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Happy Independence Day from ING!
As we gather to celebrate July 4th with family and friends — and maybe watch a fireworks display — we want to wish you a safe and enjoyable holiday. But we also have a request. Keep reading to find out more.
ING Executive Director Reflects on 4th of
July and Finding Home in America Today
In a time of rising xenophobia, too many Americans forget that we are a nation of immigrants, refugees, Indians, and enslaved Africans. We’ve all tried to make a home here. But how can immigrants and minorities make sense of “home” in America today? ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi explores that question in a new article, where she says:
“On this fourth of July, finding home for immigrants and minorities in the current political environment is a difficult conversation. While immigrants like me know we are home in the United States, some of our neighbors are questioning whether we really belong. The recent SCOTUS decision upholding the Muslim Ban and the extraordinarily harsh treatment of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers on our borders sends a strong signal by this administration that recent immigrants don’t belong.”
Continue reading Maha’s article here, and see more of her writing at her blog.
Join Us This 4th of July and Share Your American Story
Americans celebrate Independence Day as the start of this country’s journey to create a pluralistic, multicultural polity committed to religious freedom and self-determination. Yet we recognize that those promises were not extended to American Indians or enslaved Africans, and that we are still struggling with these issues today.
Since its founding, the American story has been one of successive waves of immigration — of people seeking a better life, or freedom from oppression or danger. At a time when xenophobia has become common at all levels of society and government, we invite you to reflect on your own unique American story. Whether you’re a recent arrival or your family goes back many generations, we ask you to reflect on what it means to be an American and what we can do to ensure that the United States remains a welcoming place for all. To that end, we urge you to check out the Know Your Neighbor: Share Your American Story Campaign, which began on Monday, July 2nd and runs through Friday, July 6th.
Find stories, ideas for events, and sample social media posts at the campaign page or below. Share your unique American story and get to #KnowYourNeighbor as we celebrate Independence Day!
We invite you to participate in this campaign in one or all
of the following three ways:
- Sharing SAMPLE videos, posts, tweets and images that we’ve created for the campaign. See samples below. We also have many more on the campaign page.
- Sharing your own posts on social media using the hashtag #KnowYourNeighbor. These posts could include videos, images, posts, news articles, and other relevant materials. We ask that you use #KnowYourNeighbor so that we can easily share your posts in this campaign.
- Sharing this campaign with your networks on your social media platforms and listservs to encourage community members across the nation to encourage their participation.
Sample Posts
More available at www.ing.org/kyn-american-story
Facebook Posts:
- What does it mean to be an American? How did your family come to be in the United States? What does the American dream mean for you — or others? Join the #KnowYourNeighbor campaign and comment with your American story: www.ing.org/kyn-american-story
- The motto of the United States is “e pluribus, unum” or “from many, one.” Over the years, Americans have brought an incredible diversity of belief systems, cultures, and customs to form one cohesive nation. Join the #KnowYourNeighbor campaign and tell us what you bring to America: www.ing.org/kyn-american-story
- The American dream did not work out as promised for many immigrants to our nation, many of whom have confronted hostility and rejection as they struggled to be accepted as Americans. What can you do to help the American dream be accessed by all immigrating to and living in this nation? #KnowYourNeighbor: www.ing.org/kyn-american-story
- This Fourth of July we ask you to ponder — who is an American? What makes someone American? And whom have we left behind while striving for the American dream? #KnowYourNeighbor: www.ing.org/kyn-american-story
Tweets:
- We often hear that we’re a nation of immigrants, but that excludes many people’s stories. What differences do you see between how descendants of slaves, of indigenous people, and of immigrants identify with America? Get to #KnowYourNeighbor: www.ing.org/kyn-american-story
- “Congress shall make no law respecting the freedom of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The founders of the United States understood the importance of religious freedom. How has this right shaped your life? #KnowYourNeighbor and remind ourselves why: www.ing.org/kyn-american-story
- As we remember the founding of our nation, we can’t forget the stories of those who were oppressed and enslaved to build the dreams of others. What can we learn from our tainted history this Fourth of July? #KnowYourNeighbor: www.ing.org/kyn-american-story
- For many, the Fourth of July is a time of pride and celebration. For others, this time reminds them that their American dream is still out of reach. How do you feel about the holiday? #KnowYourNeighbor: www.ing.org/kyn-american-story
- What does “home” mean to you? What do you think it means for immigrants to the United States? Retweet with your American story and get to #KnowYourNeighbor: www.ing.org/kyn-american-story
Images to Share:
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Want to see more of these campaigns and Know Your Neighbor events? Support us today or contact our Executive Director, Maha Elgenaidi at [email protected].
