Who’s Country Is This?

I’m ending our fourth season with a reflection on “Who’s Country is This?” When my Brothers are asked “If the United States was a woman, what would you say to her,” you can often hear the conflict. For some she’s a woman you love and sometimes hate that you love her. She professes she wants to love you right but behaves in ways that sting. 

Though a handful of unknown ancestors arrived by choice, the vast majority of my ancestors were forced immigrants to the United States under threat of death. Their blood, sweat and tears built this nation’s wealth and power. My most recent immigrating ancestors arrived six generations back. That alone should make me an indisputably red-white-and-blue blooded American. 

The shooter at a Buffalo grocery store wouldn’t agree. There have been, are and will always be certain people who want to convince me that I’m a long-term visitor with a permanent visa bought with my ancestors free labor. For these folks, I am not now nor ever will be a true, full-blooded American entitled to all the rights, privileges and opportunities espoused to the world as enviable. 

People of color were feeling their full American citizenship in the November 2020 election. They showed up at the voting polls and made their choice for President of the United States. They came out and delivered two democratic Senators from Georgia. They acted like this was their country and it ticked some haters off.

I’m more podcaster than prognosticator, but I think we’re all going to dig down and put action behind how we answer “Whose Country Is This.”  

The photos:

Top right–Me and my father, Robert 

Bottom right–Maternal great grandfather, Neil

Botoom left–Yours truly

Top left–Maternal great, great grandfather, Dixon.