Welcome to America
Our nation is a land of immigrants and that is a great strength. Everyone, except the native inhabitants, in the United States came or were brought to this land from other shores relatively recently in historical terms. Our country has fought to stay united and for all of our people. As citizens we have a responsibility to not allow our differences to separate us, but to bond together around our common love for this country. What can and should bind us together is a desire for life with opportunities and freedom.
We the People
We aren’t a nation of one race or language or religion. We are a nation of an idea and a philosophy. We should work towards the perfection of this ideal. We should focus on what binds us and not about what separates us. We are a nation of people who follow the principles in the US Constitution.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Defend the Constitution
Our nation should be embracing more immigration with more forms of “work visas” and pathways to citizenship. We should be bringing the best and brightest to join our nation with open arms. The Statue of Liberty holds up her shining light to welcome those “yearning to breathe free“. We should welcome more people and not pick and choose whether those seeking this same love of freedom look or worship exactly like us. We should look for people to bring to this nation who believe in our principles.
Not everyone is fortunate enough to be born an American, but many perhaps should be Americans. They dream of coming to the United States. They see our country, as Ronald Reagan did, as the “shining city on a hill”. They dream of raising their hand to take their oath to this country that “I will support and defend the Constitution … against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; …”
America is freedom – freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of enterprise – and freedom is special and rare. It’s fragile; it needs protection. – Ronald Reagan 1989
We are the UNITED States of America and can embrace and integrate people from various cultures, religions, races and languages. As a nation we are still working on perfection of our ideals, but our nation believes that anyone can have a chance. This, as a goal, is truly unusual in this world. We should seek out bright minds to come to our nation to help build new industries not yet even imagined for our future.
Our country is truly special because we believe in religious freedom. Believers in diverse faiths and also non-believers may all join our nation, if they follow our principles espoused in the US Constitution. We should seek out people of goodwill and tolerance of many cultures and religions. We should teach them – and remind ourselves – what it means to be part of “united” together.
Waves of immigration have often caused controversy and fear with quotas and restrictions imposed. Blocks have been thrown up to immigration repeatedly, but our nation realizes that diversity will only strengthen our democracy and make our nation stronger.
People have come to the United States from across the world. There are 382 languages spoken in American homes. Our nation is a wondrous melting pot. We can find restaurants serving Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Ethiopian and all types of different foods. We can celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo. We celebrate Christmas, Hannukah and Santa with reindeer. A Buddhist temple can be next door to a Catholic church.
Our country may need adjustment to changes, but we shouldn’t isolate ourselves and close up with fear. We should offer pathways to legally joining our nation to those wanting to share in our dream and follow our US Constitution. Our country should control our borders and verify that people wanting to enter are not wishing our nation harm while remaining open and welcoming to new immigrants. We shouldn’t be afraid of new voices to add to our nation’s song. Our country and our people are amazing.
Wikipedia: Immigration to United States of America
Wikipedia: History of immigration to the United States
Wikipedia: United States Constitution
Reagan Library: Ronald Reagan Final Address January 11, 1989
Wikipedia: Shining City On a Hill