My name is M'buti Sormiento, and I am originally from Africa, as I have explained in several earlier stories. I have been in America for over 3 years, but it wasn't until last year (July 4, America's birthday) that I officially became an American citizen.
I am very proud to be considered an American, and I am proud to be free; however, with all that has happened in recent months (the terrorist attacks of last September 11, in which my good American friend, Stephanie Green, was murdered by terrorists after they bombed the World Trade Centers and then the Twin Towers fell about an hour later; she was in the building when it collapsed, the war on terrorism, and now the Supreme Court's wanting to remove "Under God" from the Pledge of the Allegience), I am wondering if I really AM "free". I surely don't feel "free" because if I pray in public people stare at me (as if I don't get stared at enough in the first place; I'm in a wheelchair most of the time, and I am very thin and very tall), or they tell me to stop it. Or they make ugly, nasty faces at me or say ugly, nasty things that hurt my feelings.
When I heard of the Supreme Court's decision, I called my good friend, Miss Louisiana, and she actually cried. She is a very good, strong Christian woman, and she is very active in her church; and she is raising her family of many children to become good Christians. She was very aggrieved by this, as you can very well imagine. She then said she was going to call her pastor and have him pray with her. Which is probably what she did.
I don't understand something: why can't people pray in public or in school, and why can't they use God's name or talk about Him other than in church? Is it considered a "sin"? Why can't people read a Bible or a religious book, but they CAN read about someone like Harry Potter, who practices wizardry and witchcraft? Isn't that of the Devil? Isn't that "sin"? Yet, people aren't punished for reading someone like Harry Potter; yet, people ARE punished for using God's name in conversation, for praying, and for reading religious books or other material. Do they want to do away with God altogether and would they rather pray to someone like Allah or Buddha, who AREN'T the REAL GOD??
It just doesn't make any sense.
It's no wonder I don't feel free. It is at times like this when I am actually ASHAMED to be an American, even though I wasn't BORN in America. I am embarrassed to be an American, and I don't feel comfortable wearing clothes that have a Flag on it or clothes that are red, white, or blue. I also don't like to sing the National Anthem because, for one thing, I don't know the words; and my English isn't still that good. I still have some problems with the English language. (I read English better than I speak or write it.)
Here in America one can wear or say as they choose, or practice whatever religion they so choose; and that is all said and good, but what about those who are believing in God or Jesus? Does believing in Jesus make them sinners? Does that mean they go to jail because they believe in Jesus and not someone like Allah or Buddha? They can read books about witchcraft or the devil or other nasty things, but they can't read the Bible or say "under God" in the Pledge of the Allegience or pray in school or in public. Does that mean that innocent little children must go to jail because they used "Under God" while reciting the Pledge of the Allegience?? Or anyone else?? What about President Bush or the Congress people, who stood on the steps and recited the Pledge of Allegience and said "Under God" as they said it?? Do they go to jail, too, because they "broke the law", according to the Supreme Court?? Who ARE they, really, and what gives THEM the right to do things like remove prayer from school or remove God's name from the Pledge of the Allegience, just because of those people who don't believe in God or Jesus?? (I think they are called "apiests" or something; I don't really know; all I know is that they don't believe in God or Jesus.) There ARE many people who are like this, but MANY MORE believe in God or Jesus, it seems....
And there is no discipline in the home (or at least most of them as I can see; the kids today have no manners whatsoever, and people are so rude and unkind to others, especially if they happen to be of another race, like me; I am Black). I have had people call me NASTY names, names like "Nigger" or worse (and "Nigger" is bad enough; I think it's about the WORST thing one can call a Black person!!), and I have been spit upon by people or treated badly, just because I am NOT white. It is really a shame how I have been treated here in America. And hearing about how bad our government is and now of the stupid Supreme Court's decision makes me physically sick inside. There is no love here; and it really hurts me.
I thought America was a loving, caring nation. It MAY be to other nations, but it certainly isn't so to her own. She treats her people like trash, especially if they aren't white or are disabled or poor. They really get dumped on, it seems; there is just too much for the rich and not enough for the poor.
And then I wonder why I feel the way I do. I certainly DON'T feel "FREE"...
