To all my people who call the United States of America home. Land of the Free. This is to you. For you.
Our country. Our nation. Our home. Comes with a promise. Comes with a certain hope. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Our nation is a nation of freedom.
And I want you all to sit in that glorious promise for a minute. Because I think it’s one we so often over look. Or even complain about. That we are lucky enough to call a country home that gives people of all ages equal rights. A home that gives the people a voice. Because that just isn’t the case for most places around the world. For most peoples homes.
Please. Don’t take your freedom for granted.
Right now, I live in a place that there isn’t freedom for everyone. There is such a lack of equality.
I went with a friend to get a haircut last week, and struck up a conversation with a woman named Lola. She was the owner of the shop and had had quite a full morning that day. She began to tell me all about this beautiful bride who she did the hair and makeup of just hours before us. Me, being the hopeless romantic that I am, started gushing over this bride!
“I love love love weddings, do you have any pictures?”
“Yes of corse!”
*looks at all the pictures*
“She looks kinda young? How old is she?”
“oh, she’s 16!
“16?!??!?!!?!”
My excitement over this sweet new bride went from pure joy to something along the lines of horror/disbelief.
This 16 year old girl was becoming a bride that day. A wife. Her youth being ripped away from her. And the chances of her having a say in her fate that day were slim to none. The chances of her being to finish her schooling are slim to none. Because you see, women in this country don’t have all the same rights that men do. In rural parts of Albania, men are incredibly dominant over women. And Fathers over their daughters. Im sorry to report that arranged marriages are still so common to this day.
It breaks my heart.
Dads— Imagine giving your daughter away are 16. 16. Simply to marry into a favored family. Or for business deal. Or for livestock.
Daughters— Imagine not being able to pick your love. Your husband. Imagine being given away. Without a say in it. And expected to fully step into the role of a wife. Your teenage years, gone.
Its barbaric. And it’s due to a lack of equality and freedom.
Please. Don’t take your freedom for granted.
All things considered, we have it so good. Thank the Lord with every rising sun that you were born in the United States of America, Land of the free. Thats a blessing within itself. Our country is far from perfect. But we have rights. A voice. And freedom.
So, Here’s to a flawed yet free country. And heres to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
