Many times, people around me have demonstrated anything but joy when I asked them what their country of origin was. I'd follow it up with a "Cool! What is it like?" They'd respond, "It's not that great" or "Yeah...I'm from there...but I wish I wasn't" or own up to the country and then make an excuse, tracing back their lineage about three decades and refer to their grandparents' country of origin instead of the one that they regretfully resided in.
All of this is stunning to me. The ultimate place where I drew the line was when I had people tell me that there is no use in having pride in your country because we are all human and in that way,the same. How can a country be thrown away like that? To me,it is more than a piece of soil. With it, comes a culture filled with music, food,scenery which you will never forget when and if you depart from it one day, countless and priceless memories that took place there, from which you could make a map of your very own.
I read on one of the "The Way I See It" quotes on the back of a Starbucks cup, that diversity allows us to see our errors, strengths, and embrace others and ourselves...of course, this isn't word for word but I'm hoping the message is clear.I should not have thrown it away!
Yesterday, I saw a gardener working arduously, wearing a shirt that read Mexico. Shortly after, a man driving a van had the United States flag spread across his dashboard. The day went on and an Ecuadoran flag hung with pride from her rear view mirror. Within those tangible material demonstrations of pride are more than just a name of a land.
