A Million Voices Freed

Dreams Do Come True
My grandfather was from the hills of Syria. Raised by his widowed mother, he had a second-grade education. A poor farmer rich in wisdom, he wished for a better life for his children and future grandchildren. The 1920’s was a magical time, even for people living in Syria. Everyone had heard of America. My grandfather was no different. A fire began in his belly – a dream he visualized daily: he wanted to move his family to America – “THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY.”
He waited for thirty years for his dream to come true. He passed up the opportunity to move to Venezuela, Brazil, Germany, and Mexico. It was America alone that called his heart. Finally! The time had come for him to leave. However, it was expensive, and he did not know how he would find the means. He knew one thing – God was his partner and would pave the way. Shortly after his prayer, his son, my father, found an ancient Roman coin in the dirt on the street. It was worth a significant amount of money and paid fully for his passage.
In the year 1955 while he was in his 40’s, he immigrated to El Paso, Texas just on the border of Juarez, Mexico. Shortly thereafter, his wife, mother and 9 children joined him. He had no formal education or job training. He spoke neither English nor Spanish. Courage and faith were the words of his heart. They created the road in front of him. He became a Door Merchant, selling his wares from door to door. Every knock, every sale meant continued freedom, education and opportunity for his children and his future grandchildren.
Meanwhile, in the desert of El Paso his crops, children and grandchildren grew like the Garden of Eden. Some of his greatest lessons were delivered at his table as he handed us freshly tended fruits and vegetables. He taught us to believe in the hope of our dreams, the art of perseverance, the rigors of hard work and the honor in honesty. I learned one of my favorite lessons from him – to simply try – with faith.
Every time one of his grandchildren graduated from college, his dream was realized. I am the PROUD granddaughter of Salim Haddad. I can still remember his handing me a worn and smudged $25 dollar check when I graduated from college, with teary eyes looking at me from behind his foggy glasses.