Citizens Born Here Whom We Should Hold Dear

by Ernie McCray

The very words,
Muslim
and Islam,
conjure in some minds
visions of violence
and terrorism,
an archaic people
wishing hell and damnation
in the form of a jihad
upon our nation.

But if such a person turned the pages
in the book, “Born Here,”
they might rid themselves
of such fears
as they peer
into the eyes
of the innocent children
pictured inside
and take heart from what they have to say
about their lives,
speaking to what their interests and passions are
as they prepare themselves for their future lives –
children as Americanized
as any other one of us
who was born here,
or otherwise naturalized…

Babies ready for games of peek-a-boo.
Children playing with toys as all children do,
running and jumping and swinging and making new friends,
ever up for going to Disneyland where they hope the day never ends.
Bike riders and climbers who like the feel of the wind,
ice skaters, skiers, and those who like to
sit at the shore and/or swim,
soccer players and basketball players
and surfers and archers
with a quarterback thrown in,
lovers of lacrosse and boating and weightlifting
and fencing and tumbling in the gym…

Girl scouts, artists, guitarists
and writers and readers,
conflict solvers, travelers
and future leaders…
Folks living their dreams
and folks in pursuit of dreams.

Our neighbors.
Our fellow citizens.
All “Born Here.”
We should love them
and hold them dear.