Wednesday, July 4, 2012

The 4th

A moving day every year. And just one of the best days. Heralding the beginning of summer, friends, family, music, barbeques, sun...one of those days it's just so good to be alive and be here on this earth, soaking up the sunshine. Here in Seattle it could not have been more beautiful-- blue skies and 70 degree weather. Everyone said July 4 is the beginning of the sunshine and apparently, they are correct! I went to the above immigrant naturalization ceremony at Seattle Center. It was pretty moving. 525 people from 82 countries. One woman in her 80s. Lone immigrants from countries like Nicaragua, Egypt. Dozens from India, Russia, the Phillipines. The Seattle zipcode 98118 is the most diverse in the entire country.

And there was a real spirit of welcome. God, everyone here is so damn nice. Until I got out here, and even for the first few weeks here, I really rejected the steryotype that New Yorkers are speedy, cold, anxious and edgy and West Coast people are calm, chill, centered and pleasant. But honestly, I have to say...there is some truth to it. Today I really just felt like everyone was my best friend. I went with the Jewish group, who goes to support new immigrants in recognition of our own immigrant history, but the way I was sitting there with people in the grass, my hand basically under the next person's knee, leaning back into some other guy's personal space, I felt they could all just have well been family. I left my bag a couple of feet in front of me on the grass and didn't worry about it. I knew I couldn't  do that do that in Tunisia, or Bosnia, or Zimbabwe (or New York), or probably most of the other countries they were calling. There is something out here in Seattle so pristine, and pure, so trusting, and innocent. People are just not out to get each other, they actually are really out to be nice to each other. People don't yell or push. They're just pleasant.

Anyway, Happy Independence Day everyone. I pasted a poem below I wrote a long time ago about America after coming back from hearing stories at my grandparents' apartment one night. I wanted to hug America like people hugged Schindler, or the firefighter who resuced their relative from a 5th story window. But I couldn't hug a country so I wrote this. It's not good but its from the heart.

America
you held my grandparents to your breast
And said
don't cry anymore
don't run anymore
you can stay here.
you are safe here.
I put my hand over my breast and pledge allegiance
to your matronly shores.

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