Senator John McCain, R-Arizona spoke at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany on Friday, February 17, 2017. As a supporter for his election run in 2008, McCain has been one of my heroes and political influences.
A leader of moral integrity, McCain has openly quarreled and criticized President Trump’s decisions repeatedly, reiterating in his speech on Friday the shift in the United States and Europe away from “universal values”, even questioning the motives of the American people: “more and more of our fellow citizens seem to be flirting with authoritarianism and romanticizing it as our moral equivalent.”
In addition, the senator lamented the "hardening resentment we see toward immigrants, and refugees, and minority groups, especially Muslims.” This is what seems to be the reality.
There are two very unique reasons why this resentment and harshness towards our fellow Americans and incoming Americans has become our self-inflicted wound.
In an early media post, Senator McCain noted the government’s responsibility to defend the borders: “At this very moment, American troops are fighting side-by-side with our Iraqi partners to defeat ISIL. Our most important allies in the fight against ISIL are the vast majority of Muslims who reject its apocalyptic ideology of hatred.”
The hatred brought upon by us not only makes our dearest allies an unnecessary foe, but it also threatens our security.
It’s not only about security, but also respect. Just as a conservative should not be generalized as a radical right figure, neither should people of different origins or backgrounds.
We have been fighting this battle since the beginning of humanity. Don’t you think it’s time to end it once and for all?
In addition, it’s important to remember that America isn’t like any other country. This nation was uniquely built. Unfortunately, people tend to forget that, whether your American origination is new or ancient, we are all immigrants.
Between 1851 and 1900, approximately 16.7 million immigrants came to the United States. By 1900, 34.2 percent of all 76 million Americas were either born outside of the United States or had at least one parent born in a foreign land. Over time, immigration policy has changed and developed to control the influx of people that have entered this country that we kindly call home.
My grandparents were fortunate to step on this land and do the same. Arriving by boat in 1963, my grandparents, along with my aunt and uncle (age 5 and 3, respectively) entered a land of which they knew nothing- lacking the ability to speak basic English, little money, and no place to stay. Yet, here I am.
My journey as an American started with my grandparents. Yet, we have different “American” journeys. No matter the decade or origin, we are all neighbors in this great country.
But there is a harder question that we have to ask ourselves: what has changed? We still live in the same country of which was intended for a purpose unlike any other. Just like our founders so long persevered the right of tolerance of any religion after being persecuted in their own countries, we too should rightly follow in their footsteps.
This resentment that Senator McCain speaks of is real. And not only is it fundamentally against the constitutional doctrine and birth of “America”, but it also threatens us, our security to be Americans.
Yes, there is a legal process that may take a long time.
Yes, there are established rules of the forefathers that one must follow.
Yes, there are certain customs and social norms that we strive to hold onto.
However, we are equally as different as the country we currently reside in. This country isn't a nation state like Japan. Whether you are an Italian American, Hispanic American, or African-America, we all possess a belonging to a country that is truly like its own population (even if your citizenship was gained yesterday or at birth).
You are an American. And all Americans deserve security and respect.
