Waking up each day, watching the headlines, it is very easy to become disenchanted with our country. For most of the year we have been bombarded with politics and as we enter the final weeks before the election, it is impossible to get through the day without a Hillary or Trump story.
I admit – I have had thoughts. Unpatriotic thoughts. Thoughts about leaving the United States about starting fresh in Canada or Liechtenstein. Thoughts that would get me out of choosing a candidate in November.
While this notion of relocating is utterly impossible and half-baked, it is a romantic notion that gets a few seconds of airtime before crashing into the net. Oh and by the way, my relocation fantasy does not include kids, dog or husband. Oh wait, he proofs what I write, so yes, he will be coming and I am happy to have him.
Things would have to get a lot worse for me to leave my home. Putting things in perspective, dealing with a President Trump or another President Clinton is definitely more tolerable than religious persecution or sexual discrimination. Plus, our country does have a built in system of checks and balances, which my husband continues to remind me, so declaring war or building a wall would need more than one person's say so, right? Founding fathers, can you back me up on this?
My thoughts became sincere last Wednesday when I witnessed 19 people become U.S. citizens. After a year of preparation these people, representing 13 countries, took the Oath of Allegiance to support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic and to bear true faith and allegiance to the same.
The first Oath of Allegiance dates back to the Revolutionary War. This is according to a Wiki search, the most reliable source of information on the internets. If you read the whole oath you can see it is possible the text may date back 200 years for there is a section about bearing arms for the country. Applicants can now obtain a waiver to opt out of that part if they have religious objections. (If I was taking the oath I would need to opt out for coordination objections.) Kennywood game attendants can vouch for my lack of skills just based on the milk bottle game. No large plush poop emoji for me this year. (If you visited the park this season you know that was one of the big prizes.)
But looking at these people on Wednesday -a true melting pot of what the world has to offer, I felt proud. Proud that I live somewhere that people still dream of living. Despite talk of building a wall, deporting Muslims, and limiting the number of refugees, there are still people willing to do what is necessary to become a U.S citizen. People who make a thoughtful conscious decision to absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen.
Up to this point, I had taken for granted my U.S citizenry. (Except for the days surrounding 9/11 when most of us felt united and strong in our patriotism.) But seriously, all I had to do to earn my citizenship was be born. In fact, my mother did all the work, so, thanks, Mom. No thought on my part, no contemplation - my parents act of love assured my residence in the greatest country in the world. Get born and be an American, can a person get any more lucky? Mom? Dad?
I am happy that I could witness the ceremony last week. I had only a couple objections ...not opting for the Elvis Presley live version of America the Beautiful for the video montage and the fact that Obama sent a video message to congratulate these new citizens. Come on? Couldn't he have at least sent Biden? He was just here last week.
In all seriousness, becoming an American is a big deal. Being an American is a big deal. Yes, there is a lot of negative right now and yes, we can list a number of reasons why things suck. But....these 19 people were able to brush the bad aside and focus on what makes being an American great. Shouldn't we?
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