TCC Writes Fall-Winter

It is through no choosing of my own that I happen to be of another race, skin color, dialect, religion, or culture; that alone should not make me the target of your hate and your anger. Just like you, I am culturally sophisticated, intellectually astute, politically savvy, and highly educated.

Although I remain incarcerated, a prisoner of misunderstanding; a victim of mistaken identity, I take pride in my gender, culture, and uniqueness. I know that I am someone special and will always be.

As human beings, we all desire mutual respect, fairness, and an equal opportunity at the American dream, and so do I. I am not the great evil you have convinced yourself that I am, nor will I ever be.

It is only when you choose to learn and understand more about me, you are really choosing to learn something new about yourself, and I about you. Just as you love this great country, so do I. For just like you, I live here, was raised here, and like you, I was born here; I am an American too, and I would lay down my life for this country. America, is my home.

Regardless of my condition, religion, race, gender, culture or heritage I come from, I am, and will always be, proud to be an American.

Steven LeMons