A Valentine’s Day Love Letter to My Country
I love my country. It is filled with magnificent animals, birds, and fish who inhabit beautiful forests, fields, mountains, oceans, lakes, and rivers. To awaken each day is joyful, as we hop out beds in our own homes to breathe crisp clean air, eat nutritious food and drink safe water. With hope and pride, I’ve sauntered out into the world to take meaningful jobs with people who work hard to make the world a better place. I have been gifted with good health, a fine education, and have grown up feeling safe in my community. And I am grateful for all of these things.
These are gifts bestowed upon me from my ancestors and those who came before me who never dreamed of my existence. The farmers, the scientists, the teachers, the health professionals — they all worked hard so that I have had the opportunity to enjoy a good life. In turn, I have been dedicating my life to make the world better for others, including those who I do not know, and those who are not born yet. I learned we all have an obligation to care about others and to share our best selves with one another. What we do with our life is our legacy.
My family lived and died for this country. My daddy went to Europe and Northern Africa as a soldier who fought Nazis and authoritarian rule. My great-great grandpa worked at a shipyard that made the boat that took my dad there. He never knew as he welded the steel that he would one day keep my dad safe as he rode across the ocean to defend his country. My granddaddy rode with the Rough Riders and Teddy Roosevelt, who later laid the transatlantic cable for communication. My uncle Bill died at the Normandy invasion protecting his troops after his commander ran away to save himself and leave them to fend for themselves.
Historically, the women in my family were relegated to subservient roles without many rights, and they suffered because of it. My mama wanted to go to college but there was no money for her to do so, which resulted in her fighting for me to go. There was no birth control and their bodies, and the babies, suffered because of it. Grandma dug the dirt to grow her vegetable garden so her family would have food; she washed clothes on a rub board to keep her family clean. Great-grandma Anna was only a tiny child who sat on a stool sewing buttons on the uniforms of Union soldiers during the Civil War. Aunties suffered from domestic violence, rape, and having their husbands take over their inherited land and property. They were grounded in faith and did community service helping those who needed a hand up.They accepted their lot in life because they had no choice. And in countless ways, they fought so that I would have choices.
My father ran for political office. I remember sitting at Memorial Day celebrations between Democrats and Republicans who were friendly with each other and who knew how to respectfully work together. Wearing red, white, and blue, I marched in Fourth of July parades to promote justice without fear of being tear-gassed or hit by police for peacefully speaking my mind. Our home was filled with people of every race, religion, orientation and persuasion as they sat around the kitchen table together, eating cookies and drinking coffee as they solved problems. It was civil.
I love this country. But I am afraid for her.
If we are not careful, the foundation on which this good life I have come to know could crumble. We must protect the physical and social environment in which we live. We are all interconnected no matter who we are or where we live. Honoring each other’s dignity and respecting each other’s human rights are essential. Education and healthcare are of utmost importance if we are to raise healthy children who have the ability to build a healthy life for themselves, their families, and for society. Abraham Maslow’s pyramid model showed how we cannot be our best selves if we don’t have a healthy foundation. Love is an action word. If we love our country, we must take the initiative to showcase kindness, compassion, and civility in every day life.
You can learn more about Dr. Vissing’s work at these websites:
The Initiative for Civility in Everyday Life