Knee Deep in the Hooah!

I am snatching the following post from What in the World…? Our friend, Piper, has become a full-fledged legalized citizen of the United States of America.

I had the great honor of witnessing a co-worker’s process several years ago. I only witnessed a couple of years of her process — that is a couple of years of a very long (I believe about 17-years) and expensive process. She was born and raised in Venezuela.

Piper and my past co-worker’s experiences bless me greatly. They have worked hard, lived here in the States contributing greatly to our economy and our social structures, and respecting and observing our laws. Every single politician who says we should give amnesty to illegal aliens owes these citizens an apology. Why should someone who breaks our Country’s laws get to skip the process and walk away with the same privileges and rights that citizens like Piper have earned?

Well, this post is less about my own soapbox and more about Piper’s process and celebration of becoming a citizen. America is better for having her as a citizen! Cheers to you Piper! God bless!

raise your right hand and be sworn in…

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

As a new citizen of the United States, I find the Preamble to the Constitution suddenly holds a new meaning.

We the People….

That’s….me. Okay, so I wasn’t alive when it was written in 1787 – but…I am the People.

From the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

All men are created equal…

Powerful words to live by. Powerful words to remember as 140 of us recently took the Oath of Allegiance and became America’s newest citizens.

Solemn words spoken in unison within a wood-paneled courtroom. I am honored to be a part of the rich fabric of this nation. My nation. My generous, large-hearted, fearless, strong, proud, frustrating, energizing, home.

The ceremony itself was almost alarmingly simple – in stark contrast to the decade and a half it took most of us to become citizens – the legal way. Most of have made personal sacrifices along the way, in pursuit of a larger dream.

  I wanted fireworks! A marching band! A flag to wave!

Still, for me, the day was richer because of friends who came down with me to celebrate. I could not help too but think of Mum. Sixteen years, Mum. Sixteen years ago – you and I sat on a pavement outside the U.S. Embassy in Madras at 0400. Waiting for the Consulate to open. I remember that day with an aching intensity. This day was just as much for you as it was for me, Mum. Here I stand. Proud of my Indian heritage and proud of my adopted homeland.

Raise your right hand and prepare to be sworn in:

“I hereby declare, on oath, that I 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; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”

Welcome, fellow citizens, to the United States of America…