Coming here from Africa in 1980  was not easy. You have no idea what 6 lanes of freeway (each direction) mean to person who considered any blacktop a main road. Gas only cost $1.30 a gallon and the basic wage was over $4.oo. Wow — you only work for an hour for 3 gallons of gas. In Africa during the oil boycotts we worked for three hours to pay for one gallon. So my first American car just had to be a huge gas sucking monster which you were all selling cheap.

As an immigrant who has chosen to become an American citizen, I feel especially qualified to say what is special about America. Having grown up in a different society - in my case, South Africa -- I am not only able to identify aspects of America that are invisible to the natives, but I am acutely conscious of the daily blessings that I enjoy in America.

Here, then, is my list of the great things about America. America provides an amazingly good life for the ordinary guy. Rich people live well everywhere. But what distinguishes America is that it provides high standard of living for the "common man." We live in a country where construction workers regularly pay $4 for a nonfat latte, where maids drive nice cars and where plumbers take their families on vacation to Europe.

Which other country would measure a man by ability and drive and not ask how many degrees he had from all the right schools? In most countries in the world, your fate and your identity are handed to you; In America, you determine them for yourself. America is a country where you get to write the script of your own life. Where else in the world could I work as an Assoc Vice President for major Wall Street firm in the North West without all those credentials?

I was struck by the toys enjoyed by "poor" people. We got our first TV in 1976 and in my country that meant one channel for 6 hours shared — with 3 hours programming in two languages. I witnessed in an acquaintance of mine from Africa who has been trying to move to the United States. I asked him, "Why are you so eager to come to America?" He replied, " I really want to live in a country where the poor people are fat."

America is not class conscious – Americans are socially more equal than any other people, and this is unaffected by economic disparities. The rich guy may have more money, but he isn't in any fundamental sense better than anyone else.

People live longer, fuller lives in America. In 1900, the life expectancy in America was around 50 years; today, it is more than 75 years. This long life span means more years to enjoy life, more free time to devote to a good cause, and more occasions to do things with the grandchildren.

Thank you for making this my  land of opportunity and a place my American daughters call home.