America: she truly is the land of the free and the home of the brave.
The United States is often lovingly called a "melting pot." There are so many different people here from several different countries all around the world. Not everyone here looks the same, speaks the same language, or even shares the same religion. Under the Constitution, all citizens are afforded the same freedoms. There is strength in our differences; without diversity, everyone would look and think the exact same way. Angelina Jolie said, "Our diversity is our strength. What a dull and pointless life it would be if everyone was the same."
America is not a perfect nation; her past sins are many. However, it has made much progress towards true equality for all people, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. The Constitution is a great document in and of itself, but it is truly enforced by the people. After all, the preamble begins with "We the People." The current headlines regarding immigration and other controversial decisions made by the presidential administration are troubling at the very least. In the face of discrimination and questionable leadership, it is time for We the People to take action.
Whenever leaders cite scripture to defend separating immigrant children from their parents, we must confront them with the truth: it is dangerous to take anything out of context and alter it in such a way to fit your agenda. Attorney General Jeff Sessions quoted a verse from the Biblical passage of Romans 13 that says Christians should obey the laws of the land. One popular late night host, Stephen Colbert, pointed out that Romans 13 also states that love is the ultimate fulfillment of the law.
There are issues with our immigration policies, but the solution is not tearing families to deter them from entering the country or building walls. Of course, illegal immigration is breaking the law, but there are deep-seated problems with American immigration laws. Our nation is full of immigrants... my own immigrated from Poland in the early twentieth century.
Regardless of your political orientation, I encourage you to love your neighbor — no matter what they look like or where they come from. The world would be a better place if we were all a little kinder to one another. Former President Barack Obama stated eloquently, "We need to reject any politics that targets people because of race or religion. This isn't a matter of political correctness. It's a matter of understanding what makes us strong. The world respects us not just for our arsenal; it respects us for our diversity and our openness and the way we respect every faith."
