Yes, I do deserve it

With all this election stuff going on, a 21 year old young man asked me "do you deserve all that you have because you could afford to go to college? Doesn't everyone deserve the same?" At the time which was about 12:30 am, I mumbled something incoherent I'm sure and then went to bed. However, I have had time to think about the question and now I have an answer.


Let me take you back in my heritage and let you see why I DO DESERVE ALL THAT I HAVE. I am a product of immigrant families. Around the turn of the century my grandparents, all 4 of them, left their home country, Lebanon and their families and traveled days, weeks and possibly a month to get to America, a land of hope, freedom and happiness, a land that was to make their dreams come true.

My ancestors arrived in New York City on Ellis Island. They registered as immigrants and followed the regulations at that time to be able to live legally in America and to soon become citizens. They had nothing when they landed except what they could carry on their backs. They were not rich, it was a hardship for their families to afford passage to get them to America, however it was important to them to become Americans.

These immigrants, who I claim as relatives, were merchants. They carried dry goods, such as buttons, threads, etc anything they could carry and sold it along the way. You might ask what way. Well, they had heard of the boom towns near the oilfields in the midwest area, halfway across the continent. This was their goal; to live in the midwest among the oil fields, set up a store and make a lot of money, raise a family and live the American Dream. So they walked, and walked, and occasionally received rides from the kind people they came upon. They slept under the stars and moon, and occasionally were asked to stay in homes of the kind people along the way. They were happy, they were industrious. They expected to work for the what they received. They were not looking for government handouts. They were looking for the American Dream and they knew they had to work for it.

Eventually they made it to the midwest, they set up stores in boomtowns, moving from town to town has each boomtown faded as the oil went dry. They fell in love and married and raised children, many children. They raised these children to work hard, to take care of their family and to be proud to be Americans. They sons served in the armed forces and went overseas to support and serve our country. My grandmother learned how to write English, just so that she could write to her sons in the service. Because, even though they kept their native tongue, they spoke English to their children and always when English speaking people were present.

You might say, well everything fell into place for them, it was easy for them. No, it wasn't easy, but it was worth it. They were hard working, but they experienced hardships along the way. But they knew that if they did not get the job done, then it would not get done. They were persistent, diligent, determined and eventually successful.

So, back to the original question, Do I deserve all that I have? Based on my ancestors, the answer is yes. They worked hard so that I could have the opportunities that I have.

BUT, that was then. That is the past. I acknowledge it and appreciate it, but I do not believe that I can sit back and do nothing, because my ancestors worked hard for me. I do not feel entitled to anything because the people of my past worked for it.

I am entitled to the same things that any legal American is entitled to: the opportunity to work in a free country in a field of my choice, the opportunity to a free education through elementary and high school; the opportunity to raise my children in the manner I choose; the opportunity to go to college and receive a higher degree; the opportunity to have good health care.

If you noticed I used the word opportunity in my entitlements. The definition of opportunity from dictionary.com is the following:
1.an appropriate or favorable time or occasion: Their meeting afforded an opportunity to exchange views.
2.a situation or condition favorable for attainment of a goal.
3.a good position, chance, or prospect, as for advancement or success.
The definition of opportunity says favorable conditions or a good position or a chance for success. It implies that the individual given an opportunity needs to do something to make it happen, the conditions are right, but you still have to work for it.

Many people in America today, are relying on the hardships of their ancestors who came before them. They keep reminding others of the persecution or the wrongdoings that their ancestors had to endure. What they are not focusing on, is that their ancestors overcame these hard times by working and fighting for their rights. They did not sit back and expect things to happen to them. They saw opportunity and used it. . They became Americans. They worked hard.

At the present time in America, all legal citizens have the same opportunities. The difference is what each individual does with the opportunities in front of them. The saying "America is the land of the free", does not mean everything is free. It means we are free to pursue our own goals. That we are free to work in a field we choose. We are free to move freely throughout the country. We are free to provide for our families. We are free to take the opportunities that come our way and make things happen. We are also free to refuse the opportunites. We are free to do nothing to better ourselves. We are free to make our own choices. But we are also free to accept the consequences along the way. Being an American does not come with guarantees, unless you pay for them in same way. Extended warranties are not free. To get the extended warranty in America, you have to go get it, you have to work for it, you have show some effort.

We all have the opportunities. It's what we do with these opportunities that matter.
Yes, I deserve what I have and you deserve what you have.