I love this country. I am so thankful that my grandparents, as teenagers around the turn of the 20th Century left their families back in Hungary, Russia and Poland to come here to try to make a better life for their children and grandchildren.
I've always been proud to be American, although it saddens me to admit I haven't been quite as proud these past four years. The president has diminished our stature as a world leader that represents fairness, inclusion and democracy. Our president has squandered that hard-earned reputation and, in fact, has made this great country an object of pity and derision by many around the world. And he has sowed division among ourselves, rather than bringing us together.
But my feeling of pride has been rekindled as I've been watching the Democrats' virtual convention. It shows how this wonderful country is not monolithic, but is comprised of a beautiful mosaic of races, beliefs and national heritages, uniquely blended together. It's reaffirmed my feeling that we are, in fact, our brothers' keeper, building a better life for ourselves and our children, yet working together to make life better for those among us who are less fortunate.
So I'm proud to be an American -- even now -- and also proud to be part of a party that pushes for fairness, inclusion, compassion and all the things that make us better people and better collectively as a nation.
I hope right-minded people will come out strong in November to bring this 4-year nightmare to an end. It's got to happen if we are to make America great again... great the way it was before Jan. 20, 2016. And from there, even greater still.