We're being told that America is a zero sum game - that the

The words of Reshma Saujani, “We’re being told that America is a zero-sum game—that the dreams of immigrants come at the expense of those native-born and that the religious freedom of some threatens the security of others. But we know this is a lie,” resound with the moral courage of truth spoken in an age of fear. Beneath their surface lies a timeless call to reject division and remember that hope is not finite, that the dream of one does not destroy the dream of another. Like the prophets of old, Saujani’s words burn with conviction, reminding her listeners that civilization advances not through competition of suffering, but through the union of human aspiration. Her statement is not simply political—it is spiritual, a cry for unity in a world tempted by the poison of false scarcity.

To understand the origin of this quote, we must look to the voice of Reshma Saujani, an American leader, lawyer, and founder of Girls Who Code, who has dedicated her life to expanding opportunity for those long excluded. Born to Indian immigrants who fled Uganda during a time of persecution, Saujani’s own life is a testament to the truth she defends. She speaks from the soil of experience: her parents came to a foreign land with little but faith in the promise of America, and through their perseverance, they discovered that this nation’s greatest strength lies not in its wealth or weapons, but in its openness—in the way it transforms the hopes of many into the progress of all. Her words arise in response to a dangerous illusion: the belief that freedom is a pie to be divided, rather than a fire that grows brighter when shared.

The phrase “zero-sum game” comes from the realm of mathematics and strategy, describing a contest where one’s gain is another’s loss. Yet Saujani rejects this logic when applied to human dignity. She sees that the heart of a nation is not a ledger, but a living body—and when one part thrives, the whole grows stronger. To pit the native-born against the immigrant, the faithful against the fearful, is to wound that body. It is to forget that the same spirit that built the first ships across the Atlantic also drives the new arrivals who seek a better life. In her words, she defends the sacred idea that freedom multiplies when shared, and that the success of the newcomer is not the enemy of the citizen, but the proof that the dream still lives.

History itself bears witness to the wisdom in her claim. Consider the story of Andrew Carnegie, a boy who came to America from Scotland with nothing but hunger and hope. He labored in factories, saved every penny, and through vision and perseverance, built one of the great industries of his age. Yet he did not hoard his wealth; he poured it back into libraries, schools, and foundations that still uplift millions. His prosperity did not diminish the nation—it expanded it, creating opportunity where none had been. Like countless others—the scientists, builders, thinkers, and dreamers who came from every corner of the earth—Carnegie proved that the dream of one can feed the dreams of many. The nation that welcomes such ambition does not lose; it is reborn through the contributions of all its children.

But Saujani’s wisdom goes deeper still. She speaks also of religious freedom, of the fear that arises when difference is mistaken for danger. This fear, too, has haunted every generation. In the ancient world, empires rose and fell on their ability to tolerate diversity. The great Persian Empire, under Cyrus the Great, did not crush the gods of conquered peoples—it honored them, allowing each to worship freely. For this reason, his empire endured in peace where others collapsed in tyranny. Saujani’s message is born of the same insight: that a society’s strength lies not in uniformity, but in understanding. The freedom of one faith does not endanger another; it preserves the sacred principle that no power on earth may dictate the conscience of the soul.

Thus, her words carry both urgency and hope. When she says, “But we know this is a lie,” she speaks not only to those alive today but to the conscience of generations. She exposes the voice of fear for what it is—a deceiver that thrives on division, whispering that there is not enough love, not enough opportunity, not enough belonging to go around. Yet history, reason, and faith all testify to the opposite: that every time humanity opens its heart, it grows richer in spirit. Every immigrant who succeeds strengthens the nation; every act of inclusion deepens the well of trust. The American dream, in its truest form, is not a contest—it is a covenant.

The lesson of Reshma Saujani’s words is one of unity, courage, and faith in abundance. Do not fall for the illusion that another’s success diminishes your own. In every field, from the marketplace to the soul, collaboration yields far greater fruit than competition born of fear. Seek not to guard your blessings, but to expand them. Welcome those who dream, for they remind the world what it means to believe. Protect the freedom of others, for in doing so you secure your own.

So let these words stand as a guide for all who walk in divided times: the measure of a nation’s greatness is not how tightly it holds its gifts, but how freely it shares them. Reject the lie of the zero-sum game. Live instead by the truth that light shared is light multiplied, and that the dream of one is the hope of all. For when hearts open and hands join across every boundary of birth, faith, and fortune, the promise of civilization is fulfilled—not in scarcity, but in abundance, unity, and love.