I am proud to be born a first-generation American. My parents arrived in New York from the Netherlands in the 1950s, carrying little more than hope, determination and a heritage that stretched back centuries.
They came to a nation that promised opportunity and that promise was fulfilled. All six of their children grew into adults they could be proud of. Yet none of us forgot, nor failed to cherish, where our story truly began.
Lately, I’ve found myself reflecting on a troubling shift in perspective from the world around me. It appears some believe that this country should be represented only by a particular type of patriot, one whose heritage is not apparent to the eye or ear, and instead of celebrating the rich tapestry that has defined America for generations, they appear intent on unraveling it… even whitewashing it.
America has always been a mosaic of languages, traditions and histories woven together. Our strength has never come from sameness, but from the courage to blend differences into something uniquely powerful. Yet increasingly, unity is being confused with uniformity, as if patriotism requires shrinking our identity down to a single story wrapped in a flag.
True patriotism does not erase where we come from. It honors those roots and welcomes others to honor theirs. My hope is some day we can find our way back to that understanding and welcome, even celebrate the differences that shape us. Without them we lose our greatest strength: the ideas and diversity that come from the history that made us. A nation thrives not by narrowing its identity but by embracing change, diversity and the combined pursuit of progress. By doing so we expand our creativity, resilience, economic vitality and sense of shared humanity. We serve a greater purpose that benefits us all, which, at least to me, sounds like what America was always meant to be.
