• In equal opportunity in all spheres of life, including economic and social, without credit given to any one demographic based on such factors that include one’s age, race, color, religion, or sexual orientation.
• That all life has value and that any person found guilty of taking that life shall be held to the strictest penalties permitted by law.
• In protecting the structure of the Constitution and in protecting our Constitutional freedoms including that no speech, unless designed to create harm, hate or incite, defame, or threaten another shall be restricted.
• In taking equal stock in our elderly as it does in our children and takes active steps to ensure the resources are allocated for both ends of the spectrum as well as those whose age falls between the two.
• That believes that history is a sacred past that must be preserved to serve as an inspiration or lesson for future generations
• That we owe a debt to our veterans who have put their lives in harms way to protect the freedoms we hold so dear
• That we are a nation of laws that protect us from abuse and chaos and these laws can never be used or ignored discriminatingly for political or financial gain and that with all the rights and privileges we are granted comes responsibility in ensuring that America stands strong now and forever into the future
THOSE WHO CAME HERE
EARLIER AND THOSE WHO HAVE REMAINED, COMING OVER FROM GOOD COUNTRIES, HELPING AMERICA TO GET STARTED, TO GROW AND TO PROSPER.
by Louise Vallone
I have seen many changes but there have been certain basics that have remained true and constant. The knowledge that no matter what the time period, immigrants have waited to come here legally into this great country because they knew the wait had value.
America has always been a port of entry whereby people knew through their talents, their sweat and their sacrifices they could carve out a better life. And they knew they had the opportunity for a better life because their entry into America was done in a planned way; only allowing as many people to enter through our ports as we had the resources, the jobs, to support them.
In my area of the country, I have seen these immigrants flood to Endicott Johnson (EJ) shoe factory where George F. Johnson employed as many of them as he could. He didn’t look at them as people with different cultures or different colors or customs, rather he looked at them as men and women with a dream, a vision to reach for the stars while having their feet planted firmly in New York. He secured them jobs and healthcare and shorter work days and entertainment because he wanted to demonstrate his gratitude for their help in growing his business. Later these immigrants’ children and those new to the area secured jobs at IBM. And now the immigrants keep coming and
yet I wonder if we remember it was our forefathers who were once in the same position as them. Asking for the opportunity to make a better life, for themselves and their family, a life they worked hard for and deserved.
We in America realize we are all immigrants. Some of us are legally just entering the country and earnestly learning the subject matter to pass the citizenship test and to be a useful member of this civil society. Others may be second, third or even more distant immigrants to this great country. But no matter the length of time here we all share one common denominator. We are all Americans. And as such we must remember that being an American means we not only are afforded rights and privileges unheard of in most any other country but that we must also remember that these benefits come with responsibilities toward our country. We need to work hard to make a better life for ourselves and our families while working hard to make America the place that future generations continue to dream of living.
Louise Vallone is a community activist, author, and grassroots organizer who has worked diligently to protect the environment and educate voters on issues - including those involving health and wellness. She has received various awards and recognitions in this field.
