while he is still my President, it is with a sadness and uncommon broken that I accept this fact. Here is what I do not accept - hatred, fear of the "other", greed and competition. I will try to hold tightly to the America I remember first admiring, the America I belong to, and hope that this memory will become reality again.
I built my very foundation of history and politicial theory, and ultimately my college education, that America was a melting pot. I pursued a career that would help those less fortunate, that would support the idealists, and encourage diversity. I traveled around the world and saw evidence of our country's impact, both positive and negative, on other systems and people. But I held in my heart that they were not "other" - they were "us".
America is so integrated into the sense of immigration creating a productive economy, and that by accepting people into our fold, we are becoming stronger, more unique, more beautiful - more American. That is MY AMERICA.
Today I felt like that was taken from me. I have never been incredibly political, nor have expressed my political opinions openly in the past year. However, today, during the inaugural speech, I watched the 45th President of the United States strip away my America in a few statements.
From this day forward, it's going to be only America first, America first. Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs will be made to benefit American workers and American families. We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our product, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs.
Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength. I will fight for you with every breath in my body, and I will never ever let you down.
America will start winning again, winning like never before.My heart broke. Unfortunately, I was at a viewing party and had to leave as embarrassingly tears streamed down my face. I thought of the man I met from Columbia on the streets of Ecuador that was waiting for his family from New York to bring him to the US. I thought about the English students I met in Cambodia who wished they could visit me in the States. I thought about all the children in South Africa that bombarded our bus because they wanted to meet the Americans that came so far to play with them.
And they I heard the words of our President: America first...America will start winning again.
I didn't know this was a game to be won or lost.
Unlike him, I see the faces of the immigrants, those who who climb out of poverty, the blue collared families, those of color. I see them because I see their face every time I look in the mirror.
When he spoke of "home", I thought of his elaborate, gold-gilded, marble-covered house. His America is so different from mine. He concept of "home" is contrasted violently to that of my own.
I feel like I lost something today. An identity, a deeply held value. A belief.
He did not describe my home. No, not MY America. And while he is still my President, it is with a sadness and uncommon broken that I accept this fact. Here is what I do not accept - hatred, fear of the "other", greed and competition. I will try to hold tightly to the America I remember first admiring, the America I belong to, and hope that this memory will become reality again.
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