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C and i went to the citizenship ceremony at Seattle Center today. it was weirdly reminiscent of a college graduation ceremony (if you went to a school big enough to attract the attendance of the governor, all the state and county elected officials, and consuls from twenty-or-so countries). it was hot, the babies were restless, the people there for the ceremony were trapped in the most sun and were wearing their programs on their heads. lots of speeches were made; best one was from a Chinese immigrant (celebrating her 22nd year of citizenship) commenting on her family's questions about allegiance. who do you root for in the Olympics - America or China? both. if you have to choose? if i have to choose between a Chinese figure skater and Michelle Kwan, i choose Michelle Kwan. her mother was concerned that she was asked to be at an event with many government officials, including a judge - are you in trouble?
mostly it was sweet. we were surrounded by a babel of languages; some were hanging on every word and pointing their video cameras, others were like the toddler lunging desperately over mom's shoulder toward the International Fountain ("i'll put you in myself once daddy's done"). the friendly roar of the crowd for recognition of the eldest (83), the members of the armed forces (there were at least five; the idea of serving without being able to vote is completely beyond my comprehension), and every one of the over seventy countries the 510 new citizens hailed from originally was warm and genuine. after all that, and ample recognition of the study, tests, paperwork, et cetera.,, a judge administered the oath.
( Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America )
at no point was i required to say this. in fact, i'd think hard before i did so in a legally binding way. i've known the oath for years, but i doubt many people born in the US have ever looked at it. it's not a small decision. i feel in some way honored to know that there are people who consider all their options (the nations of the EU and Commonwealth were well-represented today) and choose to not only live here, but participate in all the responsibilities it may entail.
we bitch most of the year, and i'm sure there will be bitching later today, but there is still an American Dream, and today i watched an incredibly diverse group of people proud to choose what we "natives" are too myopic to appreciate. i have a long list of things that are wrong with the United States, but i have the ability to vote to change them, and so do 510 more interested parties starting today.
mostly it was sweet. we were surrounded by a babel of languages; some were hanging on every word and pointing their video cameras, others were like the toddler lunging desperately over mom's shoulder toward the International Fountain ("i'll put you in myself once daddy's done"). the friendly roar of the crowd for recognition of the eldest (83), the members of the armed forces (there were at least five; the idea of serving without being able to vote is completely beyond my comprehension), and every one of the over seventy countries the 510 new citizens hailed from originally was warm and genuine. after all that, and ample recognition of the study, tests, paperwork, et cetera.,, a judge administered the oath.
( Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America )
at no point was i required to say this. in fact, i'd think hard before i did so in a legally binding way. i've known the oath for years, but i doubt many people born in the US have ever looked at it. it's not a small decision. i feel in some way honored to know that there are people who consider all their options (the nations of the EU and Commonwealth were well-represented today) and choose to not only live here, but participate in all the responsibilities it may entail.
we bitch most of the year, and i'm sure there will be bitching later today, but there is still an American Dream, and today i watched an incredibly diverse group of people proud to choose what we "natives" are too myopic to appreciate. i have a long list of things that are wrong with the United States, but i have the ability to vote to change them, and so do 510 more interested parties starting today.
