This is the title of a book by Alexander Vindman, retired Lt. Colonel, US Army, with the sub-title An American Story. Listening to the interview with Vindman brought back memories of the Trump presidency, not that I am likely to forget it any time soon. I am writing this post not to refresh your memory or promote the book (which I have not read) but because the interview motivated me to record an immigrant's perspective. Immigrants come in all colors and from different backgrounds. Vindman was brought to America by his parents from the Soviet Union at the age of three. Others trudge across the southern border, family in tow, to look for work in the fields or factories. Still others come here with a college degree, usually a professional education. Not all are looking for an escape from political tyranny or domestic abuse; most are only looking to improve their lot in life. But we all come with the belief that here we have a chance to "make it"; a better chance than wherever we came from. Even the ones unfamiliar with the Statue of Liberty look on America as the proverbial shining city on the hill, worth giving up everything for. Whether we were Europeans coming here three, four or five hundred years ago or from anywhere else since, together we have made this country what it is. Once here, our experiences vary as much as we do. We get to see our adopted land up close, warts and all. Vindman's father, ironically a Trump supporter, once again came to know the trepidation of speaking truth to power when his son testified before Congress about the president's transgressions and was fired for his trouble. He had known well the consequence of such actions back in the USSR. I doubt he expected this to happen to his son, a decorated war veteran and a high official in the NSA. Knowing what his father must be going through, Vindman used his platform in front of the House impeachment inquiry to reassure his father that he would be fine regardless, knowing that he was doing the right thing. Which brings me to the point of this post. No matter what our position on any number of issues, we cannot allow the undermining of a system which has been carefully developed over centuries of the most exciting experiment in societal evolution. The recent revelations about how Trump tried to overturn the election and how close he came to pulling it off should shake us out of our apparent complacence. And those efforts continue with the connivance of Republican officials in the states where they hold power. What is incomprehensible to me is how most Republican voters and elected officials continue to be in thrall to him. Comparison to the worship of the Golden Calf is irresistible. All I know is, understanding their motivations is less important than making sure America remains the Land where Right Matters.
- drrama7