Awe-Inspiring Citizenship

On occasion, we get to participate in things that are just exceptional and inspire us. Today was one of those days for me. What did it feel like? Do you remember how you felt after the first time you saw "Saving Private Ryan?" I remember that. I also remember being in Brittany, France, staring at a headstone with the name Chipman on it and listening to Taps being played. I remember the Veterans Day concert we went to in Novembr of 2001. Words can't describe these feelings. It's just amazing!

So what happened today? This morning I was able to witness and participate in a Naturalization Ceremony for 194 people in Salt Lake City who today, became United States Citizens. These people represented 53 different countries and ranged in age from 18 to 91. All of them with smiles and many of them with tears, raised their right hands and gave up a piece of their own heritage and their identity for what they all deem something much greater - citizenship in the land of opportunity, the land of justice, and the land of freedom.

The oath that they repeated states that they, "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." They agree to "support and defend the Constitution," "to bear arms on behalf of the United States," and that they "take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation."

Before and after the ceremony (as part as a Civics Workshop for teachers I am attending this week) we had the opportunity to learn more about this difficult process of becoming a citizen. I think that the majority, if not all, of the people reading this blog are natural born citizens. Do you realize the responsibilities and privileges that you have? Do you realized how badly other people want what you have? Do you realized how difficult it is to get what you have? Do you appreciate that?

Here are some facts that may interest you:


-- It costs, at a minimum, around $1500 to become a U. S. Citizen. If you having any issues that may require legal counsel to get you through it, it could cost many thousands more.

-- It takes, at a minimum, several months to complete the process. But, for most people it takes a year or more of determination to get it.

-- You have to take an oral and written English language test, as well as a written Civics test.

-- You have to pass a criminal background check, but also a financial background check.

-- We have quotas. Only so many people from a certain country can become citizens in any given year. You may be able to pass all the background checks, but won't be able to fill out the application because you are beyond the quota.

-- Even if you make it through the entire process, if you don't show up to say the oath, after you've done everything else, you can never become a citizen and risk being deported.

-- If you lose your citizenship documents, it costs $500 and at least one year to get an additional copy of them.

-- If you become a citizen by taking the oath, your minor children are automatically citizens.

After a brief program and the people actually took the oath, the Judge officiating it, Judge David Sam, asked for some of the new citizens to give some comments. Many spoke fluent English. Many did not. They all said how proud they were to be citizens and proud to be Americans. They all spoke of opportunity and freedom.

I think we sometimes take for granted that we were BORN in a great country. We have laws to protect us, but we also have ways to voice our opinion about those laws and even change them if necessary. We have opportunities to be educated. We can select whatever career we choose. We can choose to serve in the military or not. We don't realize what sacrifices others are willing to make to get what we naturally have.

These Naturalization Ceremonies occur once a month in the State of Utah. They are always at Rose Wagner Theatre. The swear in around 200 people each month. I think I am going to encourage members of my family to go in July.