The Fourth of July weekend begins, the celebration of Independence and Freedom. Red, white, and blue waves everywhere. Barbecues are out. Gatherings planned.
I spoke with a friend whose mother came to the U.S. at the age of twenty. Her family was fleeing Germany as Hitler was sweeping in. Her mother loves this holiday, has never forgotten what it meant to her, after enduring a rough freighter crossing, to see the Statue of Liberty standing in NY harbor with an upright welcoming arm. She felt safe, sheltered, free. I hope this weekend allows a return to what this country has stood for, a haven for those in need.
