I thank you from my heart.

lu

I thank you from my heart.

lu

Anyway, I wish you the absolute best. I raise a ragged cheer to you.

~AO

Anyway, I wish you the absolute best. I raise a ragged cheer to you.

~AO

I have never been in this position, it’s totally foreign.

I don’t have the words to tell you what it means to me.

I have never been in this position, it's totally foreign.

I don't have the words to tell you what it means to me.

All of us had our Green Cards, which we could have kept it until we died.

We wanted to become citizens though, and this is what we got.

Luci

All of us had our Green Cards, which we could have kept it until we died.

We wanted to become citizens though, and this is what we got.

Luci

A little background:

I always fought injustices wherever I was. In South Africa I fought against apartheid and became a card carrying member of Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress (the current ruling party); when it was still illegal, and Mr Mandela was still in jail. I risked my freedom (and very much my life), when I went to a secret place late one night and met with them to become a member.

When we had the groundbreaking election I was in charge of a group of 200 people at the City Hall of Pretoria North. The goodwill between all people were amazing to experience. My children had me as an example of how to be involved since their birth.

As a student I marched in Pretoria, South Africa against the police state we were living in. I marched in Washington and London against GWB’s illegal war in Iraq. I fought for gay rights; whenever I believed people were treated unfairly, I tried to make a difference.

My other son marched with the Palestiians in Israel against the occupation of the West Bank.

I taught my children that having compassion was more important than material possessions. I taught them to be socially compassionate people. Erhard (my son who is facing deportation), often brought home homeless children. Two of these children stayed with us for years and still call me mom.

I taught them never to judge people by appearances but to look at the heart. I taught them not to just be a name on a piece of paper, but to TAKE action.

Today, even with this terrible threat hanging over our heads, I still believe I did the right thing. Erhard was only to happy when he was told he could vote, because I taught them one can change the world, one person at a time.

Not once did it cross my mind that I would have to fight for my own flesh and blood.

We as a family need all the help and support you can offer.

Luci