One America by Deborah Kayatani

(may I say also One America and a State within a Nation...?)

It is one thing to say that immigrants are new citizens of this great nation called United States of America, no longer hailing from another continent and are of the rules and heritage of it's constitution, but in the 21st Century is America also rejuvenated with it's member's ethnic traditions? Does the Constitution mean more to its citizens in an ethnic specific way than it did to the Signers?

How is the Constitution and subsequent articles of independence enhanced by the ethnic traditions and values of contributing members of this great Democracy? How is it protected, valued, and made stronger?

There are many who would bring their ethnic traditions to the United States of America and never wish to leave for greener pastures or brighter shores. I believe I am one of these so called Americans who have something special to contribute to our union of values, virtues and promise.

As a Japan American with special origin, the mix of ethnicities are beautiful and amazing to witness while reflecting on where Americans have traditionally found their strength. The soil on which we stand belongs to all who enter this union, pledge allegiance and protection upon the valor of all who have died and served before us.

Ours is not a lesser task than that of the statesman or diplomat of this nation. As we remember all who have served to strengthen the union we enhance our own identity, our homeland is here and our ancestry shines brightly across the sea to our origins.

Rather than subduing the strength of this great union in each of us it is for the legislator, the diplomat and the citizen to realize the strength of this union within themselves, honoring all those who stand among them while automatically protecting their personal ethnicity of origin.

The living contribution of our monumental strength is one that liberates, strengthens and protects us from paranoia, the effects of a racist past, and justifies a vision of our future as beacons of hope for those who wish to realize this type of freedom in their nation, in their way because there are nations of many Ancestries and perhaps nations of unyielding national pride and specific origin.

They as a separate and different people have their own tasks and challenges specific to their history and origins. Not to exclude our contribution, these nations find hope in their sense of civic union, their values strengthened, and their nation is also protected in the respectful reflection of values our citizens long will remember.

Citizens of other nations, while there may be great struggle in their homeland, there is respite I hope they find to heal themselves and make themselves better people more able to contribute to a peaceful co-existence on this planet.

Immigrants are also bound by the laws of this land without mistake as it is a forgiving nation just in its provisions and direction, hopefully just in its leaders as well. Regardless of who is in leadership at the time immigrants must also realize that becoming a part of the union by way of commerce or personal works on this land requires that they respect and obey the law to its letter and intent.

In regards to where an immigrant may be from and what wars are currently being fought in their homeland, we make no mistake in recognizing that the history and law of America provide for its intent to perpetuate a peaceful union of a multitude of ethnicities.

It is hoped that all people in America see that tradition here is perpetuated without end to the possibilities of peace their practice and celebration may bring. Whether it be in Kwanzaa, Obon, Koran, Christmas, Lent, the Lunar New Year or other ethnic or denominational specific traditions we have room to shelter, America is one nation only with the most benevolent blessing of all nations.

The trust given to our lawmakers therefore is the most sacred and must be seen by the lawmakers as unbreakable that in this union of multi-ethnic families and nations, in the children of this nation, we are bound to their multi-ethnic past and bound to protect and provide for their future.

The nations of the world are perhaps also hoping to build for a peaceful and productive that peace also and by the will that is divine let us not do so alone.

Deborah Kayatani