What does it mean to you?

Think about it.

So some it is all about being a part of the finest nation on earth, to some, it is not.

To some we are a nation born of slavery and white dominance-white privilege. That may be so initially, but we changed that by killing each other in a civil war.

To some it is about the diversity of people. The question about this is, if I have nothing in common with other people, what is the common ground for us to get along? Just being “American” doesn’t seem to fit in this hyphenated country.

To legal immigrants like my grandfather, Antonio Campagna, it was a chance to make it in the new world, and opportunity to be free, to start a business, to work and serve his new country. He was sponsored by my great grandfather Puisitere to come work in Monmouth, Ill, perhaps marry one of his daughters. He came through Ellis Island. Worked on a food cart, enlisted in the Army and fought in WWI.

My other grand parents came from Indiana and West(by God) Virginia. Doc Keidel and Gerturde settled in Cleves and taught me to be a proud American by example. My parents too. They showed me how to be patriotic, sing the songs and mean it. They nurtured me. I didn’t feel privileged. Lucky maybe. I had a great childhood in a small town.

To me it us about being an unique individual first, taking care of my own, believing that I’m an American with unalienable rights. Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness(not guaranteed happiness).

I am not to be labeled, categorized, identified or pigeonedholed into a demographic clan, tribe or party. I’m just me. And you are you.

America is about individualism, not identity politics. One person, one vote. Of course this is my opinion, one of the few things I am entitled to. If you don’t agree, that’s fine.

I’m not a racist but maybe I am. I do believe that all people are created equal but it’s what you make of yourself after being created that really matters. Not what you say but what you do with your life matters. How you treat your family, friends, pets and neighbors and yes Facebook friends and foes. Some people are better that others because they have worked harder to make themselves better. That’s not a racist statement rather a fact of life and natural selection. I believe we start out equal and maybe end up equal(dead).

To some, the separation between religion and government should be absolute. I don’t see how that’s possible. With freedom of religion, you are free to believe in what you want. That doesn’t mean freedom from religion. Faith has it’s place in America, it doesn’t mean that science does not, both can be practiced and should be studied. I may have had my religion forced on me at first, but I have to say that going back to the Catholic church after 40 years away has been fulfilling, wonderful and much more than I expected. This country was built on religious principals. That’s a fact that cannot be refuted.

On this 20 year reunion of the 9/11 tragedy, I pray that it never happens again. What I remember most now is the feeling of being an American after it happened, on 9/12. We all got our flags out, got our mojo back and came together as Americans.

I sadly don’t feel that today. We need to try to get along. Try with me.

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