Letter to Fellow Americans

By Komlan Aloysh  
 
My fellow Americans –
 
I write this message because I believe we share a unique identity: being American. This unique identity infinitely bonds us together because it is greater than everything else. It is above all else, and it bonds us together because we all see greatness in this land of ours.
 
I know the past few months have tested this unique bond. It is not that this unique bond is breakable or fragile to the point that it can fade away, but because it has been tested to a point where we all seem to lose a sense of its meaning and who we really are as a people. No doubt that elections can sometimes bring out the strongest emotions in us, and make us see each other through the prism of political affiliation or ideological belief. They also make it hard for us to swallow the bitter pills of our defeats. They appear as though everything we believe in is zero-sum – one group of fellow citizens wins and the other group loses all. This makes times like these hard for us all, not only for those who lost in this election.
 
I am not here to tell whose political ideology is right or wrong for this great country that we all love so much. I am not here to preach for one side or the other, nor am I here to tell who is patriotic and who is not. I am simply here to speak of what makes this great nation of ours great and how our unique identity as American must transcend our current political and ideological divide that is in this moment bringing out the worst in us all.
 
I know there comes a time - every four years - when we are forced to see our fellow citizens as Republicans or Democrats, Liberals or Conservatives. Some of us try our utmost best to stay above this childish partisan fighting and name-calling, but unfortunately we find ourselves being constantly dragged into them more often, time and again. It is agonizing sometimes, I can tell you that, but that is not who we are. We are uniquely #Americans, people who wake up every morning filled with hopes and dreams to touch the sky, dreams to build the next groundbreaking technological device, dreams to start the next biggest company, or write the next greatest speech for history books; people who see the love of country and of their fellow citizens through the eyes of their beautiful daughters and sons; people who share a cup of coffee with their new neighbors; people who open their homes to strangers whom they have met for the first time. That’s who we are. That is what makes us Americans.
 
Despite our petty and irrelevant ideological differences, we share a bond and love this nation. Whether you are black or white, young or old, we all love this country very much. You too love this country, a place where Barack Obama served eight years as our president; a place where Donald Trump is now our president; a place where Nikki Haley, first generation Indian-American, can become our nation’s top diplomat; and a place where dreams are realized regardless of one’s background.
 
I am not; in anyway, ignoring your disgust of what is happening now. Nor am I downplaying the post-election chaos that we currently see around us. I am simply reminding us all that we are ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION with a COMMON DESTINY. We are not perfect people, and so is this nation, but we must work together to make it even better.
 
Let's embrace this unique Americanness! Let us talk to each other and find common ground for the future of our country! Certainly, we may not agree with each other, nor will we be able to find solutions to all of our problems. But let us begin! Let us continue to improve this great nation by performing our civic duties as citizens!
 
Whether you voted #Trump or #Hillary, let’s remember we are all Americans, and that matters more than anything. The time has come for all of us to work together to move this nation forward. Let’s begin by listening to each to find common ground! This may not be for our own sakes, but at least let that be for the stake of our beloved nation, America.
 
Our nation needs us now more than ever before. Let’s make it proud!
 
Thank you!
 
Yours truly,
Concerned Citizen