I Am an American
by James Na ~ July 1st, 2006. Filed under: America.July 1st is the anniversary of my naturalization as an American. Yes, I know, I missed the Fourth of July by three days!
On that day, I uttered the Oath of Allegiance, which I re-affirm:
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.
Happy Fourth, everyone!
[Cross-posted in Guns and Butter Blog]
July 1st, 2006 at 8:01 pm
Congrats!
July 2nd, 2006 at 6:09 am
Wow! Welcome. Congratulations. I hope we live up to everything you dreamed we would be.
July 2nd, 2006 at 10:20 am
I wish more of us appreciated our country as much as you do.
July 2nd, 2006 at 10:20 am
Incidentally, my wife finally took that oath two weeks ago.
July 2nd, 2006 at 10:59 am
Thank you and congratulations.
One thing I don’t get, however. As a naturalized citizen, I swore an Oath to defend the Constitution of the United States.
But civilian native-born Americans (that is to say, non-military, non-government officials) merely pledge allegiance to the flag and “the Republic for which it stands.”
Why not a pledge to defend the Constitution, for the rest is nothing if not for it?
July 2nd, 2006 at 9:59 pm
James is one of the most American American’s I’ve ever known.
Joshua - congrats to your wife as well!
July 2nd, 2006 at 11:35 pm
Thanks, Corey.
As you know, I didn’t become an American to get rich (I’d been far richer in, ahem, another country). This has never been about “economic opportunity” (which some folks say is the reason — the only reason — foreigners immigrate).
I became an American to live free. I once lived in New Hampshire, and I take its state motto “Live free or die” very seriously.
July 3rd, 2006 at 9:34 am
Now I’m really becoming homesick on this 4th.
So glad James, Joshua’s wife, and all the others who’ve taken the oath have chosen to come aboard!