Happy 4th of July from a naturalized citizen

[gopiscrap]

Last edited Wed Jul 5, 2023, 01:36 AM - Edit history (1)

I first came to the US as a 5 year old. My biological father was killed in a car crash in Germany and my mom met the American solidier who was to adopt me when I was 2 and a half. My mom and I first emigrated to the US when I was 6 after my father had been wounded in Vietnam which later killed him when I was 7 years old . My first memories of ceremony in the US was at his military funeral. The playing of taps, the guns shooting their salute and the folding of the flag.

My mom and I went back and forth to live during various periods in both Germany and the US. I learned to love US History and politics. I knew from a very early age that national decisions could have both catostophic and personal impact on the individual. I knew at 7 that political decisions can mean actual life or death for yourself or a loved one.

My father's death and the social justice teaching gave me a passion and a heart for being an advocate for the very far progressive ideals of life. I am so grateful for that. I was fortunate and blest to be able to make a credible run for US Congress when I was 33 and also led a city wide successful municipal initiatve for a 200,000 plus sized city.

My citizenship in the US has allowed me benefits and blessings beyond imagination. It has alo given me the grace to be able to express myself for the struggle of those around us with out a voice, with out resources. There are many things wrong with this nation, but obviously also many great gifts of which we all partake.

On this 4th, I view my patriotism not in the flag waving, not in jingoism of military slogan, not in the rah rah of being number one, but in the grace and beauty of living in the history of the noble struggle of which we discuss and aspire and of which we as citizens should all take part in.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

[tblue37]

1. Big K&R!

[gopiscrap]

8. thanks

[Silent Type]

2. That's what it's all about. Thanks for posting.

[gopiscrap]

9. thank you

[Raine]

3. Happy 4th of July 🥳 thanks for sharing! 👍 🙂 nt

[gopiscrap]

10. thank you

[summer_in_TX]

4. Great post.

Especially loved this bit, which resonates with my own patriotism:

On this 4th, I veiw my patriotism not in the flag waving, not in jingoism of military slogan, not in the rah rah of being number one, but in the grace and beauty of living in the history of the noble struggle of which we discuss and aspire and of which we as citizens should all take part in.

[gopiscrap]

5. thank you you are very kind

[Duppers]

6. Beautiful, touching post.

[gopiscrap]

11. thank you for your affirmation

[Rhiannon12866]

7. K&R! Agree this is what this country is all about, everyone came here at one time or another.

My maternal grandparents came here from Poland and my Dad's paternal grandparents came from Ireland. We were all immigrants at one time which is what makes us Americans...

[gopiscrap]

12. thanks

[Rhiannon12866]

13. And thank you for being proactive, stepping up to protect our democratic ideals

We need many more Americans like you...

[SleeplessinSoCal]

14. beautifully said and inspiring.

I find every 4th, while watching the Macy's Fireworks on tv, I get my spirit lifted by those present for the celebration. Such a diverse mix of happy faces celebrating with varied music that is uplifting. I love it.

And now I love your thoughts on this country gopiscrap. Thanks for sharing.

[gopiscrap]

15. thank you so very much

[sprinkleeninow]

16. So beautifully expressed.

"Many Years in Health and Happiness!"
🩷🤍🩵

[gopiscrap]

17. thank you

[wryter2000]

18. So glad to have you here

This is an incredibly beautiful place even with its faults. Happy 4th to you.

[gopiscrap]

19. thank you

[AZ8theist]

20. You are a welcome addition to American society.

if only the Reich wing Repuke party was as patriotic as yourself.

Think of how much further along we would be "In Order to form a more perfect Union"...

Sadly, one political party would rather live in a fascist dictatorship, than a "more perfect union".....

[betsuni]

21. You live in Tacoma! I mostly grew up next door in Steilacoom.

Haven't been back in a couple of decades, I want to remember it from when I was young. Quiet Sleepy Hallow-like town of Victorian era houses where old people who always planted gardens in their backyards lived; spooky stories about the haunted Bair Drugstore and E.R. Rogers mansion (before they were turned into restaurants -- I hear the latter is now a law office and the ghosts gave up and left); abandoned 19th century orchards of pears, apples, cherries, plums, hazelnuts and jungles of wild blackberries along the railroad tracks -- free!; long glorious summer sunsets framing the Olympic Mountains, floating around on driftwood in Puget Sound during high tide (free-range parenting, we stayed out all day and even evenings); starfish, sand dollars, sea slugs, crabs and other exotic sea life at low tide.

I remember the 1976 Steilacoom 4th of July celebration, the town really went all out. A whole day of events.

Wasn't later as an adult that I knew about bad things. Visited a newly opened Steilacoom Indian Museum and found out about the history of the tribe, that they didn't sign a treaty with the government, the town was named after a flower. How did I not know this? Found out how Chinese people suddenly disappeared from the Pacific Northwest. That Sunnyside Beach used to be owned by Japanese strawberry farmers until the Pearl Harbor thing, that the Puyallup fairgrounds was the first stop on the way to the internment camps. It's always something. But every country has bad things.

[gopiscrap]

22. wow very interesting thank you

[betsuni]

26. wow interesting comment. Not.

[GenThePerservering]

23. A very proud moment

was when I assisted a new citizen in casting his first ballot. We have mail-in voting and he wanted to be certain that he was placing his ballot in the correct slot at the post office. I have a mail order business so I was there with a load of shipping and he may have thought I was an employee and asked me in somewhat halting English about mailing his ballot. He held it in both hands. I escorted him to the proper mailing slot and watched while he placed it carefully therein. We smiled at one another, he looked very satisfied (and I felt blessed to be able to assist).

In my area we have a lot of people who fled terrible conditions in East Africa - to be able to vote is like a blessing.

One reason why I cannot understand why everyone EVERYONE here does not vote - it's one thing to celebrate on this day!

[gopiscrap]

24. exactly

[wnylib]

25. I remember my mother showing me a photocopy

of her grandfather's citizenship papers that her brother sent her. Her father was a citizen by birth, having been born in Buffalo 2 weeks after his parents arrived in the US from the German Empire in 1888. Her mother was 3 years old when her family came to the US from the German Empire in 1890, so she became a citizen automatically when her parents did.

I have taught English to new arrivals to the US and formed many friendships among them. Most of them came from Latin American countries. Some were Puerto Rican, so they were already citizens. You get fresh perspectives on your country and culture from newly arrived people.

[gopiscrap]

30. absolutely

I was the chair of the Tacoma Refugee Choir for awhile and it was fasinating listening to the fo,ks from outher countries and continents

[nuxvomica]

27. Our country has a mixed history, but we aspire to be better

There is so much that is aspirational in our founding documents despite our often sorry history but we come along in every generation with, I think, most of us, even the oppressed, believing in those aspirations, and that has saved us time after time, and has caught the notice of the rest of world. As Paul Simon wrote:

We come in the age's most uncertain hours
And sing an American tune.

[Irish_Dem]

28. You embody the spirit of America.

America is lucky to have you as a citizen.

[AmBlue]

29. Very eloquent

"...my patriotism not in the flag waving, not in jingoism of military slogan, not in the rah rah of being number one, but in the grace and beauty of living in the history of the noble struggle of which we discuss and aspire and of which we as citizens should all take part in."


*chef's kiss"

Happy 4th to us all.

[gopiscrap]

31. thank you for your affirmation