One for All, All for One

As displayed in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, after World War II, German Lutheran Pastor Martin Niemöller had a well known quote which he repeated numerous times, about the guilt he had over his lack of action and complicity during the rise of Nazism.

It is said that if you don't know your history, you are bound to repeat it.  When I attended public elementary school I was taught American History one year and World History the following year.  These were mandatory classes that helped me understand not only how big the world was and the significant events that took place that changed it, but in fact how small we are in retrospect.  That we are actually a part of a bigger picture, one world and that we share many of the same values of love of family and the pursuit of happiness. 

Over the years, our public education system has deteriorated to the detriment of our society where the only history being taught is the one-sided view of the state the students reside in.  Note that I am not just talking about the schools in the South but the fact that I know someone about my age from the midwest that had never heard of the Holocaust, is indicative of the endemic complacency that has taken over this nation.

Given what is happening in this country with the "fixing" of the voting regulations that are intentionally being designed to make it harder for people to use their one voice through the power of the vote, it is worth adapting the above quote to today's situation, with no disrespect to the original author, or to the members of the Jewish community:

First they came for the people of color, and I did not speak out—because I was not a person of color.

Then they came for the LGBTQ, and I did not speak out—because I was not an LGBTQ.

Then they came for the Non-Evangelical Christian, the Muslims. the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was either not part of those groups or afraid to speak out.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

As a Puerto Rican, whose family in Puerto Rico can vote in the presidential election but not for those that officially represent them in Washington, unless they move to FL or another state like NJ where my parents moved in the 60's and were automatically granted that right, I understand and can relate to the disaffected "US citizens".  Especially after Hurricane Maria and the response of the Federal Government (the withholding of precious funds, the denigration of US citizens with the throwing of the paper towels, the talks of exchanging them for Greenland)...etc. I value my right to Vote and have faithfully exercised it at every opportunity, especially for my people in 2020 as I wrote about regarding the disappearance of our Moral Compass.

Now for the much needed history lesson.  

Originally, the right to vote was actually not for all citizens but for white men only.  It wasn't until after the Civil War in 1868 that the 14th Amendment was passed that granted African Americans all rights accorded any other US citizen.  

As described in the official US Government Archives site regarding the 14th Amendment:  

A major provision of the 14th Amendment was to grant citizenship to “All persons born or naturalized in the United States,” thereby granting citizenship to formerly enslaved people.

Another equally important provision was the statement that “nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

This would obviously include the right to Vote.

The 15th Amendment, approved by Congress in 1870, was required to clarify that right given the laws passed predominantly in Southern States, that were aimed at restricting that right given by the 14th Amendment.  Specifically, the official US Government Archives web page describing the rationale for the 15th Amendment clearly says:

African Americans exercised the right to vote and held office in many Southern states through the 1880s, but in the early 1890s, steps were taken to ensure subsequent “white supremacy.” Literacy tests for the vote, “grandfather clauses” excluding from the franchise all whose ancestors had not voted in the 1860s, and other devices to disenfranchise African Americans were written into the laws of former Confederate states.

As crazy as that sounds, it wasn't until the 19th amendment to the Constitution, passed by Congress in 1919 and ratified in 1920, that the right to vote was granted to women as follows:

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

USA Today had a comprehensive story on the path it took women to obtain this fundamental right.

Then, the 26th amendment to the Constitution, gave the right to vote for any US Citizen 18 years of age or older.

The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.

Now, both in the 19th Amendment, and in the 26th Amendment, the words that jumped out at me were "shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State"

So getting back to why and what compelled me to write this post.  The rights of a US Citizen to vote, has had to be clarified and re-enforced numerous times through legislation.  Because for one reason or another, there is someone that feels they need to restrict that right from others because of how different they are, their different beliefs, or even in some cases, that the other person is "beneath" that of their own kind.  

Around the time of the last election, Time Magazine, had a story on the attempts at restricting the votes of minorities, especially the African American community.  Who knew that this would be the beginning of a trend that has only accelerated as time goes on and continues to this day and election.  I had someone tell me just last year that they should eliminate the Sunday Souls to the Polls because too many black people vote.  

The combination of this comment, along with the articles I have referenced above, and the constant laws being passed restricting this right is why I felt compelled to speak out and say something before My own rights were taken away.

Let me state this as clearly as I can.  ALL US CITIZENS, regardless of color, race, age (at least over 18), sex, beliefs and values have the RIGHT TO VOTE for who we believe represents us and our values.  I am not suggesting that you vote for who I Vote for but I am absolutely saying that in no way is YOUR vote more important than MY vote.  We should expand that capability to online registration and voting because if it is secure enough to file my taxes, change my address, pay my bills through online banking and do everything else online, it is clearly safe enough to vote as well.

