A Letter To My Country
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Matthew 5:43-45
I felt like I should write something. Many people, including me were and petrified from the outcomes of the presidential election that happened yesterday (more accurately this morning). I am not going to lie to you, I was dumbfounded and scared about what happened, but then I started to remember my childhood.
I remembered elementary school. I remember those early mornings when we stood up to recite the ‘Pledge of Allegiance’. I was tired most of those mornings, but I still got up, because I knew it was important.
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
The phrase “One Nation under God” still resonates with me today. “Under God” was placed into the Pledge in 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It’s origination was started by Louis Albert Bowman, an attorney from Illinois. He stated that the words came from one of the best-known speeches in American history, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. These words can be found in the Everett, Bancroft, and Bliss copy.
“….that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
This address was delivered in 1863 to dedicate the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, four and a half months after the Union armies defeated those of the Confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg. This battle was a turning point in the Civil War. As most people are aware the Civil War helped abolish slavery in the United States. It also gave us three new Amendments.
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, the 14th Amendment guaranteed that citizens would receive “equal protection under the law,” and the 15th Amendment granted black men the right to vote.
I think “One Nation under God” is a powerful statement, especially now. There are many different views in this nation, different opinions….different points on or about anything. But, as we think about God (Or a greater being or thing then ourselves) we tend to become more unified. We all have different views, but if we underly it God’s principles we tend to understand what we as a country should stand for. And these words I think are clear in the first sentence of the Gettysburg Address…
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
“All men are created equal” Because God doesn’t have favorites. We may think he does, but he doesn’t. We as humans, as a people, we make classism.
That’s why I have become to love my name more and more every day. My name Daniela means “God is my judge.” Because what has happened throughout my life I have come to realize that the names, labels or judgements people make do not effect me, because the only thing that is important is what God thinks of me. God is my judge.
But from others I have seen many types of classism.
I have seen racism.
I think when I was about eight years old my older brother held both my adoptive siblings hands as we were walking in the library. My little brother is African American, and my sister is caucasian. I saw a man approach my older brother say something, and then walk away. I came up to him to ask him what he said. My older brother said “ He asked me how I could let her (my sister) associate with him (my brother).” In that moment, as a small child, I came to understand that racism existed.
I have seen bullying
I may tell you I have seen a lot of it in my lifetime. I have been spit on, tripped, pushed, called names, and made fun of in drawn pictures by classmates or in a game of ‘telephone’. There was a flock of boys in my middle school that used to throw spitballs in the back of my head, and trip me during class. I even saw my teacher see what was going on, however, he never said anything.
I have seen prejudice
I remember in second grade when a friend told me that the class next to the hall didn’t like me because “I was Italian,” They were learning about the WWII, and decided to take their hatred out on me.
I have seen homophobia
I had rumors go around in school that I was a lesbian. I remember a schoolmate laughing when she asked me with another student. I told her that I wasn’t, but in that moment I felt a little bit of how the LGTBQ feels. It was horrible, and that was only a small (very tiny) part of what someone from that community feels on a daily basis. I would just like to tell the community that you shouldn’t have to go through all that you do. I love you.
I have seen partiality.
I had many people throughout my life tell me that I was “too weird” to played with. Or that their group was “too full”.
I have seen thieves.
I remember in middle school I used to collect pennies, nickels, and dimes that I found around the school. I used to save them for December so I could give them to the Salvation Army. I was really excited when I got over $3. One day when a classmate went to grab gum out of my locker, he spilt all of the change on the ground. Before I could grab them, I saw all of my classmates around me pick up the money and take it as their own.
I have seen the love of the Mexican People.
I am part of the so called “Mormon Mafia” I served a mission for a year and a half for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Mexico. I never have been more touched in my entire life. I saw these people feed me when they had little food. They cared for me in small houses made of slabs of wood and concrete. They loved me unconditionally, no matter what I wore or how I looked. I have never loved a people so dear./
I am grateful for what I have seen. These things that I have seen made a mark and have defined who I am today. It has made me a person who wants to help others, who wants to stand up for other’s, who wants to lift others. Throughout my life I have tried to live by Ghandi’s famous words, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.”
Now in America we must unite as a whole, especially now. There will be more prejudice, more hatred, more everything. We need to be the change we want to see in the world.
May we live by the words;
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
All men are created equal, because this country is “Under God”
Under God there is no prejudice.
Under God there is no racism.
Under God there is equality.
May we look towards God, because only he can Judge us.
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