By Mike Hannigan
Newman Civic Fellow, Greenfield Community College
Massachusetts Board of Higher Education
Published as part of Letters to America, a national youth-driven civic initiative launched by Made By Us through Youth250, in which young people put forward their own declaration for America’s 250th anniversary. These letters are published unedited and in full to showcase the students’ authentic voices and unique perspectives. While their views are entirely their own, we believe their voices, and those of all our student leaders, are a vital part of the conversation around America’s future.
This summer, I had the opportunity to be constantly reminded of the greatness of this country through our generosity as a people and our unique ability to accept and integrate other cultures. Being a nation of immigrants provides us with so much wisdom, knowledge, and new flavor and vibrancy, not only in our cuisines, but in the sights and sounds coming from our neighborhoods.
As people from across the world visit this summer for the World Cup, the stories I’ve read of Americans opening their arms and welcoming our global neighbors have warmed my heart. From Cape Verdeans celebrating in Dorchester, to Algerians making friends in Kansas City, to, of course, the Scottish taking over Boston, the values that I cherish as the best of this country have shown up at a time when many in the world question whether we have forgotten the motto etched on Lady Liberty.
But if I were to tell you that this summer I was doing an internship in refugee resettlement, working with communities of refugees and migrants whose SNAP benefits had recently been terminated due to the BBBA, then you might wonder how I could witness such unnecessary pain and suffering being thrust onto people who have already gone through unspeakable experiences and came here with the promise of being treated with dignity and respect, and still feel so hopeful about our American values.
I think if you really love something, you are unwavering in seeing whatever you are focusing on for its true self and the potential it has to live up to its best qualities, while still seeing its shortcomings with clear eyes.
This summer, through the dedication of my coworkers, who work for little pay and make sense of daily changing immigration policies and the repercussions they have on refugee communities, I have been surrounded by some of the most caring, genuine, and happy people I’ve ever had the pleasure to be around. I’ve learned about cultures from all over the world in a few short weeks. I’ve traveled to areas of surrounding cities that I had been told were too dangerous to go to by people whose only experience with them is through the nightly news, and I’ve been greeted with overwhelming kindness, generosity, and a willingness to help one’s neighbor.
In a time where some of our worst instincts have been let run amuck, I have been lucky enough to be exposed to the best of what America can be. Every day, I see the resilience it takes to overcome moments when everything around you seems unmanageable, yet you stick to your principles, your faith in fellow human beings, and wait for an opportunity to return the kindness bestowed upon you in the past.
This is the true heart of this nation.