I have had a love affair with this country for nearly 70 years.  It began on a cold misty morning in 1951 as I stood alone at the railing of a U. S. Navy military transport ship ferrying displaced persons from refugee camps in post-war Europe.   Having known only the miasma rampant in decimated cites, refugee camps, and orphanages, I began to sense an aura of confidence, optimism, and can-do spirit as the ship made its way through New York's Upper Bay and past the Statue of Liberty.   As I was perhaps seven years old, I did not know that I had been welcomed to the nation that had rescued me and untold millions from the shackles of Nazism.  I knew nothing about this nation's founding, its people, or its governing philosophy, but I instinctively knew that the United States was a special place. After being adopted and learning English, I immersed myself in this nation's history and creation.  With the backdrop of my...(Read Full Post)