32nd Anniversary

My parents, my three siblings and I immigrated to the US from Laos on August 22, 1976, after the communists takeover of Laos in 1975. We were sponsored by some wonderful Christian families in Sylvania, Ohio. I was four years old. We became naturalized citizens when I was in the 7th grade.

With four little children to support, my dad chose not to be dependent on welfare. Instead he took a job as a machine operator during the day and took English classes at night. My mom also took English classes at night. My parents have always stressed the important of education. You want to get further in life, you need an education. My dad continued his education and got his Masters in his late 40's.

Today, my parents closed escrow on their 5th home. They now have five homes, four of which are rentals. They were determined, worked hard, lived frugally, sacrificed and saved! They have achieved far more prosperity here than they would back in Laos. If a refugee from Laos can raise himself and his family from poverty, anyone can (here in the US).

Presently, Laos is still a communist country and one of the poorest countries in the world. It scares me to think what would my life be like if we hadn't immigrated here. Simply put:

... the government continues to deny them many basic human rights, such as freedom of speech, assembly, and expression. The government owns and tightly controls the print and broadcast media..

I have never really been into politics but this election has gotten me so aggravated. With so much other issues on the table like mortgage crisis, high energy costs, and inflation, why is Obama making a fuss about McCain's seven homes (some of which are rentals).

Is he starting some kind of class warfare? When has it been a crime to own more than one home? When has it been a crime to be rich or strive to be rich? Why should one be put under the microscope for being wealthy? Does he plan to limit the number of homes one can own if he becomes President? Why do some people insist that he is the "Messiah". I am definitely not ready to anoint him the Messiah.

"You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves." --President Lincoln