I love this country. It is not the place of my birth, but I love it just as much.
I was born in Cuba and left when I was just a child. I am very proud to be Cuban. But I am just as proud to be an American. The pride of being Cuban was a birthright somehow. That was given to me. I had no choice in the matter.
You can say I also had no choice in coming here. I had to go wherever my parents took me. That's correct. But my parents had a choice. They could have remained in Cuba and continued to live in a place where human rights are pretty much non-existent. I'm glad they chose to come to America.
As a child in my homeland, there was talk of the abundance in America. I heard tales that women wore undies only once and threw them away. It's funny what tales people tell.
But the tale of freedom in America was no tale. It was the truth. America is indeed the land of the free and the home of the brave.
When I hear yet another news report of someone desperate enough to throw themselves to the mercy of the sea on a makeshift raft and risk their life in an effort to reach paradise just 90 miles away...but their gamble did not pay off... I think how blessed I am that I don't have to make choices like that. My parents made sure of that for me.
America is not perfect. There's only one place I know of that is, and we won't be seeing it this side of life. But America sure comes close. I count my blessings every day and living in America is one of them.
Today I'd like to thank my parents for having the vision to leave every single personal possession behind and setting off for a new beginning in a foreign country where people spoke a different tongue and life was a lived a different way. They left penniless, but not hopeless. Hands and pockets bare but hearts full. I know how much courage that took.
Thank you for bringing me to America Mom and Dad. I can never repay that debt. Nor can my children. Nor my children's children. It's a legacy you have given us that will continue to be fruitful.
Wishing everyone a happy, safe and blessed Fourth of July.
God Bless America!!
Maggie Dokic, SFR is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Florida selling residential real estate in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, Gables by the Sea, High Pines, the Redland and other select areas of SW Miami-Dade County.
Maggie has earned her SFR certification to be able to better serve the needs of her customers in today's non-traditional real estate market. SFR is a Short Sale, Foreclosure Resource Specialist. Designees have been trained to understand the highly specialized options available to Sellers facing short sales & foreclosures and Buyers looking to buy them.
For more information on our local real estate market, or to see or sell a home in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables or the Redland, visit my Miami Real Estate blog or contact me at Maggie (at) TheBlogThatAteMiami (dot) com.
The opinions expressed herein, are those of the author, and not necessarily of Keller Williams Realty.
None of this information is to be deemed legal or financial advice. Please contact your attorney or accountant for same.
Hi Maggie-I love your post and your words. This is the one day we can say God Bless America and not offend anyone. Even with the flaws and you are right America is not perfect.....but I am sure proud to be an American. I am wishing you and your family a happy 4th.
I will get there to see you! Things have been soooo hectic and very stressful. All is ok......will send you an e-mail with an update and I will see you soon. xoxoxoxoxo
Hi Maggie,
Great story about your journey here. America is a great place to live...of course politics here can be interesting too..but I am sure Cuba was a bit different. I am glad you got here safely and now you got to experience many things you might not have gotten to experience if you were still in Cuba. I have many frineds from there and they tell me interesting stories..but getting on those rafts? not sure I would chance it..but for freedom..people do crazy things. Happy 4th Maggie...I like you and your funny and thanks for emailing me! We should hook up for lunch soon.
The Real Deal
Sonja - it really was a reflection. You picked up on that. I sat here and just wrote from my heart..and cried a bit too. I have many relatives back in Cuba whose lives are very difficult. I have never been back and it's been 36 years. One day.....
Neal - I mean, Neal The Real Deal =) thanks. Are you picking up the tab for lunch? lol, J/K! Let me know when you'll be down here. I don't get past Broward much.
Maggie:
It's great to have you as a fellow American. Your sense of pride in America is shown in your writing.
BLOG ON!
Maggie,
Love your story, so glad you are here! Happy 4th! :)
Bill - that is one label I wear proudly. I am an American. Thank you!!
Suzanne - thank you. Me too! I hate to think what my life would be like if they'd never left.
