The Promise of American

It’s easy for me to give myself agita over the challenges that our country currently faces. Recently on the radio I heard a commentator speculate that the Republican strategy right now is to be uncooperative because the worse the economy is, the better their chances of success in 2012.

It frustrates me that that the question most politicians seem to ask is “How can I/we win?” rather than “What will best serve the American people?” If the economy worsens, how many people will suffer, how many will lose their jobs and their homes?

And don’t even get me started on questionable wars, healthcare and education!

Certainly we have our challenges. Yet recently I spoke to a cab driver who drove me from my hotel to the Atlanta airport. He was from Eritrea in Africa. He’d been here 3
and a half years and couldn’t say enough good things about America.

“If you do things right,” he said, “this is a great country for opportunity.” He drove a cab full time and also went to school fulltime, as the textbook on the seat next to him confirmed. “It’s hard on my family for me to be gone so much but we know it is worth it,” he asserted.

Of Eritrea, Wikipedia says: “The human rights record of Eritrea is considered poor. Eritrea is a one-party state in which national legislative elections have been repeatedly postponed.” Coming from Eritrea, America surely must look good to that hard-working cab driver.

Then I reflect on the fact that my father came to this country from Sicily at the age of 6. My maternal grandfather emigrated from a town near Naples at the age of 15. Although I’m very proud of my Italian heritage, what would my life have been like if I’d been born in Italy? Would I have an education? Would I have travelled, been able to make the choices I’ve made, experienced the personal and professional growth that have enriched my life?

I suspect my life would have been very different had I been born and reared in Italy. This 4th of July finds me grateful to be an American, to have the quality of life that I’ve enjoyed. I feel hopeful that we can continue to make this country better and more aligned with the principles of our founders. And I’m motivated and inspired, within my sphere of influence, to do my part.

What’s your experience of being an American?