THE REAL AMERICA!!!

THE REAL AMERICA!!!

The one thing I cannot stand about politics are the euphemisms and cliches' politicians use to gain one's vote, or to inflame the passions of their supporters.  You all have heard them before.  Terms such as "bipartisan", "reach across the aisle", "Washington is bad", "liberal media", etc., etc.  But there is one term that ticks me off to no end, and that is the term, "Real American".  What distinguishes "Real Americans" from so-called "Fake Americans"?  Although both sides of the political ideological spectrum use the term, it is those on the ideological "right" that unfortunately use the term to awaken the passions of those who arrogantly feel like they are losing "their" country.  Let me clarify what the term "Real Americans" mean, from a conservative point of view.  It means:  (1) White, (2) Male, (3) Straight, (4) Christian, (5) Working Class or Middle Class, (6) Native Born and (7) Rural and Southern.  I know what I am going to hear next.  That I am some bleeding heart liberal, picking on conservatives, with no evidence to the contrary.  Well...if you don't believe me, just look at almost anything that Ann Coulter ever wrote or said, or read Patrick Buchanan's ridiculously-titled book, "Suicide of a Superpower:  Will America Survive to 2025", a book dedicated to WASP ideology and supremacy.  Hannity, O'Reilly, Santorum, Gingrich, Bachmann, so on and so forth, have all put forth views that border on racial/ethnic paranoia and xenophobia.  That somehow, diversity is a negative.  Social justice is something to be mocked.  Compassion and empathy is a sign of weakness, and that change is to be resisted at all costs.

The irony of those who believe that way, are the same people who romanticize the history of immigrants coming to the United States, and how it fits into the narrative of the "American Dream". They paint a Hollywood-scripted picture of wary immigrants, in search of a better life, and that life will be realized in America (Which is fine).  Immigrants from then-Palestine, Italy, France, all walking through the doors of Ellis Island, under the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, the iconic symbol of the freedom.  It is a source of so-called pride, which is often used as a bumper sticker-like cliche', instead of something that is genuine.  The WASP Power Structure ("WPS") in this country never has fully embraced the idea of diversity that comes as a direct result of immigration.  The "WPS" in the mid-1840's looked upon the Irish who immigrated to this country, due to the potato famine, as the "White Trash of Europe".  The Jewish immigrants that came through Ellis Island, were ignored by the "WPS", due to their religious affiliation, culture and economic standing.  As a result, they were pushed into sections of New York City, called "ghettos".  The term "ghetto" originally was applied to Jews throughout the Jewish Diaspora, who were purposely segregated to certain parts of a city.  Italians were considered the "Niggers of Europe" due to their dark skin, and all were unfairly associated with La Cosa Nostra, commonly referred to as the Mafia.  100-plus years later, the same attitudes still exist.  When one talks about a "Real American", most are not thinking of a person named Jaime Gonzales, Tyrone Jackson, or James Wu.  It speaks to a country that is trying to hold on to some false notion of what this country is, and using political tools to preserve a culture of entitlement, instead of celebrating the idea of diversity and difference.  America is changing, whether people like it or not.  So we have two choices...either embrace the wonderful diversity that is the United States of America or align oneself with an faulty and archaic paradigm of what this country is supposed to be.

WHY AM I WRITING THIS BLOG ENTRY?  I'm glad you asked.  I was inspired to write this entry based on an event, that occurred on the 26th of October.  It showed me what America can be, if we embrace change, show Christian compassion, and think of people as just that...PEOPLE.  I was invited to a wedding.  My good friend, Velginy Hernandez ("Vel") was getting married to her now-husband, Thien.  Vel and I met back in 2009.  She was a fresh-faced, recent college grad who was interning for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.  I was working on the committee as staffer.  Vel worked hard, proved her worth to the committee, and was asked to stay on as a paid staffer in the Committee's Communications Department.  Over the next two years, Vel became close to myself and my wife, Alicia.  We went out to dinner with each other, and visited each other's homes.  Vel asked for my advice on "life matters", which I was happy to give.  And she has helped me in many ways.  She became a little sister to me.  A part of my family, and she embraced me in the same way.  I was more than honored that she invited Alicia and I to the wedding.  Her now-husband, Thien is a great guy, despite being a Dallas Cowboys fan.  What does this have to do with the "Real America"?

Vel and myself at Alaiyah's Baby Shower in December, 2010

What made this day unique was the collision of race, class, gender, religion and nationality, that spoke to what America should be.  Let me break it down:  (1) I attended a wedding in which Vel, who is half-Vietnamese, half-Salvadorian married her now-husband, Thien who is full-Vietnamese.  (2) The wedding ceremony was held at the Dahlgren Chapel on the campus of Georgetown University, a Jesuit university, which is one of the most prominent and costly universities in the world, and Vel's alma mater.  (3) Alicia and I enter the chapel, and soon noticed that we were the only African Americans there.  I'm a "good ole' boy" from Loudoun County, a descendent of slaves who toiled on the Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg, Virginia, and my New York City-born and bred wife who is of Jamaican-descent.  We sat down, and was in awe of the stained glass, and the ornateness of the chapel.  Before the wedding started, my friend, James and his wonderful wife, Ruth sat next to Alicia and I.  James also worked with Vel and I on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and became a big brother-like figure to Vel.  (4) James is of Lebanese and Scott-Irish descent, and his wife, Ruth is half-Philipino and half-caucasian.

