Last night I went with Melissa and her friends to the "Lights in the Heights" here in Houston. Lights in the Heights is a not just a holiday block party. It encompasses both sides of a seven block stretch of homes in a Houston Neighborhood. It's like no other holiday light show I've been to before.
Usually you drive, or walk, around a neighborhood looking at the community spirit exemplified by the ligth displays. In Woodland Heights the whole area has been roped off to prevent vehicular traffic. When we arrived the streets were filled with families and groups of friends walking from house to house enjoying the ligts.
But it's not just lights!
Many of the homes also have performances. We saw classical ensembles, brass ensembles, bands and carolers. My favorite was a family group of coralers with momma playing the piano and their young children belting out the Christmas songs. A good time was had by all.
Along with a boost to my Christmas spirt, my American spirit was also renewed. Prior to visitng the lights, I was talking to a Nigerian petroleum engineer who had just received his citizenship earlier in the year. I'm sure this was no surprise to my friends, but we were talking politics. I asked him if he was planning to run for office now that he was a citizen. He responded that he didn't have plans to run but that America was the only country he could think of where a naturalized citizen could run for an office such as governor and win.
He said America really is the land of opportunity and that's why he is here.
And my response was that opportunity is why I'm a Democrat. We're the party of expanding opportunities for all people, not just people who are our friends and family.
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