Maggie, the man who directed the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, Gabriele Muccino, said that the story is about the American Dream. He is an Italian who was asked to direct an American movie.
Ironically, it is people who view this country from outside, or who came here from another country, who are best able to appreciate what this country is all about. I'm glad that you made it here to share in the American Dream. Good luck.
Leon - you and I were talking vision this AM and I thought of that as I wrote this. This country is a great big melting pot of flavors, each further enhanced by it's close proximity to the next. How bland it would be otherwise.
Becky - thank you. My journey continues and I am so happy to be here!
Hi Maggie.. glad your her and safe and sound in the USA. :)) being in a melting pot, its nice to see everyone pround of their heritage as well as being proud to be a part of this country. I do have a bone to pick with what this grand country is called by many, but i don't blame folks. they can't help it that it's how they have been taught. USA, baby..
anyways.. i won't leave until they start dropping bombs over here.. then i'm audi5000 -g
Hiya Beautiful, Happy Fourth of July. You took me back to stories ...in the 70s I rode an express bus to DC every day and wound up frequently sitting with a gal who had fled Vietnam and now worked for the Federal government. She had poignant stories about fleeing, her family, who made it and who did not. To her, working for the government was the biggest blessing ever. I appreciate your perspective on this Holiday.
Hey Maggie,
Happy 4th and thank you for the touch heart warming story. I tend to agree with Leon's comment that foreign born Americans seems to appreciate the U.S. more than anyone. I'm a pround American myself and love my country. Now I'm heading to the beach to bike ride with fellow rainer Marlene Bridges' and others. We're just a bunch of goof-balls decorating our bikes for the day.
My best to you!
I knew I loved you Maggie! What a beautiful blog about America. Thank you for writing it. I'm proud to say "God Bless America".
P.S. And I'm proud both sets of my grandparents decided to find their way from Italy to Ellis Island.
Maggie, thank you for writing this. I can identify with every word that you wrote, because my parents left the Azores when I was eight years old and came to the US to give me and my brothers and sisters the hope and freedom that this country had to offer. I too am proud to be Portuguese, but every bit as proud if not more so to call myself an American Citizen, and to of had the privilege to have served in its military. I would gladly and serve it again if that need every arose. Thank you again for penning these words and God has truly blessed us with the life we live here.
I would also like to thank Linda Davis for e-mailing me about this blog and leading me to it, thank you Linda.
Maggie,
I love the way you write, are you ever going to write something I do not agree with? (LOL) I, of course, agree with you because I feel the same way. Our beautiful USA is not perfect but is pretty close. In Spanish we say: No one appreciates what they have until they have it no more (nadie sabe lo que tiene hasta que lo pierde), how true!
Happy 4th of July!
Maggie...Whatta Great Post! You are Cuban and you live in Miami? That doesn't sound right. Okay, seriously though-- it is always very interesting to hear a story of immigration. Yours is no exception of course.
By the way, I love the food and music of Cuba. Absolutely love it.
Sarah - it's so very cool that you have copies of those documents. Yes, we have the legacy, but you have something you can see, feel and touch that ties into that as well. I am sure it will be a treasured item for your children.
Nick - I see so many people call this country names that are ...well, not so nice. But that, in and of itself is a testimony to the greatness of this country. A testimony to the freedom we enjoy here. Nice to see you around!
Paula - I sometimes take my blessings for granted, then I slap myself upside the head! It doesn't take much to remind me that I live in one of the greatest countries in the world. Thanks for the blessings =)
Contessa - thanks for the beautiful =) The many stories that people have to share are all around us. You took the time to strike up a friendship with someone on a bus who shared hers with you. And here you are retelling them years later. They obviously made an impact on you. This country is made up of many of those stories. If people would stop for a bit and just listen we would enrich our lives that much more.
Mana - as much as we'd like to think when we're 18 that we are adults, looking back we know that we were still kids but in grown-up bodies. I can't imagine the fear and uncertainty you must have felt returning here by yourself. So glad things turned out well for you. I bet you have great stories to tell your kids.
