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As a matter of fact that is the reality of life, that most of us fail to understand, and remember. Say for example you were born in New York, from a Christian family. I was born in Boston from a Muslim family. Now we both as infants have done no work to be part of our parents religions or our parents baseball clubs. We go to a Yankee/Red Socks game, and we look at each other as enemies just because of what uniform we are wearing, and the club that we are supporting. At my house my parents keep making fun of the infidels, and in your house your parents makes fun of the ragheads.

The reality is as an American born, I have done nothing to earn the honor to be proud of my country. It was a pure accident. As a matter of fact, I can go on and give you all kinds of examples of American borns who are completely ignorant of their history, and have done very little to make America proud of their accomplishments. On the other hand a Chinese student comes here, learn English, and study and gets a PhD; then goes on to inventing things that makes America proud, even though he is not even an American yet. The White trash American born can get all lathered up with pride about America, or can even become an Antiwar and burn the American flag; while the Chinese guy studies civics, and learns about our constitution, and go on through a test to become an American citizen, savoring every moment of his new adopted country, and reflecting on its history, and freedom that he missed growing up in China.

In other words WE ALL just happened to be born black, white, pretty, ugly, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Southerners, or Yankees, Americans, Germans, or Iranians. That accidental birth should never entitle us to any specific hubris, or pride. As we grow, we should rethink the dogma, and stay with what we were brought up with or change and become our own persons. In reality very few people do!