Political Quotes

“There has been an awful lot of talk recently about what it means to be a patriotic American, and the fact is the answer for each of us is deeply personal. I wasn't blessed to be born an American citizen. I was born in Vietnam, where my parents faced persecution by a communist government, in part, for their wartime affiliation with the U.S. military. When I was a baby, we fled Vietnam by boat, running out of fuel in the South China Sea when a U.S. Navy ship came to our rescue, helping us reach a Malaysian refugee camp. A Lutheran church then sponsored our passage to America, where we became proud citizens. Although we were eternally grateful to be here, life wasn't always easy. My mom worked as a seamstress and my dad at a power plant, and together, they cleaned office buildings at night, often bringing my brother and me along. My parents didn't speak English well or have a community of close friends, but what they did have, like so many immigrants, was a strong work ethic. My dad also had a labor union in his corner, and the union spoke for him and they fought for him. My parents worked hard to make ends meet so that their children would have opportunities they themselves never had. And that is the American Dream, which brings me back to the question of what it means to be a patriot. For me, it starts with gratitude for this country and an appreciation for its exceptional qualities. This country saved my family's life.…”