I am intrigued with the structural features of this water lily plant. For a flower that is loved for its grace and beauty, it sure has a hearty, prickly structure. As I was sitting on a bench on the boardwalk over the Water Garden in the Naples Botanical Garden, I watched the giant lily pad floating across the back side of this plant. It was attached by one the large stems and was moving with the current.

This brings to mind systems theory – how in complex systems the whole is more than the sum of the parts. In these times when some people are trying to tell us to be afraid of non-whites who want to come into the country, I am reminded of the history of the creativity and the industriousness of immigrants who have come to our country in order to fulfill their dreams of creating a better life for their families and society.

Once again I remember an important belief that I hold, a belief that when we welcome new people in, when we build up the least among us by celebrating and supporting the strengths they bring to our communities, when we build strong connections of mutual respect and caring, everyone wins. I do not believe that we are a zero sum society where if you are invited in, I am pushed out. I may be a pollyanna, but I believe when people of all colors, all nationalities, all incomes join hands and work hard together we will be a better society, a better country.

I also believe we need more people in policy-making positions that believe this way. How you vote will have an impact on what type of society we will have in the future.