By Traci
I’m a farmer. A livestock farmer, to be exact. I’ve got dirt under my nails, hay in my hair, and a family line that’s been rooted in this country for generations.
And I’m here to say something that shouldn’t be controversial:
You don’t have to erase your culture to belong in America.
We’ve always called this country a melting pot. But somewhere along the way, some folks started thinking that meant everyone had to melt into them. Same language. Same customs. Same holidays. Same worldview.
That’s not a melting pot. That’s a mold.
And molds are for casting statues—not building communities.
I’ve spent the last two weeks in church learning about restorative justice and mercy.
About how we’re called to lift up the poor, welcome the stranger, and love without condition.
If we claim this is a Christian nation, then we better start acting like it.
Not with exclusion.
But with compassion.
Not with fear.
But with grace.
Jesus didn’t ask people to erase themselves.
He asked them to come as they were.
And he met them there.
So if someone’s waving a flag that’s not red, white, and blue—maybe ask what it means to them.
If someone’s speaking a language you don’t understand—maybe ask what they’re saying.
If someone’s living a life that looks different from yours—maybe ask what it’s taught them.
Because the gospel I’ve been learning isn’t about gatekeeping.
It’s about gathering.
And the country I believe in isn’t built on sameness.
It’s built on story.
I believe in learning English because it helps us communicate.
But I also believe in learning a few words of Spanish, German, Italian, French, or Japanese if it helps me connect with someone else.
Because communication isn’t just about language—it’s about respect.
I’ve seen people wave their flags, cook their food, sing their songs, and raise their children with pride in where they came from.
And I’ve never once felt threatened by that.
I’ve felt honored to witness it.
Because here’s the truth:
America doesn’t lose anything when someone brings their culture here.
We gain.
We gain new ideas.
New flavors.
New stories.
New ways of seeing the world.
We’ve spent decades selling this country as the land of opportunity—then getting angry when people actually believe us.
We told the world: “Come here. Build a better life.”
And now we’re mad that they showed up with dreams and traditions in hand.
And if we’re being honest, the only reason some folks are mad about it is because they expected assimilation, not participation.
They wanted quiet gratitude, not cultural pride.
They wanted labor, not voices.
They wanted newcomers to blend in, not stand out.
But you can’t invite people into a country built on freedom and then punish them for expressing it.
You can’t sell the American dream and then shame people for dreaming in their own language.
Belonging doesn’t require erasure.
It requires welcome.
I believe in following the law.
I believe in coming through the proper channels.
But I do not believe that anyone should have to leave their history at the border.
You don’t have to hide your language.
You don’t have to stop cooking your food.
You don’t have to pretend your ancestors never existed.
You belong here.
Just as you are.
And if that makes someone uncomfortable, maybe it’s not the newcomers who need to change.
So here’s my Farm Table Talk:
If you’ve got a story about your heritage, your family’s journey, or the culture you carry with pride—I’d love to hear it.
Drop it in the comments.
Teach me something.
Remind us all what makes this country beautiful.
Because the truth is, we’re not a melting pot.
We’re a quilt.
And every patch matters.
