What America Needs from You

by Alan Smolinisky

A note from Doug DeVos: My friend Alan Smolinisky gave this speech three years ago, but it’s just as timely and powerful today. He’s a self-made entrepreneur and part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He spoke at a naturalization ceremony at Dodger Stadium — but his underlying message is about free enterprise and entrepreneurship. Alan reminds us that we all have the ability, and the duty, to move our country forward with creative thinking and courageous action. This may be the best speech you ever read.

Good morning, and welcome. It’s a historic day at Dodger Stadium.

This is the first naturalization ceremony we’ve ever held. And as the son of two immigrants, let me be the first to congratulate you, the soon-to-be newest citizens of the United States of America.

Look around you. This may seem like just a baseball stadium. But it’s not. Dodger Stadium is so much more. This is a place where stories meet. Immigrant stories. The American story. And now, your story… and mine.

On October 28th, 1963, a poor 17-year-old boy landed in Los Angeles. He had skin discolorations across his face—no skills or education— and didn’t know a word of English. All he had was four dollars in his pocket.

But he was in America.

By noon the next day, that boy had a job. He knocked on every door in the Garment District until someone handed him a broom.

By the next year, that boy knew English. With the dollar-twenty-five he made per hour, he bought a radio, tuned it to Vin Scully, and repeated the legendary Dodger announcer’s every word.

By the end of the next decade, that boy brought his own son to Dodger Stadium. They sat in the cheap seats—and saw the richness of America unfold.

Their team was proof of their country’s promise—and its progress. The Dodgers had the first black baseball player, Jackie Robinson, and one of the first Jewish baseball heroes, Sandy Koufax. They had Fernando Valenzuela, the original Mexican superstar, and Hideo Nomo, the Japanese pitcher who opened the door for so many others. Sitting here, that immigrant and his son saw America’s best.

That 17-year-old boy was Mario Alberto Smolinisky—my father.

He and my mom left everything behind in Argentina. They sacrificed so me and my sister would have the opportunities they never did. They gave me many blessings. But the biggest blessing—by a mile—was raising their family in the land of the free.

Where my parents came from, their story was uncommon, if not impossible. But here in America, their story is absolutely common, because impossible is un-American. And you prove it. You’re about to be citizens of the freest country in human history. And free people are capable of extraordinary things.

Now I know what you’re thinking. America isn’t perfect. In fact, it never has been. But we’ve always moved toward a more perfect union. Even now, we’re called to make America freer, fairer, and better for all—to draw closer to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.

Today, you will answer that call in the oath you take. It is the same sacred oath my mother and father took. I’d like to offer you the same advice they gave me.

No matter what you do, no matter how bad things look, never ever bet against America. It’s always a losing bet.

Now, plenty of people will tell you the opposite.

These days, we’re bombarded with naysayers who say we’re too divided, the system is broken, and America’s best days are behind her. Tune out the doubters. They’ve been wrong since 1776.

Back then, the British bet against us. Then your founders beat the world’s best military and built the first country founded on freedom. Germany and Japan bet against us too. Then your heroes landed at Omaha Beach and Iwo Jima and saved the world. The Soviets bet they could beat us in space. But it’s your flag on the moon. And when COVID hit, plenty of nations bet they could beat us to the best vaccine. Your country won – and saved millions of lives.

Your country invented the airplane, the skyscraper, and the internet. We’ve followed every achievement with something even more astounding. And now you will take us even further because immigrants keep our country young and vibrant. You shake us from old ways of doing things. And you renew our pride and sense of purpose.

For America doesn’t draw just anyone. We gather the best from across the world – people who dream big and do bigger – who leave everything behind and lead the world forward. I marvel at the courage it takes to start life over. And it takes a special kind of person to love a country that isn’t yet yours.

You did… All of you. Especially those of you in uniform. You fought for America before you were Americans. I stand in awe. Thank you.

Think about it. What other country inspires such love – such pride? What other nation draws such good people, inspires them to make things better, and turns their contributions into something truly great?

It reminds me of the famous saying: “You can go to live in France, but you cannot become a Frenchman. You can live in Germany or Turkey or Japan, but you cannot become a German, a Turk, or Japanese. But anyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American.’‘

Today, you bear witness to this truth. And as we stand united – in Dodger Stadium – the heart of my immigrant story – I know that your immigrant story is just beginning. And I couldn’t be more excited as we carry on the American story – together.

Thank you for letting me join you on this sacred and historic day. May God bless America. And God bless you, my new fellow Americans.