James and his lovely wife, Ruth, at the wedding reception

The wedding starts.  Thien's parents walk him down the aisle to the alter, so he can receive his bride. (5) Vel's father, Mr. Tran (A Vietnamese immigrant, who came to this country, worked hard, saved and invested his money, opened several businesses, and became wealthy as a result.  He now runs an organization which helps out those back in Vietnam.  He is a very nice, down to Earth man, who is an inspiration to me) walks Vel's stepmother down the aisle to their respective seats.  The groomsmen walk the bridesmaids down the aisle to their respective places around the alter.  Mr. Tran races back to the entrance of the church for the main event...the entrance of the bride.  Vel walks down the aisle in all her splendor.  I have to admit, I was close to tearing up.  (6) Mr. Tran rejoins his wife.  Two Buddhists, watch as their daughter/step-daughter and Thien have their Catholic wedding ceremony presided over by a priest.  The wedding was full of Catholic ritual, that I didn't necessarily understand, being a (7) Southern Baptist, but I happily embraced it.  (8) Vel's Salvadorian-born mother, Mrs. Hernandez-Colon, and Thien's Vietnamese mother light a unity candle at the alter, to celebrate the union of their families.  Vows and rings were exchanged, as was saliva when Thien was told that he could kiss his bride.  

 

You May Kiss The Bride

The two turned to the crowd, and then walked out of the chapel with their arms locked together.  The reception wasn't immediately after the wedding ceremony, so Alicia and I had some time to kill.  Later on that evening, (9) the reception was held at a Chinese restaurant located in Falls Church, Virginia, one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the Northern Virginia, if not the entire Commonwealth of Virginia.  (10) At the reception, a more diverse crowd of individuals were there...White, African American, Jewish, Indian, etc.  (11) They had a Vietnamese band playing and singing songs from African American R&B artists like Roberta Flack, Peabo Bryson and Whitey Houston, and doing a good job at it.  Ruth and James sat next to Alicia and I, as was other people at the table.  The venue was really nice, and we had a lot of fun.  Then Alicia and I had to leave early to pick up Alaiyah from my father's house.  While on the road, I was telling Alicia how great of a day it was.  Not just because of Vel getting married, which would have been sufficient, but how blessed we were to be part of an event where there was such a happy collision of cultures, religions, races, etc.  Nobody looked at each other as black, white, rich, middle-class, Buddhist, Catholic, or Protestant...we were all equals.  The day truly exemplified the American Dream.  

A week later, Alicia, Alaiyah and I were invited over to Vel's parents' house for a BBQ.  This wasn't our first time over at Mr. and Mrs. Tran's house, but it was the first time for a BBQ.  Mrs. Tran made some great Vietnamese classic dishes, such as grilled-Lemongrass Chicken, marinated and grilled beef ribs, and rice noodles with spicy fish sauce.  Mrs. Tran also made a respectable potato salad.  All the while, Thien and some of Vel's relatives were watching the Redskins game, drinking beer, laughing and having a good time.  Alaiyah went downstairs to play with Vel's little cousins, and was having so much fun we didn't see her until we left.  Family member after family member came into the house.  More food...more beer...more football.  Crawfish, Shrimp, Pork Ribs...I nearly exploded.  As things died down, Thien and I talked about married life, and what he should expect.  At the same time, Alicia was talking to Vel about the same thing.  Alicia and I talked to Vel's family, who are all awesome people.  One family member was "geared up", wearing Washington Redskins swag, and wearing a Washington National's hat.  There was about 20-30 people there, and Alicia, Alaiyah and I were the ONLY people not of Vietnamese descent there.  But in no way, did we feel uncomfortable or unwelcome.  It was truly blessed evening.  If you want to know what America is about...I just told you.  If you missed it, it is because you wanted to miss it.  Embracing all that this country has to offer, is what America is supposed to be about.  It's not about how loud you can sing Lee Greenwood's song, "I'm Proud To Be An American", how much apple pie you eat, or if you know all of the words to the "Star Spangled Banner" (The latter, all citizens should know).  America is about people.  People from different walks of life, co-existing together peacefully and with understanding.  It is my hope that we can evolve into a society where we judge each other solely by the content of one's character, and that differences and diversity are words that will be celebrated, and not looked upon as a threat to so-called American Society.  Velginy Hernandez is a REAL AMERICAN...Anh Thien Nguyen is a REAL AMERICAN...James Latoff is a REAL AMERICAN...Ruth Back is a REAL AMERICAN...Mr. and Mrs. Tran are REAL AMERICANS...myself and my wife are REAL AMERICANS.  WE ARE ALL REAL AMERICANS!!!  This is dedicated to Vel and Thien.  Wishing you a happy and blessed marriage.

AND THAT IS THE MARC UP!!!