by Daniel G. O'Leary

Created on: September 18, 2009   Last Updated: April 26, 2010

It has often been said; that a House divided will not stand. The same has been said of a Nation. We need not look too far in our own History to see both to be true. America is a country that is founded upon the dreams of not one, but many (more than one).

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.-That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,..." (from the Declaration of Independence).

The Foundation for this Nation, a Nation of "We the People..." (from the Constitution), is based and was reliant upon the dreams of immigrants, their children, and their children's children, both their individual dreams, and their collective dreams of and for FREEDOM. Tired, often sick, hungry, nearly all poor, they came to our shores to pursue their dreams. They still come today! They are fueled and fired by the feeling, the belief within their hearts and souls, that "this place, this land is the land of opportunity". There was and is no question that their dreams would become reality! Why? Because they were driven, determined, and would not give up. Their children learned their lessons well, and yearned for their chance to excel. By trial and error, all learned the strength of teamwork, the value of compromise allowing the team to be as one. When one stumbled or fell, another offered their hand until they were on their feet and could continue on. They worked, they sacrificed, they bore pain and blister, and bathed in glory for that which they accomplished.

Yes the times change, the waves of immigrants change as well, but there is no shortage of those that believe, that have faith, that have desire, that have determination, that have inspiration, that have the can-do, will-do attitude to get the job done to fulfill their dreams for a better and brighter today and tomorrow. Yes, from their trials and errors, they too learn the exceptional value and strength of teamwork. They learn the strongest foundation must have sound footing.

In any of our houses, if brother fights with brother or sister, if parent continually favors one child over another, teamwork is not sound, footing is lost and a stumble often causes the family to fall. The house will not stand the test of time!

So is it true of a Nation, especially this one, a Nation of

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