God bless America

Angela Guiao
MSMU Class of 2021

"A thoughtful mind, when it sees a Nation's flag, sees not the flag only,
but the Nation itself"- Henry Ward Beecher

(6/2020) When my mom found out she was moving to America, she was excited because she heard the streets were made of gold. Growing up in the countryside of the Philippines, her parents gave her a comfortable life, supporting her and her siblings as successful citrus farmers. Though life was considerably slower in the Philippines, and she wasn’t struggling as much as others were, staying in the Philippines meant living a life where she wasn’t happy.

When she was 32 years old, she was offered the opportunity to come to America. When she stepped off the plane at LAX, she discovered that the roads were not, in fact, made of gold. But they weren’t made of dirt either. She stayed at her cousin’s house when she first arrived, and in their front yard they had an American flag hanging from their front porch. She told me that every single time she stepped out of the house, she would see the flag and remember how lucky she was.

In the Philippines, my mother graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics, but she had always wanted to be a nurse. When she arrived in America, she got a job as a caregiver for the elderly. She worked as a caregiver for a few years before deciding to move to D.C. to build a life of her own. When she got to D.C., she decided she didn’t like caring for the elderly because she had trouble coping when the people she cared for passed away. So, she turned to childcare. Today, my mother has been caring for children with learning/mental disabilities for over twenty years, and she couldn’t be happier.

My mother understood that America was the land of opportunity. In the Philippines, she may have been highly respected because of her level of education, and she knew that she would have trouble finding a job in her field in the U.S. since her degree was completed in a different country. But she still took the opportunity as a chance to follow her dreams. Though she never got the chance to go to nursing school, she found work that still consisted of caring for others, which has always been her passion. She found happiness in the things she does for a living, and she built a life from her work.

For my mother, America was the place where her dreams could come true. And that is why she keeps a tiny American flag, the kind you find in a souvenir shop, in a vase on her nightstand.

For me, the flag means something different.

It is still the land of opportunity, and it will always be the place that gave my mother a chance at happiness. But it also means more.

I grew up with the privilege and freedom to choose. And I would be lying if I said that there were times I didn’t take that privilege for granted. Graduating with a degree in America would give me opportunities for good jobs and higher pay. I am allowed to be concerned with my own dream but also with societal issues and political views.

My mom’s experience was much simpler. She took what America stood for and ran with it. She grabbed at opportunities, worked hard, and built herself a life she can be proud of.

But for me it isn’t just about building myself a better life. It’s about building a better community, a better culture, a better country. It’s about equality and chances, and the freedom to fight for what you believe. When I see the American flag, I see a country that is not stagnant. A country that evolves, a country that represents the ability to try and fail and try again.

When I see the flag, I see a united country, one too strong to be divided by politics or disagreements. America is the land of opportunity for everyone and anyone. When I see the flag, I see a dignified country, one that allows its citizens to prosper. I see a society built with the purpose of allowing people to thrive. I see opportunity, but not only for a better life. I see the opportunity to understand, to grow, to unite.

I am proud to be American. When I look at the flag, I see all the people that have benefited from this country. I think of all the history classes I’ve taken where I learn about how American’s go through periods of suffering and hardship, only to build themselves back up. I remember what it means to be American. It means being proud, being successful, being happy.

As our nation goes through another unknown, another disaster, I hope we all remember what our flag stands for. We are all suffering the consequences of COVID-19. We need to remember to stand together in these times of hardship even if we are asked to stay 6 feet apart. This is the nation that makes it through anything. It is the nation of promise, of hope. It is a nation that bounces back.

Just as we go through the struggles together, we make it out together. I ask that the next time you look at an American flag, you see not only the opportunities for your own dreams, but also for the dreams of your neighbors and friends. It is easy to feel angry or upset, to be worried about your own lives especially during times of uncertainty or distress. But it is during times of adversity that it is most important for us to stand together.

I am grateful for the opportunities America has given my mother. And I hope we can continue to be the great country that provide opportunities and hope to all peoples. May we continue to be a country that represents the value and positivity of freedom and opportunity. May we continue to be a country that we can be proud of. God bless America.

Read other articles by Angela Tongohan