What Does America Mean to Me? Pt. II

On the eve of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, we asked a group of leading Pittsburghers to consider and answer that question. We thank them for giving their thoughts on this important occasion.

Previously in this series: What Does America Mean to Me?

REV. PAUL T. ABERNATHY, CEO, NEIGHBORHOOD RESILIENCE PROJECT America is, above all, an idea by which people of goodwill continually form a political union founded on values expressed through radical commitment to honor the God-given dignity of all persons. As Americans, we speak of this union not in the sense of land, ethnicity, language or religion, but rather, as laws that guarantee the free pursuit of beauty, truth and goodness for every human within our borders. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of this nation, I pray that it is the idea of America far more than the history of America that guides us well into our future.

DAN ONORATO, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, HIGHMARK HEALTH & FORMER ALLEGHENY COUNTY EXECUTIVE America is both a promise and a responsibility. It is the promise that where you start doesn’t limit where you can go. Growing up on the North Side of Pittsburgh, I saw how hard work, strong communities, and opportunity can change lives and revive places. America also represents a responsibility to serve others and build institutions that endure. In public service, I’ve learned that responsibility is all about listening, solving real problems, and caring for people when they’re most vulnerable. At 250 years, we continue to shape the promise of this great nation and bear the responsibility of making it better today and tomorrow than it was yesterday.

WAYNE WALTERS, SUPERINTENDENT, PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS America is a promise that we are still working to fulfill. It means opportunity rooted in education, where every child, regardless of where they start, has access to the tools, supports, and beliefs needed to succeed. It is the freedom to grow, to contribute, and to be seen. As a superintendent, I see America in our classrooms every day, in the diversity of our students, the dedication of our educators, and the hope families place in us. At its best, America is about shared responsibility, ensuring the next generation is prepared, empowered, and positioned to lead.

JESSICA AN, 11TH GRADER, SOUTH FAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL To me, America means unity, where people from different backgrounds, beliefs, and stories can come together to build something greater than themselves. It means home, a place where families grow, dreams take shape, and new beginnings are possible. It also means equality and opportunity, with the chance to pursue goals no matter how impossible they might sound, and the support from others—where neighbors help neighbors, communities stand together, and the belief that we are more likely to grow when we lift one another. To me, America is not just a place where I live; it is a story shared by everyone who calls it home.

SALEEM GHUBRIL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE PITTSBURGH PROMISE My adolescence was spent in Lebanon during the civil war in the mid-1970s. We fled in July of 1976 and settled in Iowa City on July 7, having just missed the bicentennial celebrations. Now, 50 years later, I am grateful to celebrate America’s Semiquincentennial and my 50th American anniversary. America means so much to me, including second chances, caring adults who took me under their wings, the love of my life and the children, in-laws, and grandchildren who ensued, the formation of my faith, and numerous opportunities to serve. Sadly, my birth country is still in a state of war, and my adopted country is fanning the flames of war. However, America’s promise to be a “shining city upon a hill” still lives, still inspires, is still worth living, and if need be, dying for.