Leslie's Blog

Ernie Cabrera responded to my post "What does Our Flag Mean to You?."   It was so heartfelt I wanted to share it with you because it got me to thinking of another post.  Here is what Ernie said:

I was born in the Philippines and immigrated here in 1970 with my mother and the rest of the family.  My father came a year earlier to work and find enough money to get us over.  When I see the American Flag, it reminds me of freedom and hope.   Our whole family became US Citizens and we are proud to be called Americans now.  I think many people who have not come from foreign lands do not fully understand the freedom and hope this country brings. 

So many people around the world want to live and work in America, but we have people who complain too much about what is wrong with America.  I think we need to ask the question, "What is wrong with me, not being happy with what I already have?" We can become anyone we want to be here in the US.  We can fly high and be free!  I love this country and the flag we proudly wave!

What could we do to instill an appreciation for our country and all the bounties it provides?   How do we get back that patriotism, that swelling of the heart we feel when we see an American flag flying above an embassy in a foreign country?  Or see a member of the military in uniform.  Or hear of our country's responses to natural disasters.  It seems to me that it is sort of like dealing with smoking and racism.  We have to now start with the young people.

It brings me back to President Kennedy's famous quote, "And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."  We loved it when he said it-many of us "got on board."

I suggest that we could have a mandatory three week community service in order to graduate from grade school and another mandatory six week community service in order to graduate from high school.  For youngsters this could be as simple as helping fill boxes at food banks, spending a few hours cleaning up parks.  For the older group, they could be tutoring young children, working at Habitat for Humanity, helping to teach English to people that are not conversant in English.  The possibilities are endless.

Before you pooh pooh the idea, know that some private schools encourage volunteerism and that many colleges look for it when they are admitting students to their schools.

I know that some families already do things to make their children proud to be Americans--I applaud you.   What do you do and what do you suggest?

Don't forget there is a Republican Presidential Debate this evening on CNN--it is from questions submitted from YouTube.  I try to listen to all debates.

P.S.  While I was looking up President Carter for Habitat for Humanity, I ran across his website called "Classroomhelp.com."  It gives a link to find information on every President; also has a link to study guides on different topics relative to history i.e., Teaching about the Core Democratic Values, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and African American History, First Ladies of the United States.

The Kennedy link is from "Brainyquote.com."

I went to Habitat for Humanity,--you may not be aware that they have Youth Programs.

Please visit my site for information and support.  Seattle, Bellevue, Queen Anne, Wallingford, Fremont and Redmond, Washington Real Estate Property Listings.