I write this as an American, proudly born and proudly bred. 3


 

Take America back!”

This cry has been heard across the land loudly before the recent elections.  And now after the votes: “We’ve taken America back.”*

I wonder, where exactly did America go and when did it go there?

America hasn’t gone anywhere. 
It’s right here, in all its complexity and simplicity. 

In good times and bad times. 

In lean times and flush times.

     America is America.


America remains even when times change. 

America remains even when times are strange.

America must keep going forward,

It can’t go back to the fantasy of good old days
(which were never good for all and only served a few.)


America belongs to all of us

white, black, yellow

Red states and blue.

Democrats, Republicans, (the Tea Party, too).

Truth tellers, naysayers, liars,

The smart and the dumb.


Take America back?

It’s never gone away.

Through struggles and turmoil.

America is here to stay!

*****
I write this as an American, proudly born and proudly bred.
 

Note: Though some speak in codes and employ euphemisms, some of us can see that your cries about America being lost are really about our President’s hue. The fear and ignorance speaking, the disrespect of the man and his office reeking, change has come and change will stay.  You can only delay progress not end it – okay?!

*I always find it interesting when people discount votes not on their side of an issue.

 

 


About Candelaria Silva

Candelaria Silva-Collins is a marketing, community outreach and programming consultant; writer; and trainer/facilitator who lives in Boston, Massachusetts. She has designed and facilitated workshops on a wide variety of topics including communication, facilitation, job search skills, team building, and parenting issues. She currently coordinates the Community Membership Program of the Huntington Theatre Company. Her work as Director of ACT Roxbury was profiled in several publications, including The Creative Communities Builders Handbook. Candelaria’s children’s stories, short stories, essays and reviews have been published in local and national publications and she is an active blogger. Her publications include the booklets, Handling Rejection; Pushing through Shyness: Networking Tips when You’re Shy, Slow to Warm Up or Just don’t Feel you Belong; and Real Questions about Sex & Relationships for Teens: A Discussion Guide for Parents. She has served on the boards of Goddard College, Wheelock Family Theatre, Boston Foundation for Architecture, and Discover Roxbury. She is currently Chair, Designators of the Henderson Foundation.

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