Your Children and Our Children

Your Children and Our Children

The children who live with criticism, learn to condemn.

The children who live with hostility, learn to fight.

The children who live with encouragement, learn confidence.

Those children who are acknowledged, learn to appreciate.

When you look at test tubes in a pediatric ward of a hospital the color of blood in each test tube is the same. Same color of blood of a child whose parents are Hindus or Muslims, Christians or Jewish. Those test tubes have the names of every child, if you take out the names can anyone tell which tube belongs to which child? The answer is NO!

This is the story of 3 close friends; they tease each other, make fun of each other, wrestle with each other but when some other kid try to make fun of one of them all three of them come together and defend each other. Their friendship is stronger than anything. Their names are Asad, Arun and Zeik ; a Muslim, Hindu and a Jewish kid. They visit Asad at Eid to eat Sivayaan and throw colors with Arun on Holi. They help Zeik light up the nine branched menorah on Hanukkah.
       Their story is possible only in America, their friendship is possible only in America!

This is the story of every other child living in the United States. This is the beauty of this country where you have people of various religions speaking different languages live on the same neighborhood. 

This is the story of my child who is Brown and my neighbor’s child who is White. Public Schools in many American Cities has kids speaking many languages. No one stops them by doing so!

When a child is born in the United States of America his or her parents religion is not written on the birth certificate. Many subjects like Maths, English, Science,Arts, Geography are taught in  American Public Schools but Religion is not taught in these Public Schools. 

Color of skin, faith and dialect has not defined America and American Dream, Why Now? 

"Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

‘Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!’cries she

With silent lips. ‘Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!’”

This quote comes from Emma Lazarus' sonnet, New Colossus written on the Statue of Liberty, New York.

Many people enter America every day. This process of arrival in the United States has been going on for many years that is why it is called a land of immigrants. America has become a beacon of hope  for millions of people and their children. 

If we look closely a refugee or an immigrant has faced some kind of terrorism or oppression that is why they leave their "homes" in search of "a new home"!

If you give love and compassion and opportunity to these Americans and their children,  they will respect you America...

Like they always have...

They will not betray you...