Citizen Carla

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending the naturalization ceremony of a dear friend, Carla Borlaug, with her family and friends.
Carla is a loving mother, wife and friend, and the Unites States is much, much better that she chose to become one of our citizens. We are better for it.

The road to citizenship is long and difficult.
The 54 people who took the oath yesterday had to work for years to get to that point and did not take these steps lightly.
I would think that they now know more about this country and what it stands for than most Americans who were born in this country.

The ceremony was moving.
54 candidates and their families and friends crowded the federal courtroom.
When the judge entered the room we stood.
The federal immigration agent presented the candidates to the judge as being qualified.
Then Carla and the other candidates stood, raised their right hands, and took the oath of citizenship, pledging to protect the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Then, after just pledging to “renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty,” the elderly judge spoke to our newest citizens, telling them that his own parents were immigrants to this country.
He offered this advise:

Vote and be involved in your government.
Learn English as best you can but remember your native language and culture and pass them on to your children and grandchildren.
Take every opportunity that your time and resources allow to learn.
Practice the religion of your choice or none at all.
Exercise your new rights including the right to peacefully protest.

I was proud at that moment to be an American.

Carla took no oath to any elected official or ideology.
Her oath was to the Constitution.
In this area of heightened nationalism, this elderly judge and these new citizens were a refreshing reminder that we do not pledge allegiance to a nation, a person, a party, or an ideology.
We pledge allegiance to an ideal.
Liberty and Justice for all.

Congratulations Carla.
Thank you for the reminder.