An example of the American dream

Ken Maddox

As we mark the 228th birthday of our nation, we must take the time to

celebrate our Declaration of Independence. With great determination,

our Founding Fathers charted a revolutionary course, creating a

nation with the freedom to assemble, worship and speak freely.

Thousands more have given their lives in service to our country to

protect these freedoms.

A simple principle sets our nation apart from others around the

world: a government that is of the people, by the people and for the

people. Elected officials in Washington and Sacramento do not make

laws by virtue of their own authority, but rather from the consent of

the people.

When Americans celebrate our nation’s independence on the Fourth

of July, we do more than barbecue hamburgers and watch fireworks. We

celebrate the values and ideals that make our country such a special

place to live: freedom, democracy and pluralism.

In America, through hard work and determination, anyone can

achieve the American dream.

When I think of the American dream, I see its example in my staff

member Janet Nguyen and her family. As victims of North Vietnamese

communism, they escaped on a 10-foot wooden boat across the South

China Sea in search of freedom and democracy.

Arriving in California more than 20 years ago with only the

clothes on their bodies and unable to speak a word of English, they

struggled, worked hard and learned English, making sure their

children finished school and contributed to their new country.

Twenty years later, the Nguyen family can proudly say they

achieved the ultimate American dream by owning a home in Garden

Grove; all four children have graduated from college or are attending

college. One of Janet’s brothers, Robert, proudly serves in the

United States Marine Corps and was deployed to Iraq last year. Janet

currently serves in the City of Garden Grove as a planning

commissioner and district director to my office. This family makes me

proud of the great opportunities the Founding Fathers created for us

all.

In his 1989 farewell address to the nation, President Reagan

described what he saw in that shining city: “a tall, proud city built

on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed and teeming

with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, a city with

free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had

to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to

anyone with the will and the heart to get here.”

As we celebrate the 228th anniversary of our nation’s

independence, may President Reagan’s optimistic vision for America’s

future live on in our hearts.

* KEN MADDOX represents the 68th Assembly District, which includes

Costa Mesa and Newport Beach.