An American Story

     I recently attended an event with an inspirational key-note speaker.  She had an ideal American story.
     Born into an abusive and chaotic family environment, her path led to young motherhood.  She survived using welfare, till one day the decision was made that this was not the life she wanted for her or her child.  A low level job was procured, and through hard work and determination several promotions followed.  Her distinguished work led to employment by a U.S. senator and then at a prestigious college where she obtained a degree.  Now she speaks around the country and has at least one book published.  This is the kind of story conservatives point to and say, "Only in America!"  Yet, I believe she was a progressive.
     I base this assumption on several factors.  First off, she works for a university, and the vast majority of all college professors are progressive.  Second, she spoke of how she attended the Million Man March, which was led by Louis Farrakhan, the radical progressive leader of the Nation of Islam.  That could hardly be called a conservative venue.  Third, a couple of stories were told in which race played a major factor.  All of these are something that a conservative would rarely be associated with.   But the most convincing fact: she never expressed the greatness of America.
     In any other country she would have been doomed to a life of hardship.  In America though, inspirational stories like hers are recounted all the time.  So you would think that at some point the phrase, "Only in America!" would have been uttered.  But it never was.  Instead, you got the feeling that the phrase, "In spite of America," would be a better fit.
     This type of scenario, where successful people side with the progressive anti-American movement, is all too common.  Steve Jobs, the late founder of Apple, and Stephen King, one of the most successful modern writers, are representations of the contradictory ultra liberal American who has a truly American story.  You also have Doug Edwards, made rich through Google, who recently begged Obama to raise his taxes (Yahoo.com).  And so much of Hollywood is so rich, and yet so progressive, the very ideology that attacks wealth and achievement.  Is it guilt for having so much when so many others have so little?  It is protection against attacks from a government that has grown too powerful and too intrusive?  Or does being progressive somehow make one look more important, smarter, and caring?  I'm not confident in any one answer.
     Someone I know from Uganda would always say something like, "Around the world, it matters what race you are, where your from, and what social class you are in.  But in America, none of that matters.  Anyone can do anything and become whatever they want."  I hear that a lot from those immigrating to the U.S.  It's too bad so many inside don't realize it.