David - you can appreciate your father's struggle much more than your own son, since he's once removed from it. I am sure you will try to keep that history alive and real for him. It's good to know where we came from. It helps us in our own journey moving forward. You remember Smirnoff? I thought of him as I wrote the title. I can still remember that one skit...or at least, the delivery of the line. lol
Lynda - when I grow up I want to be like you. And I hope I have friend such as Marlene to ride bikes with and be goofy with. How blessed the two of you are!
Tony - thank you! I have to admit that it feels good to connect with people this way. I love writing. I've met those that have arrived here as teens and think it must have been harder than it was for me. At 8, I was still very pliable and not set in many ways. I do remember the day I was sworn in as an American Citizen. My sister and I did it together. We were both young adults. It was so exciting!
WooHoo Sally - I am not sure about the liner. It was the late 60's. Did they even have them back then? lol Like you, I really try to remain grateful for the many freedoms I enjoy. Sometimes it's a little difficult, but my experiences and those of my parents help to put things in perspective.
Linda - the feeling is definitely mutual =) I visited Ellis Island as a kid in New York. It is amazing to think of the multitudes that started their journey in this great nation right there. This nation was built by those who knew in their hearts that something better could be had. Something just and noble, the way it should be. Thank goodness for them!
George - I think being a foreign born American does add a certain quaility to our lives. I very much enjoy the culture of my heritage, as I am sure you do yours. It adds another dimesion to who we are as Americans. It sounds like your parents may have had more than the 3 kids my parents did. The bigger the family, the more impressed I am by the journey. My parents came with the clothes on their backs and not much more. I can't imagine doing that myself right now, if I had to. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment.
Carmen - thank you for your lovely compliment. I'll try to keep writing in line with what you enjoy =) Your words ring very true. Having the benefit of having done without, we can appreciate the blessings that much more.
Karen - I am actually a transplanted Nu Yawker. Moved here 6 years ago. But I love Miami and the culture here, but not the traffic! lol Cuba does have some incrdible cuisine and music. I carry it in my blood and the hips start moving just at the first note. lol If you do make it down here later this year, we'll have to indulge in both!
Maggie - WOW!! I had achknowledged a few posts I read "yesterday" regarding July 4th...this should've been one of them! What a beautiful view through your eyes of America. Your parents were so wise making a new life for themselves and a wonderful life for their heirs...because they were selfless and saw the big picture in life. Congratulations...you are very welcome in our melting pot!!
PS...Paula Henry sent me "your way" :-)
Susie - thanks for your wonderful comment. I love this country. I guess it shows =) I must thank Paula for sending you my way.
Nick - I didn't think you were being moody at all. Really! But I thank you nonetheless for coming back and re-commenting. I can tell you that the last time I was out of the country was 2 years ago and when I returned I was SOOOOO HAPPY to land at JFK. I breathed a huge sigh of relief. The American Dream is sweet in that it excludes no one.
WoooHooo, having a sense of humor helps one make it through the rough patches. I'm glad to be here too! TY
bunya-bunya? OK, this is too much now.....
Maggie,
Great post and timely! I know my family came here to escape a different tyranny, so I think you are in great company with most Americans. We are blessed.
Jack
Maggie.. I do agree... I have a degree in Jewish Studies and History because I was on my own personal quest for identity... I had to connect with my family history. My cousin's journey was creating a movie about how our family escaped the nazis... the distance from the family history I do agree with... for instance, my father never taught me his first language - Yiddish - so that is one thing I am disconnected from that my son will never learn... so it is up to me to pass on the legacy
and yes... I remember Smirnoff... he owns a couple hotels and casinos in Branson MO.. he's a headliner there
David - we're shaped by our surroundings and experiences. It sounds like you'll do great passing on your history to your son.
I had no idea Smirnoff was in MO now. I need to get out more!
During hurricane season two years ago I was on disaster relief in pensacola and met a man whose parents had set him to France then New York and finally to Miami where he lived with his aunt remarkable stories of courage