A More Perfect Nation

A message about gratitude, vision, and prevailing

I just received this text message from my mother, who days ago turned 88, to her family of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren on this 250th anniversary July 4th:

HAPPY 4th OF JULY!

It's hard to celebrate with the status of our country today.  So…I'm commemorating the founding principles of my country.

I'm grateful to have arrived in San Francisco 80 years ago on July 16, 1946 and became a citizen 8 years later when I turned 16. 

I choose to believe the vision of the group of extraordinary men 250 years ago will prevail. They gave us the structure “to form a MORE perfect nation.” It has never been perfect. It's up to each generation to work on it. 

We have lost that vision, but I believe the fog is lifting!

Thought I would share some thoughts.

Love,

Nana

BTW, you might know 8 is an auspicious number for Chinese. I came to the US at the age of 8, I became a citizen 8 years later, I've been in this country for 80 years and I'm now 88!

She and her family, like many others all over the world, fled Shanghai during the Japanese occupation in World War II to come to the US. Her American father, my grandfather, served in the US Marines and attained the rank of Master Sergeant. He was captured and interned by the Japanese in Manila. After release from the prison camp, he returned to Shanghai to rescue his family to take them back to the United States. My grandfather, uncles, and mother all contributed greatly to our country, serving in communities, the Marines, the Navy, and as civil servants and leaders in science and business.

This is my mother's exceptional legacy, and her message is a reminder that great ideas are stronger than any small minds that temporarily challenge them. We shall prevail.