For those that really need to learn about the Constitution, so you can accurately quote the things that you think you know, like for example the 2nd amendment, here is a great pocketsize booklet with the Constitution, the Amendments, the Bill of Rights and all of the important things every citizen should really know.  I got my copy.  Will you get yours?  At about $2, it's cheaper than a bad cup of coffee but better for you and everyone else you share this nation with.

Also, let's bring American and World history classes back to Elementary School.  Who knows, the students may actually learn something that would help us avoid repeating history.

We can do better

We can do better.  About a month ago, Dan and I were talking about what it was like to raise a child in "today's" environment.  The challenges of parenting, especially to a young little baby girl are compounded by the political environment, the never ending pandemic, the insane amount of guns threatening everyday life in schools, movie theaters, parks, churches,... no matter where you go.

Add to this the hate.  I mean the real hatred that everyday Americans have for one another.  At one point, until recently it seemed as though the majority of Americans valued the cultural differences that this great nation's melting pot fostered.  We relished the opportunity to go to Chinatown, Little Italy, an authentic Indian or Japanese restaurant.  We all wore green on St. Patrick's day and downed our fair share of Margaritas on Cinco de Mayo.  We raised our flags on the 4th of July and enjoyed hot dogs together at the local baseball park until we stood up for the 7th inning stretch singing Sweet Caroline.

Then it happened.  Like the flip of a switch, the undercurrent of hostility, racism, animosity towards one another came to the forefront and became an everyday occurrence for us. It was everywhere you turned.  You could not go to a store without hearing someone yelling at another person for them to "go home".  

When I moved to SC from NJ, the common question was where are you from and what church did you go to?  Now it is where are you from, no, really from.  People wearing t-shirts saying "If you have problems with this flag, let me know and I will help you pack your bags".

What happened to the great melting pot?  The common thread that made us unique in who we are, a people with a common goal to provide the opportunity for any person of this great country to pursue the American Dream and make our children's lives better than our own.

In 1931, James Truslow Adams wrote in The Epic of America, “The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement."

That philosophy is rooted in the Declaration of Independence that clearly states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness.”

Our family's favorite pastor is Jorge Acevedo from Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Coral, FL.  In a recent service and sermon, Pastor Jorge addresses a topic that frankly, I wish all clergy from all of the churches would have addressed years before we got to this point.  Specifically about 57 minutes into the sermon (but frankly the whole sermon is worth watching) he addresses the polarization of the American political culture.  

I won't spoil it for those that should watch it but needless to say, I personally believe this is one of the primary causes of our problems, among many others that have planted the seeds of animosity towards others as I have described above.

On a slightly different note, but within the same theme, on Amazon Prime day, I was presented with a doll that was on sale. I thought, maybe I could buy one for my new granddaughter.  Yes, she is too young but Prime day comes once a year, I thought.  As I perused the different ones they had, my jaw dropped when I came across the last one.

"One of these things is not like the other"

Why on earth would the only doll representing a person of color have straight, purple hair, light hazel eyes but to really highlight the discrepancy that jumped out at me, not be as affordable or on sale as the others?  All the other "American Girl" dolls were on sale for $69 but not this one which was almost twice the cost at $115.  Whether it was intentional and in poor taste, neglect by a quality control team or a supplier asleep at the wheel, we would never know.  My point about the doll's hair and eyes is not that people of color don't paint their hair or use contacts that change the color of their eyes but why did the designer of the dolls go out of their way to change a person's natural beauty?

In the town of Greenville, 10 minutes from where I live, during the summer they have a Latin dance event once a month for about 3 months.  It gives my wife and I an opportunity to head downtown and dance to Latin music, typically from a band from the Carolinas, where it is not just the Spanish speaking members of the community that come to dance but many times we see people from all walks of life, dancing in the nightlight to the rhythm of the beat.   

I want to get back to those days.  That to me is when America was on the right path to being great.  While we still had a way to go to reach the American Dream stated earlier, we respected and valued the difference in each other.  When we appreciated each other and accepted people for who they are and the cultural difference we each contributed to this great melting pot.

To my sons Dan and Nick.  The reason your mom and I decided to have a family was because we knew we could make the world a better place with you guys in it.  That you both would be the best of what we had to offer the world and that we would know that the values we instilled in both of you would be shared by you guys with others. 

To you and everybody else I say the following:

We can do better.  We must do better.