Great America

What makes America Great? How does one make it Great again? How does one become a Great American?  These are all very personal, political and ideological questions.  I will explain my own thoughts and you can choose to agree or disagree. I only ask for the respect that this is my opinion and it may differ from your personal beliefs.

The United States of America was formed out of oppression. Due to that oppression, we saw fit to declare that we are all created equal.  Although it took time,  and is still an uphill battle,  I do believe we are all America,  a land of immigrants,  a land of oppressed natives,  a land of slavery and indentured servitude ,  .

Our Nation, rose out of tyranny to prevent the oppression of the many for the needs of the few.
Our Nation, recognized the need for guns and militias, to prevent the government from becoming an oppressive body once again.
Our Nation, recognized the freedoms of expression,  speech and religion.
Our Nation,  a land of opportunity, pushed forward the capitalistic ideals that you work hard and get what you earn.
Our Nation,  rose from thirteen colonies into Fifty States and Sixteen Territories.
Our Nation, grew to be, arguably, the most culturally diverse of any other in the world.

Our country, the United States of America, can be the Greatest Nation in the world if we come together as One! 

We need to respect our differences and make changes as needed to respect others. 

We need to acknowledge that all men and women are different and equal. 

We need to respect others religious beliefs while keeping it separate from the state.

We need to respect our new immigrant population and the fact that our Nation was founded on immigrants. 

We need to put the overall American agenda forward and put aside our differences so we can move toward a new enlightenment.

We do not need to forget our cultural heritage  but rather embrace it and forge it into our Nation to become a new whole. 

I have faith we will one day become this Great Nation. Until then, all we can do is go about enacting changes; changes to the system,  changes to our attitude, and changes to better our Nation. 

~ Matty Di 

Thanksgiving 2016

I can go on about how our national holiday has been turned into trash by the retail market and consumers of this country. I also could go on about how people don't understand the meaning of Thanksgiving. Instead I would like to share with you what I am thankful for.

I am thankful for an amazing family that Above All shows their love and compassion. I am thankful for great friends who truly understand and respect me. I am thankful that in this crazy world, my little corner is not as bad as it could be.
I am extremely grateful for my partner. Since we have met, he has brought out of me the best parts of my soul. He has made me realize I too am important. I am grateful to have the opportunity of self-reflection, as in the past I was too preoccupied to even see me.

I am thankful that I have the chance to spend the holidays with those who love me. I am grateful that my wonderful partner  has shown me what it is like to be loved. Although he won't be at the table with me this year for Thanksgiving, it is great to know that I still have him with me. I am happy to have somebody to share the good news and the bad.

I am thankful for the roof over my head and the food on my table.  I am grateful for the ability to share my talents and be appreciated for them. 

Overall,  I am thankful for being alive and able to take the reigns and drive myself into the future.

There are so many more things and people I could list, but instead I ask you this. What are you thankful for? 

Thank you for your time and may your Holiday be Safe and Happy!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

~Matty Di

15 years...

September 11th, 2001... It is hard to believe 15 years has gone by since that tragic day took place.  I can definitely say that I will never forget. This city will never forget. This country will never forget.  We will never forget the great tragedy that struck the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. We will never forget the lives that were lost. We will never forget the feelings of terror and confusion.  We will never forget the pain. We will never forget how our lives were impacted.

 Unfortunately, I feel we have forgotten one thing. We have forgotten how we, as a city, as a nation, as a people,  joined in unity. We have forgotten that our neighbors,  regardless of race, creed, sexual orientation, gender, are all one!

If the next President wants to 'Make America Great Again' than he/she needs to remind this nation,  that we are not just a group of individuals, we are not separate,   we are also One Entity.  We are the United States of America.  We are the melting pot of the world.  We are meant to be the greatest,  but we are not. Why? Because we forgot!  We forgot what Greatness is. We forgot why we were formed as a nation.  Our forefathers fought for freedom and liberty, For truth and justice for All!

I pray,  and I hope that you pray too. Pray to whichever deity calls to you! May it be the Judeo-Christian God,  Allah, the horned god, or the spirits of the earth,  whomever watches over you, please pray that acceptance and love rings through the air once again.

The days,  weeks, and months after 9-11 were ones to make any American proud. We stood by each other. We helped each other.  We cared for each other.

I truly pray that we do not need another tragedy to make America great, because we were once, and if we do not want the innocents lost on that day to have died in vain, than we need to remember!