Camden, New Jersey

While I'm not an historian, it was fun to find out that my relatives came across "the pond" and settled in America. This interesting postcard picture is of a water well in Camden, New Jersey where some of my relatives built a new life and elsewhere in the USA.

I am sure they endured prejudice, hard labor, long hours, low wages and drama. They worked hard and accomplished impressive things. Just like the pains to accomplish the drilling of this water well, their efforts and energy helped to build a small cluster of families into a town, then a city and beyond.

Now we are scattered all over the country. Like many citizens, we continue to work hard and contribute to society. Much like the water that flowed from the pictured water well, our lives expanded, nourished and intersected those of many other people. Our energies added to the tapestry of life in this country.

I am proud to be an American citizen with roots from other countries. I appreciate and value the human race. I see good in people. While it is a simple concept, like water from a well, I look to refresh and bring value to those people that I encounter. I also seek those things from others.

Why is it though, that this simple idea has become very challenging? Have we lost our humanity? When I listen to the news or politics or the media, I wonder. Can we refresh at the water well and begin a better chapter? I think the good of our country depends upon that. Decency and goodness needs to prevail, for that is what makes life worth living as an American. It is what we do best too, as a nation. I have proof of it from my heritage. How about you?