To the Editor:
Senator Booker said, “In a country as wealthy as ours, every person should have access to economic opportunity and the chance to build assets and create wealth.”
As I read Senator Booker’s statement, I think about my father.
My father worked in a supermarket, drove a school bus in the morning and worked weekends in a liquor store as a clerk.
He somehow also coached CYO basketball and PAL baseball.
While growing up, my father instilled in me a strong work ethic and the importance of being self reliant.
After high school, I worked for a roofing company. The owners of the roofing company were all immigrants from Italy.
They came here legally, they worked 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. During the evenings after work, they studied and learned the English language.
As an adult, I was again being exposed to a strong work ethic by the owners of the roofing company.
My entire life, I have worked at least two jobs, more often three jobs at the same time.
The access to economic opportunity and any assets I may have, are all related to the calluses on my hands and my bad back.
Colin Powell tells us, “A dream does not become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.”
John Casper
Stockholm