I don’t take my United States citizenship for granted because my family chose to be American; we weren’t born to it.
As we do every year, we went to the North Carolina state Capitol to watch newly minted United States citizens sworn in. Today we celebrated 27 new citizens, representing 17 countries, including India, Mexico, Russia, Iceland, Canada, Bangladesh, Haiti, Germany, Iraq, Egypt, Argentina, Thailand, Laos, China, Jamaica, and dang it, I can’t remember the last two! The immigration official leading the naturalization ceremony has been stationed in Dallas and Miami, two of the country’s largest cities. He said that the Raleigh-Durham area represents greater diversity than any place has worked. The crowd erupted in applause at this news. There was cheering and clapping in support of immigrants. The energy was positive, a stark contrast to the news we’ve been seeing. What I witnessed today was pride in our nation and citizens old and new affirming their fight to welcome immigrants, uphold our values, and be generous in spirt and action.
Allow me to share just one anecdote from the day. There were toddlers posing and playing around a statue at the Capitol grounds. The children were resplendent in their festive red, white, and blue sundresses and hair bows. There was a little African American girl bopping around. A little white girl was waving two flags in her hand and spotted the African American girl, who looked to be about the same age. She let go of her grandmother’s hand, ran to the little girl and tapped her on the shoulder. She offered one of her flags to the child and rejoined her grandmother. And in that moment, in that innocent exchange, I witnessed something poignant. The children are indeed our future.
While there is much to bemoan, there is also much to embrace. We are still a free nation, free to use our voice and fight against a government that does not represent the best of America. I urge you to read the transcript of the Declaration of Independence. Those words from 242 years ring true still, only now it’s our own government that is choking us. The parallels are downright eerie and proof that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.–Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.”
Yet, here we are, using our freedom to fight. While it seems there isn’t much to celebrate today, and the celebration itself is mired in whitewashed history, let’s move forward together to reclaim and redefine patriotism. Do not be stilled by fury, rather let your rage fuel your action.
- Call your legislators every single day. There is no shortage of issues to advocate for.
- Focus on standing for something rather than against something.
- Volunteer on a campaign. Knock on doors. Make calls. Write postcards.
- Register people to vote.
- Speak up when you see microaggressions. Call out bad behavior.
- Patronize immigrant and minority-owned businesses.
- Invite people to sit at your table.
- Learn a foreign language, for with it comes a new world view.
- Travel, be it exploring new neighborhoods in your home town or abroad.
- Vote with your wallet and stop supporting bigoted business practices.
- Donate to a progressive candidate or social justice cause.
- Review what is taught in your school district’s curriculum and draw attention to ways to make content more diverse.
We have a new found pride in the resistance. We are marching like never before, and if you’re like me, there is solace in being around like-hearted souls. I am not usually a glass-half-full kind of woman, but these days, there’s no other way to face the day. We must remain committed and positive in this fight. Resilience defines us as Americans. Generations are coming together like never before, and it’s been quite a thing to march alongside my sons. We recently made a poster to welcome our French exchange student at the airport. My son said to me, “Mom, after all the protests we’ve been to, if there’s one thing our family can do, it’s make a sign.”
And so we fight on, fists and voices raised. Do what the inimitable Ruth Bader Ginsburg says and FIGHT FOR THE THINGS YOU CARE ABOUT.
“Let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them.” — Thomas Jefferson