Colin Powell wrote an inspiring article in the Wall Street Journal titled “What American Citizenship Makes Possible.”

It’s ostensible purpose was to argue on behalf of immigrants and their contribution to our nation.

But in the course of making his case, he told a story about himself. His parents were immigrants from Jamaica. If they had chosen to go to England, he might have ended up as a sergeant. But as an American, he had the opportunity to rise to the top of the nation’s military. Why? Because of his free public education, from grade school through university.

The key paragraph:

“I’m a public-education kid, from kindergarten through to Morris High School in the South Bronx and, finally, City College of New York. New York University made me an offer, but tuition there was $750 a year. Such a huge sum in 1954! I would never impose that on my…