I’m Staying
I love to travel. I inherited this love from my parents. Dad’s service in the United States’ Army opened a world to me. Our three years living in Germany had the most impact.
Weekends and holidays in Germany were an adventure. The Churches and the castles overflowed with history. The natural history museums literally had insect specimens held in place by pins.
Only when we returned to Louisiana did I learn that my experiences on Army bases were unique in other ways. Most importantly, life on base was fully integrated.
Of course Louisiana was legally integrated by 1977. Legally integrated and socially integrated are two different situations. Most people still lived in segregated neighborhoods and had close relationships with people of the same race.
Since those days America has continued to make progress. I say progress because this racial and social awakening has been good for America. We are coming closer to the American Dream.
In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson proclaimed, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”.
Through most of American history this idea was not “self evident.” Laws and society discriminated. America placed obstacles in the way of individuals pursing their happiness.
Gradually, we have removed these obstacles. More and more Americans enjoy freedom. This is a good thing. I am proud to live in Modern America.
Are you?
Texas Republicans aren’t. At their convention, they directed Republican officials to prepare for secession. They want a referendum “for the people of Texas to determine whether or not the State of Texas should reassert its status as an independent nation.”
How would you vote? Are you proud to be an American? Are you proud of expanding liberty and equality to all Americans? Or, do you want to go backwards?
Texas Republicans aren’t only concerned with social issues. They also want to give your Social Security money to Wall Street. Imagine if your Social Security money was in private hands and fluctuated with Wall Street’s ups and downs.
How many of our seniors could pursue their happiness without the guarantees of Social Security and Medicare? How much shorter would their lives be?
For me, my vote is always cast in favor of Modern America. My travels have taught me to appreciate who we are. I am a proud American. I am proud of who we are.
We are brave. We are welcoming. We are generous. We strive to be a better, more perfect Union.
I will never understand why Texas Republicans hate America so much they want to leave. If Texas Republicans divide America again, I’ll leave Texas before I leave America.
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