It perfectly expressed the principle, the claim, the myth—as you please—that America is an idea. That it does not matter where you are from. That, in fact, America will in this moment explicitly and proudly acknowledge the sheer variety of places you are all from. That built in to the heart of the United States is the republican ideal not just that anyone can become an American, but that this possibility is what makes the country what it is.
It's easy to get lost in the events of the day and forget that the worst of us, even though they hold power right now, are not the most of us. To forget that what we are going through as a country right now will not last. I believe that our American experiment will continue, and that starting this Fall we will reject authoritarianism and start restoring decency and dignity to our government.