On Being a Citizen

         I think that many, if not most, Americans naturally born in this country tend to take their freedoms for granted. On the other hand, people who came to these shores from other countries have a very different view of what it means to be an American citizen. My husband was born in Eastern Europe, and he loved being an American; he loved its freedoms, its rough edges and the ability to speak one’s thoughts openly and without fear.

A God-given right...

To be able to vote as we choose, to campaign noisily at election time, to be on hand to examine and question the intent of those who would represent us, this truly is what we like to call a God-given right. But human rights can be tenuous if the freedom-lovers are not attentive. It is not too difficult for those with selfish motives to slowly erode democratic systems that are not stoutly defended.

 None must be left out...

It is not so much that we are conservatives or liberals; it is much more important that we concern ourselves with the rights of all, for in a free society, none must be left out. As we think about them, don’t these ideas seem obvious, so firmly entrenched in law that we need not have to consider them?

Liberty is a gift...

Perhaps not. Liberty is a gift won by democratic societies and, by its nature, is vulnerable. It can never be taken for granted and must be safeguarded by a thoughtful, responsible citizenry to endure.


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