By Addition
“All rise!”
Everyone in one particular District Court of the United States stood as the judge walked into the courtroom. She was the last person to come into an already sardine-packed-room. To say there were a lot of people there is an understatement as another close by room was also filled with interested parties.
Every person was interested in being there for one or two reasons in common. The first reason was for those who had come to take their own, initial oath of U.S. citizenship. The second reason was to watch a loved-one attain their long hoped for U.S. citizenship. There were smiles all around.
The judge was also smiling as she opened the proceeding before saying, “Let’s go around the room and have each hopeful applicant tell us their name and what nation they’re from. Each candidate then took a turn to stand, say their name and state their current nationality. There were men and women with variety of age and one common hope and sense of accomplishment, even amongst huge personal and national diversity.
“United Kingdom,” “Bhutan,” “Mexico,” “Nepal,” “Canada,” “Sweden,” “Honduras,” “Russia.” The count went on until there were twenty-seven countries having been called out. At the end, the judge spoke about strength in diversity.
“We used to speak about American as a ‘melting-pot,” she said. “But, I think of our joining together a little differently. I like to think of each person who becomes a citizen as adding their uniqueness to our whole. It is an addition that allows our nation to become continually better.”
Then, she asked every applicant to stand, raise their right arm to the square and take the oath of citizenship. She led the oath with strength and pride. When completed, the court clerk took the a newly minted, personalized certificate of citizenship and presented it to each new citizen before the culmination of the ceremony.
“I invite everyone to stand to face the flag,” the judge announced. “Please repeat the pledge of allegiance.”
The already seasoned attendees stood and put their right hands over their heart as the judge started and they participated, “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
Yet what is commonplace for one is often new for another. Some of the new citizens did know the tradition with exactness. Some struggled with the placement of their hand over their heart, while others whose English was a newer language, watched the lip movement of the judge carefully. And, everyone participated with sincerity and commitment.
Because, citizenship is a commitment to a nation as well as to each other. It is a pledge to give our nation and our fellows our very best. All rise!
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I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as an Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker, to discover where and how they want to live and work; to achieve what I call Realesation™. That’s why I bring you American Dream TV, Both Sides of the Fence, About the Dish, Monday’s Warm Cocoa and Home by Design Magazine to stir your heart and mind. Contact me so I can join you along your own unique path of discovery.
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