One morning on the TODAY Show there were approximately 20 people who were there to take the oath and become a United States citizen. It was a very touching ceremony that I just could not get out of my mind. I decided to research everything that was involved in becoming a United States citizen and I was amazed to find out all of the various things that has to be done to become a U.S. citizen.
The time between sending in the application and the interview can take anywhere from 5 months to 2 years. The swearing in ceremony can take up to 180 days after the interview. There is a lot involved in becoming a citizen. Among many other things, one must first submit an application, get fingerprinted, learn the English language, attend an interview and take tests. This doesn't include the money that it costs to do all of this.
The oath states, "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."
It was refreshing to see the tears flowing down the cheeks of those becoming U.S. citizens. They truly realized the importance of being a citizen and they actually had to pay, in more ways than one, a price to become a citizen. It touched my heart to see the joy in their faces, but it also smote my heart because even though I do not mean to, I take my citizenship for granted.
It is a shame that those of us that were born in America take what we have for granted. Not only should we be thankful as parents for what we have, but we ought to teach our children to be thankful. We need to teach our children about the men and women protecting our country. Maybe get involved in sending cards or boxes to the soldiers. Teach them the true meaning for the 4th of July and Memorial Day. Teach them to pray for our President and everyone in the White House.
Let's determine to not take our citizenship for granted and determine teach our children the importance of being thankful for being born in the United States of America.
