By Lance Tonelli
Western Sun executive editor
The land of the free and the home of the brave. What could that possibly mean? Many people have died defending this and yet many have either forgotten its meaning or just don’t know.
A large statute was given to the American people by France, which is to symbolize the light for the people in need to come to a safe harbor. The Statue of Liberty stands tall and invites immigrants to come to America for a new start away from oppression and a chance for freedom.
So, how can many forget the foundation in which this country was built? The other day a speaker in one of my classes said something that truly resonated in me. He said that he was spit on and told to go back to Mexico during a legal gathering on a proposition a few years ago.
There are many problems with this, but one of them was that he was born here and was in our military. I am not sure why some feel this is more their home then someone else’s. We all had to have come from some other place at some time.
Many immigrants have gone through prejudices in coming to America and having to learn a new language and adjust to a new culture.
Instead of spitting on or teasing someone who is different from you, how about we try to see it from their shoes instead? What problems were they facing that made them need to pick up their family and leave everything they knew to start over in a land that is strange and has such different cultures than their own.
I could not imagine having to do that or what it would take to have the courage for such an incredible journey. My hope is that we find that pride and genuine concern that this country had when it was built; the ideals of the Declaration of Independence which says we all have the right to pursue happiness.
We all came here looking for these freedoms and rights, so why not work together and start enjoying what we have and sharing it with our neighbors and friends.
