Even when we see our children suffer humiliations, we cannot believe that America has no more place for us.
Published: Nov. 23, 2025, 9:00 a.m.As Americans approach the close of 2025, we have lot to reflect upon with economic uncertainty, issues of national security, and the political turbulence of a new presidential administration.
Domestically, we continue to struggle with this great experiment called democracy for our society and its culture, which defines the daily experience of the many peoples inside of our American borders. On Thursday, we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day and follow the tradition of Presidential Proclamation established by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 in the midst of a civil war.on Nov. 8, “We have not lost our faith in the spiritual dignity of man, our proud belief in the right of all people to live out their lives in freedom and with equal treatment. The love of democracy still burns brightly in our hearts.” Addressing global chaos and turmoil of the Second World War in his January 1941 State of the Union Address, President Roosevelt spoke of. In preceding years, totalitarian and fascist regimes of Germany, Japan, and Italy continually demonstrated disregard for such values. In his exhortation, FDR was building the case for U.S. intervention. “In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way—everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want—which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants—everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear—which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor—anywhere in the world.”The essay that speaks to me most in the current context of our American political and social debates, and as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, was penned in March 1943 by Filipino immigrant, Carlos Bulosan. Rockwell’s iconic cover painting features the happy American Family of multiple generations sitting eager with anticipation around the holiday table laden with plenty. Bulosan, whose parents suffered economic hardship in his native Philippines and as he also did as an immigrant laborer in California, recasts the “,” in his essay. It is clear that Bulosan sought the American Dream to overcome the privation of his country of birth to become a citizen of his country of choice—The United States of America. “It is only when we have plenty to eat — plenty of everything — that we begin to understand what freedom means.“ he wrote. ”To us, freedom is not an intangible thing. When we have enough to eat, then we are healthy enough to enjoy what we eat. Then we have the time and ability to read and think and discuss things. Then we are not merely living but also becoming a creative part of life.“Bulosan warned about taking democracy for granted. “If it took us several decades of sacrifices to arrive at this faith, it is because it took us that long to know what part of America is ours,” he wrote.Unlike our American citizens who may say, “It can’t happen here,” immigrants have such lived experiences, which should provide us warning. Bulosan said, “Our faith has been shaken many times, and now it is put to question. Our faith is a living thing, and it can be crippled or chained. It can be killed by denying us enough food or clothing, by blasting away our personalities and keeping us in constant fear. Unless we are properly prepared, the powers of darkness will have good reason to catch us unaware and trample our lives.” Bulosan believed that the American Dream embraces immigrants as well as those who continue to suffer from economic and social inequities. We must all work to address all forms of injustice within our nation. We must share Bulosan’s faith in America. “Sometimes we walk across the land looking for something to hold onto,” he said. “We cannot believe that the resources of this country are exhausted.’ With the year 2026 ahead, let us make this an American decade and rise to establish freedom from want for others in our society and for our democracy.If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our
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