I'll now take a moment to give some credit to a man who is often misunderstood.
There is a man who left his home, and his country, and his family at the age of 17 to create a life for himself and for his posterity. He came with nothing but sheer will and determination, a little bit of schooling, and a lot of dreams.
And quite a few issues.
A lot of his life has sucked. Sometimes, it's been because of his own choices. Sometimes it's been because of the choices of others. But he knew what he was about. He knew he was not going to end up impoverished and victimized by circumstance. He did the best he knew how to with the tools he had. And he's worked his butt off.
And he's not done yet.
And so, I've been thinking about how this man has given me every opportunity in the world, because he chose to change his life, to change his circumstance, to make some bold moves, to come to the US, and to embrace the future.
Because he came here, I have the freedom to choose to whom, to what, where, and how I pray. I have the freedom to choose how many children I will have; or to have no children at all. I have the freedom to choose who I marry. I have the freedom to divorce the person I marry for any reason, or for no reason at all. I have the freedom to wear the clothes that I choose, however many or however few. I have the freedom to speak--in public. I have the freedom to vote. I have the freedom to walk down my paved road in the middle of the night without fear of being detained, imprisoned, or assaulted by anyone, including the police. I have the right to choose my profession, to be an actor and make a living at it, to work and sit in meetings with decision-makers, to be a decision-maker. I have the right to teach my children whatever I want to about the government, and about God. I have the right to say what I feel without having to endure abuse. I have the right to choose my hair color and my lip color. I have the freedom to choose where I will go to school, and how much education I will get. I have the freedom to create content and share it with the world, to create new music, new groups, and new ideas. I have the freedom to create businesses and to retain the money I earn. I have the freedom to go to the doctor, or use natural remedies, or to utilize energy healing, or to not use any help at all. I have the freedom to share freedom with others who are oppressed and in pain. I have the freedom to stay in my home or to sell it. The freedom to live wherever I choose, with whomever I choose. The freedom to buy. The freedom to sell. The freedom to do nothing at all. The freedom to learn new languages. The freedom to leave. The freedom to come back again.
He's made a life for himself. He's given me and my siblings every opportunity imaginable. He's had 8 kids, and we all have more than enough.
Is he perfect? No.
Is there pain? Yes.
Do I wish our life had happened any other way? Sometimes, yes.
And sometimes no. Because he had the grit to slosh through the shiz of life. And have it sink into his boots. And even though it stinks, and he's often tracked it back into the house, I've learned that it's nothing that can't be cleaned. And I am here. And I'm thriving.
He is a pioneer. And I am grateful to call him my Dad.
Thank you, Dad. You've done some incredible things.
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