I hope by now you realize I am being sarcastic…and I hope you realize I am also in Los Angles. This city seems to so often get a bad wrap—too much traffic, too dirty, too nasty. The only real idea I had of LA was from Gangster movies like Training Day and 187. To tell you the truth I was a little wary about coming to this city because of the bad reviews I had heard…but armed with an open mind and a full tank of gas I found something different. Los Angeles is one of the most American cities I have ever been. No, I’m not being sarcastic. Seriously, I'm not.
Los Angeles is the world in a city. We passed through Korea Town, Little Tokyo, Filipino town, Little Mexico, and a myriad of other ethnic neighborhoods. Even the proper name of Los Angeles reveals that it is not your average American city. The full name of the city is El Pueblo de nuestra Senora, la reina de Los Angeles, or The town of Our Lady, The Queen of the Angels. What makes America different than other nations? What has contributed to our strength and success? We are nation of immigrants. We are the melting pot. We are America. My days in Los Angeles also made me think of one of my other favorite cities, another very American place. In this city, there is a symbol that stands in the harbor to remind all generations where we come from.
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Los Angeles is a city that encompasses these words captured in the statue of liberty. Languages, cultures, and races rush past in a whirlwind. Many might doubt the true “Americaness” of such a place, but I beg to differ. We ate a small taco shop in Pasadena in which we were the only nonhispanics. In a conversation with the lady who made our food, I found out that she was a 1st generation immigrant from Mexico. The interesting thing, however, was that she had been living in the US four 5 years before I had ever been born! So…which one of us is more American? Am I more American because I was born here, or is she more American because she has lived here 18 years longer than I have?
Pasadena is a beautiful little area of Los Angles that is considered on of the most diverse areas (ethnic/economic) in the entire nation. Luke and I took a tour of Fuller Theological Seminary and I had a glimpse of what may be my home in 2 years. I’ll be praying about that… Not only is LA incredibly diverse in it’s inhabitants, it also has so many different kinds of neighborhoods, beaches, and area attractions! Anything you want to do, you can do here in LA. If you want to eat Afghani food, go to a baseball game, and then top it off with a trip to the oxygen bar and Ethiopian coffee shop…you can! We took advantage of the many things LA has to offer by visiting Hollywood, Santa Monica Pier, Dodgers Stadium, China Town, and downtown (aka Hispanicland!)
On a side-note, it was a pleasant thought to be in the birthplace of Christianity’s fastest growing group worldwide—Pentecostalism. This vibrant form of our faith was born right here on Azusa Street a little over 100 years ago. Due to it's extremely fast growth in such a short amount of time, some sociologist are claiming this to be the most significant social movement in history! Pentecostalism is spreading like wildfire all over the world; it is a symbol of our faith’s amazing adaptability. One of the most diverse religious experiences ever grew out of this very diverse city…I don’t know, that just seems appropriate to me.
We are a nation whose official language is none. Our official race is other. We are defined by the inability to define us. We are America. So the next time you find yourself talking bad about “all them foreigners” coming over here speaking other languages, just remember this is NOT your country--it is OUR country. Es nuestro pais.
Come to LA and you’ll know what I mean.
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1 comments:
Wonderful perspective Son!
Asi es--America es la nacion de naciones.
I really liked your statement that our language is "none" and our race is "other". What defines us is that we are undefinable---powerful words--and true.
Mark Buchanan had a recent article on community and in it he rightly states that for most of us, community is defined in terms of my circle of family and friends--"us four and no more." But biblical community he goes on to say is defined in terms of those who are on the outside of the circle being brought into the circle. The conscious and intentional act of welcoming the "tired, poor, and huddled masses" is what true biblical community is all about. Sadly, most just circle the wagons when the "outsiders" approach.
A woman came to the church building this week who had been abused by her husband (now in jail), a shattered woman in so many respects. She asked is she could come to worship on Sunday. She felt like she had to "ask". Forgive us God when the poor, tired and homeless fell like they have to "ask" is they can come in!
BTW, did you know that LA is the second largest Spanish-speaking city in the world--second only to Mexico City?
DAD
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