The northern Crawford County couple were thankful for the life they had been blessed with. As we shared hours of conversation, I learned so much about this “salt of the Earth” couple who had spent decades raising their three daughters as they pursued their American Dream. Although having recent surgery prevented a firm handshake, I could not help but notice the calloused, leatheresque hand that was extended to me. They were farmers and the decades of hard work were evident in his hands. As we shared conversation, it was quickly evident that the couple were proud of their farm and the hard work they had shared in its development into an absolute thing of beauty. I also learned quickly of their pride in the three daughters they had raised. This pride seemed to take on an even higher level, however, when they shared their story about a cooler that now has found a resting place in their home.
All three daughters were highly accomplished having achieved high levels of education and prominent positions in their chosen careers. The cooler story focused on their daughter who had achieved a master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation, she acquired a job working for a major United States Company in the desert of Arizona. On her way to and from work, their daughter would encounter hundreds of immigrants walking along the highway in the relentless Arizona heat. These immigrants had finally completed their journey north to America after fleeing poverty, corruption, and oppression in their various nations of origin. They were immigrants pursuing that American Dream.
Their daughter was struck with compassion for these poor souls and purchased the cooler. Each day before heading out to work, she would fill the cooler with water and during her commute, she gave the water to the poor folks walking along the highway. One day, having heard of her humanitarian efforts, her boss asked her what she was doing. “Don’t you know they are illegals?” “Don’t you know they are criminals?”, he asked. Their daughter responded, “This morning, I gave water to a woman carrying a baby and leading a toddler. They did not look like criminals to me. They looked like human beings who were thirsty.”
I fear a growing segment of America has adopted a definition of greatness that is in great contrast to the definition I was taught throughout my childhood and what I tried to teach my children. Has the President’s alluring promise of “wealth beyond imagination” clouded our judgment of how greatness is achieved? I am thankful for the life God has blessed me with. However, far better to endure poverty, when compared to enduring the shame of my children seeing me accept the mean, barbaric, selfish, divisive, and hateful behavior we are seeing from President Trump and his administration as they put their definition of greatness into action. After witnessing the chaos and unprecedented occurrences that have taken place within President Trump’s first year in office, and for the fear that my silence may be misconstrued as complacency or acceptance of what is taking place in our great nation, I feel it necessary to revisit what greatness truly is, and to declare my opposition to the current language and behavior of President Trump and his administration.
The path to greatness is not found in the accumulation of wealth and taking what we can from others. I contend that our greatness is built as we share our wealth to assist those who are less fortunate.
Greatness is not found in coveting someone else’s medal of honor or, through coercion, having our name placed on the side of a building. Greatness is living a life worthy of honor once we have passed.
Having witnessed President Trump call Somali immigrants “trash," and “garbage," I declare greatness is not found in insults directed at certain ethnic groups! Greatness is found in the willingness to share with others this journey toward achieving the American Dream. No one would argue that control over the criminal immigrant element isn’t necessary. However, the current administration has moved into the realm of cruelty, harassment, barbarism, and “Gestapo-like” tactics. How have we become so calloused to not demand an end to these horrendous acts being carried out in our cities?
Having witnessed our European allies deploy troops to Denmark to defend against American threats of military action, I declare, greatness is not found in wielding our superior military strength to intimidate and threaten our allies if they do not roll over and forfeit their treasure and sovereignty! Greatness is working with our allies to combat evil, preserve and defend human rights, and to insure a safer world for all.
Reflecting on my conversation with the elderly Crawford County couple, I realize why their pride was elevated when sharing the story of the cooler. They were proud of their farm. They were proud of the years of hard work they had spent making the farm a success as they achieved their American Dream. Most of all, however, the couple were proud of their daughter! The story of the cooler was confirmation that they had succeeded! Their daughter “Got It!” Somehow, they had raised a successful woman who was filled with compassion for those less fortunate. They raised a woman who had a firm grasp on what goes beyond personal accomplishment, academic achievement, and financial success and extends into the realm of greatness.
Greatness is buying a cooler and giving water to those who are thirsty!
May God forgive the United States of America.
Deron George Gibbs
Dillard, Missouri
