On our 9 hour trip to Amsterdam we met two Americans traveling back to their hometowns in England and Poland and it served as a microcosm of our current national debates. Ken talked about current U.K. Politics and how he originally voted for joining the E.U., but now he was glad to see England take back local control. Peter declared himself a humanist who escaped Poland after his involvement in solidarity movement as a student and was granted asylum in the U.S. Both had become Americans by choice in the 1980’s, now living in the northwest. One was traveling to visit their ailing 95-year old mother and the other was settling their mother’s estate. After hearing each of their personal stories, it was a good reminder that there is much more that binds us together even though there may be other differences.
What does it mean to be American? What binds us together across geography, background, race, faith, and other differences?
Denmark, as we are learning, also has worked to create a more unified country as it moved to democracy in the 1840’s. They have worked to create an egalitarian society and a mutually committed community that cares and supports each other.
Sunrise has now come as we plan to board our final leg to Copenhagen.
Siri and David Adventures 