New Day
When my older daughter was a little girl and someone asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would say without hesitation, “I want to be the President”. This was not based on a desire to have fame and power. At her tender age, she had a deep love for her country and believed she could make a difference and help people by being the President. This was almost two decades ago and to some people she might as well have said she wanted to be a Fairy Princess or the Queen of England; this was an unrealistic childish pipe dream. She was a girl, strike one; she was black, strike two; her parents were immigrants from Jamaica, strike three.
It didn’t take long for my little girl to discard her Presidential aspirations for more practical options, like hair stylist or dancer. Even though her career aspirations evolved as she got older, she never lost her desire to serve her country. At the age of 18 she accepted an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy and is now an officer in the world’s greatest Air Force. Her siblings also chose a path of service, and all 3 of our children are serving in the Air Force. The fact that they are children of immigrants didn’t diminish their desire to serve. Their father, an immigrant, proudly served in the United States Navy for over 20 years. My husband and my children proudly committed themselves to military service, promising to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office of which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
The preamble to the Constitution that my children are sworn to defend states, “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.”
For those who have served in the military, and for their families, there is a deep understanding that the level of commitment required to be willing to put your life on the line to protect and defend the United States goes beyond any other type of pledge. Many of our nation’s sons and daughters pay the ultimate price in defense of our nation. Some of them are immigrants or children of immigrants, heroes of all colors and ethnic backgrounds. It is unconscionable that anyone would ridicule or belittle the family of a service member killed in the line of duty because of their ethnicity. It is reprehensible to question the commitment of a person serving our country because their parents are immigrants. This is 2020. We are better than this as a nation.
Nearly two decades since my little girl’s aspiration to be President seemed ludicrous to some, I am happy to know that other little American girls are able to see that it is indeed possible for them to be the President or the Vice President, regardless of their color or ethnic background. I want our youth to know that love of our country and commitment to service can take many shapes and forms, but the most important is to show love, respect, kindness and care to everyone including those who may not look like them or share their points of view, and to protect the most vulnerable among us. In our pursuit of “a more perfect union”, we are all called to be part of the solutions to the challenges of our time. That can only happen when we can see, truly see, each other; when we listen, truly listen, to each other especially those with opposing views; when the color of our skin is not viewed as a weapon or threat; when we humble ourselves to recognize our own humanity and the humanity of others regardless of our privilege or affluence; when we root out systemic racism and create a more equitable and just society. When we vote, we are using our voice and sending a message to our leaders, and the youth of America, about who we are and what we value. Politics is ugly, and no political party has a monopoly on virtue. If one of my children was on the ballot, there would be no question about who would get my vote; they are not perfect but they are men and women of character with a heart to serve others, the conviction to tackle the tough issues, the wisdom to seek out qualified advisors, and the humility to do this work in a way that is respectful and inclusive. So help us God.
“This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’ -Zechariah 7: 9-10.
