To my American friends on here, I wish you nothing but the best today.
America and I, well, I don't always have the highest opinions of what we do, especially the last 10 years or so. Actually, I take issue with many of the actions that have been taken since even before the country's inception. But, that is not what today or America means to me. America to me, is my home. I might not even be in the country next year, these are the roots that were sewn for me, and this is where I grew up. My parents were born here, my grandparents were born here, and my great-grandparents on my mother's side fought like hell to get over here from Poland and Lithuania to find their way to America during the holocaust. And in a Jewish area of Chicago, they found each other.
America to me, despite its many flaws, holds in its core principles, "That we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." Now, when that was written, it meant white males who didn't want to pay their taxes should be allowed to have their own property and take care of themselves, but what that phrase means to me... All men, all women, of all colors, christian, jewish, athiest, buddhist, whatever, deserve the right to pursue their dreams and their own happiness, and I don't mean just in America, that is something we share as people. It doesn't quite work that way in reality, I know. Circumstance are unfair, socio-economic classes are uneven, but at its heart, I believe in these principles more than I have ever believed in any religious faith.
America is not perfect. Not by a long stretch, but without it, I would not exist and so today I pay homage to the country that took the poor huddled masses of my Irish, Italian, Lithuanian, and Polish long departed relatives.
To my global friends here at HevyDevyForums, you guys are a wonderful, colorful, vibrant community. I believe that in order to celebrate our nation, we must acknowledge all other nations in the world and celebrate our differences and diversity. I believe if we can somehow not blow ourselves up, through food, art, sporting events, culture, and humor we can come to understand each other for what we really are. We are all human. Be you European, Australian, Kiwi (I wouldn't forget keeptheflame
), or anywhere else, we are all here as friends.
Well, I'm getting a little misty-eyed, so I'm going to go have a beer with my stepfather and go blow some things up in our street. But before I leave I have one more thing to say...
It's the music that brings us together, and there is no greater international language than music.
America and I, well, I don't always have the highest opinions of what we do, especially the last 10 years or so. Actually, I take issue with many of the actions that have been taken since even before the country's inception. But, that is not what today or America means to me. America to me, is my home. I might not even be in the country next year, these are the roots that were sewn for me, and this is where I grew up. My parents were born here, my grandparents were born here, and my great-grandparents on my mother's side fought like hell to get over here from Poland and Lithuania to find their way to America during the holocaust. And in a Jewish area of Chicago, they found each other.
America to me, despite its many flaws, holds in its core principles, "That we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." Now, when that was written, it meant white males who didn't want to pay their taxes should be allowed to have their own property and take care of themselves, but what that phrase means to me... All men, all women, of all colors, christian, jewish, athiest, buddhist, whatever, deserve the right to pursue their dreams and their own happiness, and I don't mean just in America, that is something we share as people. It doesn't quite work that way in reality, I know. Circumstance are unfair, socio-economic classes are uneven, but at its heart, I believe in these principles more than I have ever believed in any religious faith.
America is not perfect. Not by a long stretch, but without it, I would not exist and so today I pay homage to the country that took the poor huddled masses of my Irish, Italian, Lithuanian, and Polish long departed relatives.
To my global friends here at HevyDevyForums, you guys are a wonderful, colorful, vibrant community. I believe that in order to celebrate our nation, we must acknowledge all other nations in the world and celebrate our differences and diversity. I believe if we can somehow not blow ourselves up, through food, art, sporting events, culture, and humor we can come to understand each other for what we really are. We are all human. Be you European, Australian, Kiwi (I wouldn't forget keeptheflame
), or anywhere else, we are all here as friends. Well, I'm getting a little misty-eyed, so I'm going to go have a beer with my stepfather and go blow some things up in our street. But before I leave I have one more thing to say...
It's the music that brings us together, and there is no greater international language than music.
