Born in the USA

      “Born in The USA” rang out over the anti-war protesters on Saturday, March 22, 2003. As I watched people holding up signs of peace, the thought of war took a whole new meaning for me. During the Gulf War I was only in my very early twenties. The war seemed so far away. After September 11, the threat of violence to the country I have come to love, became so real. My innocent trip to Philadelphia made me realize how lucky I am to have been born in the USA.

     As we turned onto Broad street, I watched the reaction to a Ford pick up truck in front of me. A young pro-war demonstrator interrupted a song “Support the U.S., support or troops!” This man shouted through his microphone and than he blared the music again. As the music sang out across the crowd, another young man waved our beautiful American Flag. People on the sidewalk, overwhelmingly, gave a thumbs up and waved. Your occasional opposing would pass by, giving a peace symbol. The young man in the pick up truck challenged that. “If you don’t like it, move to Iraq!” He shouted. As we turned into the parking garage under the Kimmel Center, I could hear the music fading as the Ford truck continued its journey up Broad Street. For the first time I felt torn between the actions of war.

     The young man’s comment “move to Iraq” stuck in my mind. I once thought I was on the side of those anti-war protesters I saw in front of Philadelphia’s City Hall. Now the song “Born in the USA” that blared out of the pick up truck, had a whole new meaning. Being anti-war is easy when the war is so far away, but if I had been born in Iraq, it might be different. The fact, that as a woman, I can travel anywhere, shop anywhere, become any one I want makes me proud to be an American. The opportunity that my children can become even more than myself in a country that allows dreams to become reality, makes me treasure my flag even more. Sometimes we become so comfortable in our lives that we tend to forget that not all people are born with the same freedoms as we are. The anti-war protesters are able to demonstrate their opinions because of prior wars. Protesting in Iraq would get you shot! If those anti-war protesters could have a taste of Iraqi life, they may change their minds.

     I will never forget the pick-up truck and the song “Born in the USA.” Even though I still believe that war should be a last resort, maybe someday Iraqi people may yell “Born in Iraq!” with pride and freedom, and the threat to my country a little less. The young pro-war demonstrators rang out louder than any anti-war demons tors that day. “Born in the USA” was louder than any shout for peace and the silent man waving the American Flag was louder than them all!