What's your American dream?

The American dream.

Imagine if your American dream was just to get here. Imagine smuggling yourself through numerous countries, crossing over imaginary lines called borders, just to get here.

If you were born an American then your American dream is probably to get stinking rich off stocks and bonds, and then retire early in your mansion with your trophy wife.

But what if you were born in El Salvador in a mud hut with a thatched roof that let the rain in when it stormed. What if your town was run by drug cartels whose members raped your sister and killed your brother. What if you were born somewhere with no future.

What if getting to America was your American dream.

I know everyone's American dream is different and I accept that each can be just as valid as the next but the American dream of the beaten down immigrant will always be the most pure to me.

This is the tale of my ancestors. Fleeing famine in Ireland. Their American dream was just to make sure their children didn't go to bed with empty bellies. All they wanted was a better life.

They came based on tales of freedom, abundance, and mobility available to anyone willing to work hard and follow the rules and isn't this the purest vision of America?

The America of the future must be all inclusive. It is the cornerstone of our success and culture. The nazis will not prevail.

-happy Saturday from midcoast maine, United States of America