As I see the increasing incidences of flag displays and fireworks sales as Independence Day approaches, I cannot help but wonder of people acutally really know what the significance of July 4 is.
Ruben Navarrette has had a piece published in today’s Salt Lake Tribune from SignOn San Diego, entitled Being an American by a technicality.
Navarrette is a hispanic american. He lists the reasons why he is an American.
Here is his list – go to the article (linked above) to read his explanations:
I’m an American because I love and appreciate freedom, and I want people around the world to have the chance to experience it firsthand.
I’m an American because I don’t believe in isolationism or disengaging from the rest of the world.
I’m an American because my sympathies lie with the little guy (especially when he is being pushed around by the big guy) and because I won’t stomach bullies, foreign or domestic.
I’m an American because I reject protectionism.
I’m an American because I’m convinced that U.S. law exists to protect the rights of minorities — racial, religious, those with a particular sexual preference, etc. — because the majority can protect itself.
‘m an American because I believe the U.S. government can’t run roughshod over civil liberties and simply lock up people and throw away the key.
I’m an American because I believe in the power of public education to change the lives and destinies of individuals and entire families.
I’m an American because I believe that, with personal rights come personal responsibilities.
I’m an American because I believe that the future belongs to the bold, the optimistic and the hardworking.
I’m an American because I believe that immigrants are our most valuable import and that we should welcome as many as possible.
Navarrette’s ending intrigued me the most:
an immigration restrictionist – recently took issue with something I’d written and informed me that the fact I was an American citizen was just a “technicality.”
If that’s the case, it’s a technicality for which I’m immensely grateful.
My comment: We are all, by default, then, American citizens by technicality because America was founded by immigrants to a land already inhabited.
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 