I refuse to give in to fear

In the name of my friends and family who are LGBTQ;
In the name of my friends and family who are immigrants;
In the name of my friends and family who are women;
In the name of my friends and family who are disabled;
In the name of my friends and family who are minorities;
In the name of my grandparents who came to these shores as refugees, fleeing the horrors of war, nationalism, and hatred;
In the name of my son who deserves a better world;

I refuse to give in to anger. I refuse to give in to hatred. I refuse to give in to fear.

I resist.

I choose love. I choose community. I choose camaraderie.

To all of my LGBTQ friends and family;
To all of my immigrant friends and family;
To all of my female friends and family;
To all of my disabled friends and family;
To all of my minority friends and family;
To all people, everywhere, who are suffering;

If you need food, I will feed you. If you have fallen, I will give you my hand. If you are bullied, I will stand by your side.

Love makes us strong. Openness makes us strong.

We will all make it through this together.

Remember that our politics swings like a pendulum, but it inclines toward progress. Like an inchworm, it must draw back before it can stretch forward.

We must accept the legitimacy of the recent election. We must have faith in the strength of our institutions and our shared values. We must have faith in the good will of our fellow humans.

Now, it is our work to turn toward our communities and see how we can help each other. It is time to stand together and help each other. It is time to plan for the next four years and the long future beyond that. It is time to build a future that is warmer, more loving, and more inclusive than the past.

Will you reject fear? Will you stand with me in this long struggle?

My Refugee Story

My father was born in a DP (displaced person=refugee) camp in postwar Germany. He had no nationality, until he became a naturalized citizen of the US as a teenager.

His parents had survived World War 1, the Russian Revolution, and World War 2. They had strange accents, strange names, and strange customs. They weren't English speakers. They weren't Protestants. They were outsiders, desperately fleeing the misery of postwar Europe, trying to find safety and security.

Despite their differences, the United States welcomed them. Despite their differences, they became Americans. My grandfather went on to become a civilian intelligence analyst for the United States Air Force, helping protect this country at the height of the Cold War. My father, a refugee until he was 4 years old, has worked for Fortune 500 technology companies, helping to secure our financial and medical records. My siblings include an entrepreneur, a psychologist and teacher, an engineer, and a college student.

Our family is part of the tapestry of this great nation. We came here as strangers, we were welcomed, and now we are Americans.

I say fling open the doors. Let them come. They will only make us stronger and richer as a society, and will help us best embody our national values and virtues.

By all means, let them come.

#LetInTheRefugees
#MyImmigrantStory
#MyAmericanDream