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My America |
This Site:
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When someone says "America" or "freedom", what comes to your mind? When I hear these words I think of the original thirteen colonies fighting for freedom. They fought for what they believed was right; independence and democracy. I think of people from different ethnic and social backgrounds coming together and becoming one country. When I think of America, I remember the social changes this nation of ours has undergone; from the banishing of slavery in the 1800's, African American and Hispanic American civil right protests in the 1950's and 1960's. I think of how lucky we are to live in a country that is built on religious tolerance, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As an American I am fortunate to be able to have a free education and the opportunity to seek post-secondary education. I am fortunate to live in a country that is based on diverse cultures, different ideas, and many religions. Many people take living freely for granted. People forget that college, freedom of religion or speech, daily liberties don't exist worldwide. It's a privilege that we hold. It's the opportunity that my great-great-grandparents' sought out when they came to the United States in the 1920's. They wanted to escape poverty and start a new life. They suffered heavy discrimination, but persevered and saw a change in America. My great-great-grandmother lived to see her ethnic group be treated fairly. My great-grandfather would tell me stories of having to order food at a restaurant from the kitchen, going to the Hispanic school and working in the low-paying fruit fields, and other stories of discrimination. I remember listening of stories of him helping other Hispanic men and women obtain jobs and fighting for equal rights for minorities in our small town. He even went to Austin to talk to officials. He lived in a different America than I do now. We live in an America that doesn't discriminate against race or color. America is the land of the free. It's my home. America is liberty. America is robust. America is unity. I am America. We are America.
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