I thank the Lord above that I'm an American.
I was born in this country. I was raised in the Midwest. I have lived in Hawai‘i for almost 40 years.
I've been blessed with a remarkable career opportunity and most importantly I have been mega blessed with a loving and caring family.
I was a little brown boy growing up with a single hapa mother and a haole looking sister, same mom, different dad. We stood out in a sea of virtually all-white folks in small town America.
Oh, I can hear the voices. "Why does he have to bring up race? All white folks? Little brown boy?"
Yes, I did. Because that's the point of reference we invoke all the time. Race. Color. Ancestry. Culture.
It's our collective race to judgment that's always connected to race. And ethnicity. And skin color. We have the distinction of invoking "what high school you wen'?" to aid in racing in judgment.
I mention this because I know as much as I love America, America is not perfect.
I would challenge you to name any nation or culture that is. I always say, "If you want perfection then buy a rose".
And this would usually be the portal to list all the lousy things about our country.
But I don't work for MSNBC.
I'm taking a moment to celebrate America, Americans and Americanism.
I'm delighted to hear international fans of the FIFA World Cup share their impressions of America while attending matches from all over the world. Just like here at home, there are preconceived notions, opinions and conclusions about America that are spread with no "two sides to the story."
Let's get to the point.
The antagonism, the hypercriticism and unrestrained hatred promulgated around the world regarding President Donald J. Trump is at the heart of internationally and domestically defining America. Perhaps a round of applause is appropriate for MSNBC and others of their ilk. You've done a good job in the intended ruination of the president.
But not that good.
As in everything you can hear people talk but it's always what you experience first hand that reveals the truth.
I don't have to transcribe the voluminous voices of admiration for America from first time visitors. Even those who have visited before were affected by the shading of the U.S. by so many. It took their personal experiences to trump the bad for the good. And yes, the pun was intended.
It's so refreshing to hear from so many that their experiences and impressions of America were so positive and celebratory.
I wish we collectively expressed the same here at home.
Hawai‘i will not have a presence in Washington, D.C., for the 250th Great American State Fair. Despite years of preparation, we're told there was not enough funding or staffing to participate.
Government leaders had years to contemplate and decide how our 50th state would be represented at an occasion celebrating our nation of 50 states.
Make that 49.
No, hold up.
That's closer to 41. (As of this writing)
Other states taking a pass are Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine and Illinois. By the by all are Democrat-led states with the exception of Vermont. Unfair to say? No, it's a fact. Does that mean Democrat states are less patriotic? That's for you to decide.
Expanding on rejecting invitations to participate the following was reported in www.newsweek.com:
"...officials from the group of states declining to participate, which are majority Democratic-led states, have pointed to a mix of practical concerns and unease about the event’s framing."
"In Oregon, officials went further. In a statement to KATU News, Gov. Tina Kotek's office said Oregon withdrew because of 'the cost of participating in the Fair and growing concerns that the event in Washington, D.C. is shaping up to be a more partisan affair than originally presented.'"
Translation: We're not going because it's a Trump thing.
I mentioned previously that I love America and I'm so grateful to be an American. Despite our lackadaisical commitment to the national stage, I am wholeheartedly looking forward to commemorating our Independence Day,
Sadly, this national event was an opportunity for all of our states to come together under one banner. And no, it's not the red MAGA banner. It's the red, white and blue banner of our American flag. And we couldn't even do that for one day.
I mentioned earlier that I grew up in a small Midwestern town. That would be during the 1960s.
In 1968, I was seven years old during the most defining decade in our recent history. We were embroiled in Vietnam, protests emerged on the college campus of our little city, Senator and presidential democratic front runner Robert F. Kennedy was gunned down in the Ambassador Hotel kitchen in Los Angeles after winning the California primary and civil rights leader and the icon of so many seeking change in America was shot and killed on the balcony of a Memphis hotel. It was a time of unprecedented turmoil and heightened emotions.
Despite these palpable challenges, there was a sense of unanimity on special days of reflection.
Memorial Day. Veterans Day. Thanksgiving. Easter. Christmas.
And the Fourth of July.
Again, I was a little brown boy in an all-white town during a time of powerful racial tensions, changes in American culture and violence perpetrated against our beloved. I'll always remember being on the curbside of our Fourth of July parade swimming in an American flag T-shirt, surrounded by men, women, moms, dads with their parents and kids purely celebrating America. When the high school band passed by and the college marching band took their turn, I remember parents shouting their kid's names over the blaring (sometimes off key) horns and pounding drums playing "God Bless, America," "This Land is Your Land" and "America the Beautiful".
Then they began to play, "The Star-Spangled Banner," our national anthem.
It was the loud and proud voices of every one in attendance singing in unison that so impressed me as a youngster. The memories remain today.
The relative indifference exhibited for the 250th Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., affirms the divisiveness in America today. This does not detract from the efforts and events of Hawai‘i's America 250 Celebration organizers, staff, volunteers, sponsors and more. Learn more at www.hawaiiamerica250.org. (See also ASD's roundup of O‘ahu events here, and Neighbor Island events here.)
I would encourage all to find a few moments to reflect on the birth of our nation 250 years ago. Public policy and politics will always be present. It's the personal thoughts and actions which are of the most important during times of tumult and uncertainty or even during times to confidence and satisfaction.
We are Americans.
Let's remember this on our upcoming 250th birthday and remember this every single day.
God bless you and God bless America.
Rick Hamada can be reached at rickhamada@aol.com.
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