The American Dream is Alive

This morning I had the opportunity to welcome 160 new US citizens to their new country: the United States of America.

It’s the second time I’ve had such honor, and for me it was as powerful an experience as the first time.

Judge William Duffey Jr, who presided over the Atlanta naturalization ceremony, invited me to say a few words remarking on the moment.  He knew I was a naturalized citizen and would be able to convey my personal experience.

I arrived in the U.S. at the age of 10 without my parents, without speaking the language, and without a penny in my pocket. My parents made a huge sacrifice, sending me ahead of them so I could have a chance to become an American, to grow up in country with limitless opportunities.

To me, being an American means having the opportunity to live in liberty; to be able to express your views and worship freely; to be able to achieve your full potential; and reach the American Dream.

And I’m living proof that the American Dream is still alive.

It has to be a great country that allows a 10-year-old boy to arrive on its shores without his family, without any money, not knowing the language, and today serves as the president and CEO of AT&T Mobile & Business Solutions, with more than 120 million wireless customers, serving more than 3.5 million businesses in over 100 countries, employing over 70,000 people, and generating more than $100 billion in revenues a year.

A beacon of hope

The United States is a beacon of hope for people everywhere who seek opportunity and freedom.  Every year we as a nation welcome about 680,000 new citizens.  But even with the promise of freedom and opportunity ahead, leaving one’s native country is not easy. It can be a gut-wrenching decision.

Take my mom, for example. Even though it has been many years since we left Cuba, she still asks me from time to time, “Did I do the right thing in sending you ahead?”

I tell her, “Mom, I think I turned out okay.” I always reassure her that she made the right decision, making a huge sacrifice so I could have a chance at better life. 

What it means to be an American

Being an American citizen, whether by birthright or naturalization, is an honor and a privilege.

So as these new citizens crossed this important milestone today, I shared a few thoughts on what it means to me to be an American.

Beginning today, I said, you have all the rights and opportunities that come with American citizenship.

It means that you have the right to vote. Voting is an American right and our duty. Don't take it lightly. Americans have fought and died to preserve this right for us. Use it. Cherish it. Treat it as a precious gift that enables our democracy to flourish.

President Abraham Lincoln called democracy "government of the people by the people and for the people." As I told the new Americans this morning, it means:

You now have the right to decide who will represent us in government.

You now have a say on how your tax dollars are spent.

You have a say on how your children are taught.

You have a say in making sure that fair and just laws are passed.

You have a say to make sure your government is responsive to the people.

The American Spirit

But, there is another aspect to being an American. I think President Teddy Roosevelt expressed it best when he said, almost 100 years ago, that “Americanism is not a matter of creed, birthplace or national descent.”

“The best American,” he said, has “the American Spirit, the American Soul.”

It’s the American spirit that encourages us to pursue dreams we could not have reached elsewhere. It’s the American spirit that drives us to carve a better future for ourselves and our families.

It all became clear to me once again this morning as I looked out at these new Americans – the endurance of the American Spirit.

These men and women came from all corners of the globe. But they chose a common path – the pursuit of the American dream for themselves and their families.

I was proud to share in this extraordinary moment with them. They are living proof that the American Dream is alive.

 Ralph de la Vega is the president and CEO of AT&T Mobile and Business Solutions.  He serves as chairman of All-Markets Initiatives for the Boy Scouts of America, and is a member of the board of Junior Achievement Worldwide.  He is the author of the highly acclaimed bestseller Obstacles Welcome: How to Turn Adversity to Advantage in Business and Life