The American Dream is alive and well: Editor’s Note

This past July 4, instead of having a barbecue and watching fireworks, I did something on the quieter side. With my teenage daughter in tow, I attended a naturalization ceremony in Seattle. While jetliners soared overhead and an American flag flapped from the nearby Space Needle, we saw a group of 500 people, from all walks of life, become U.S. citizens.

These American flags are small yet powerful symbols of what the United States represents.

These American flags are small yet powerful symbols of what the United States represents.

This past July 4, instead of having a barbecue and watching fireworks, I did something on the quieter side.

With my teenage daughter in tow, I attended a naturalization ceremony in Seattle.

While jetliners soared overhead and an American flag flapped from the nearby Space Needle, we saw a group of 500 people, from all walks of life, become U.S. citizens.

It was a poignant moment: Watching these newly fledged citizens, hailing from 87 different countries, taking their oath, then reciting the Pledge of Allegiance for the first time. We weren’t the only audience there, either. Hundreds of people – family, friends, sponsors and Lookie-Lous like me, were there to cheer them on as they did it.

Although I didn’t know anyone, the ceremony had deep meaning nonetheless. My father’s parents, and my mother’s great-grandparents, took these same vows, shortly after taking the slow boat here from Ireland and Spain.

My fiancee, an adoptee from South Korea, took this same oath as a child.

Looking out at this sea of expectant faces, I wondered, is this the same America where my relations so desperately wanted to live?

Is this the same America my fiancee wanted to become a part of?

In many ways, I think it still is.

Did you know that immigrant-owned businesses generate approximately 11.6 percent of all business income in the United States? And that immigrants own 11.2 percent of businesses with $100,000 or more in sales and 10.8 percent of all businesses with employees? Or that immigrants are 30 percent more likely to start a business than non-immigrants are?

These figures are from a 2008 report by the U.S. Small Business Administration titled “Estimating the Contribution of Immigrant Business Owners to the U.S. Economy.” Granted, it was completed before our current economic recession, but it illustrates that even recently, the American Dream hasn’t been just empty words. It’s a real and laudable goal. The United States is still considered a place where you can take an idea and turn it into something successful. Sometimes wildly successful.

The United States, for all the griping that goes on within its borders, and throughout the rest of the world, continues to be a place where you can work yourself up from the bottom, with nothing but an inner compass. It’s still a place where you can earn others’ respect by your drive to succeed, and your integrity about doing the right thing.

In short, you get back from this country pretty much what you put into it.

What frustrates me is when I see people who were born with this birthright bitching about how awful everything is.

Do they really know how bad it can be?

They didn’t have to scrape the money together to get passage over here. They didn’t have to hope “coyotes” would get them safely across the border, as opposed to abandoning them in the desert. They sure didn’t have to hope their safe passage to America didn’t mean more suffering to their families back home, living under repressive military regimes.

One thing I learned from a publisher I knew was that if you wanted the right to bitch, you had to follow it up with a solution. He didn’t have the time for my griping – he had a paper to put out. You wanted to see change? Then tell him how you would make that happen, and he’d do his best to help you. Otherwise it was just a lot of hot air.

That’s the same thing that should be happening more often in this country, a place of dichotomies, agendas and multiple ways of doing things. If you want the right to complain, then realize that comes with the responsibility to try and make things better.

Bitching is easy. Fixing something? That’s a lot harder to do. But just because something is hard doesn’t mean you shouldn’t attempt to do it.

Which brings me back to July 4.

Looking out at those 500 hopeful faces, I think our country got the better end of the deal.

The benefit of 500 more solutions.

Make us proud, you new Americans.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website http://kowloonland.com.hk/?big=submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Opinion

Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He is a former president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and lives in Vancouver. Contact thebrunells@msn.com.
Is the Northwest ready for our ‘Big One?’ | Brunell

When President Biden warned FEMA does not have enough money to finish… Continue reading

Robert Whale can be reached at robert.whale@auburn-reporter.com.
Combing through this current follicle challenge | Whale’s Tales

I feared the day when passersby on the streets would start in with, “Hey, get a look at Uncle Fester there!” or “What’s cookin’, Kojak?!”

Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He is a former president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and lives in Vancouver. Contact thebrunells@msn.com.
Thoughts on Memorial Day and the ultimate sacrifice | Brunell

On Memorial Day, we traditionally honor Americans in our military who gave… Continue reading

Robert Whale can be reached at robert.whale@auburn-reporter.com.
In search of fairness, morals and good sportsmanship | Whale’s Tales

Ah, the Golden Rule. We all know it: do unto others as… Continue reading

Robert Whale can be reached at robert.whale@auburn-reporter.com.
If you’re right, and you know it, then read this | Whale’s Tales

As the poet Theodore Roethke once wrote: “In a dark time the eye begins to see…”

Robert Whale can be reached at robert.whale@auburn-reporter.com.
The key thing is what we do with our imperfections | Whale’s Tales

I have said and done many things of which I am not proud. That is, I am no golden bird cheeping about human frailties from some high branch of superhuman understanding.

Robert Whale can be reached at robert.whale@soundpublishing.com.
Grappling with the finality of an oncologist’s statement | Whale’s Tales

Perhaps my brain injected a bit of humor to cover the shock. But I felt the gut punch.

Cartoon by Frank Shiers
Legislature back in session next week | Cartoon

State lawmakers return Jan. 8 to Olympia.

Cartoon by Frank Shiers
Santa doesn’t drive a Kia | Cartoon

Cartoon by Frank Shiers.

Cartoon by Frank Shiers
Salute to veterans | Cartoon by Frank Shiers

On Veterans Day, honor those who served your country.

File photo
Why you should vote in the upcoming election | Guest column

When I ask my students when the next election is, frequently they will say “November 2024” or whichever presidential year is coming up next.