Need Renewed Hope in America? Attend a Naturalization Ceremony

It will make you reflect on what being an American means

I’ve been to just one Naturalization Ceremony, my own. It was in July 2008 in Hartford, CT. I went with two expectations: to take an oath and receive the naturalization certificate. I didn’t know how solemn and moving the event would be.

The ceremony took place in a large room shaped like an amphitheater, the type where large college classes are held. We were handed a program on our way in with everyone’s name and country of origin. At least 50 countries were represented. There were about 150 of us that day, the names as varied as the skin colors in the room.

There were names that sounded familiar to a Venezuelan with Italian roots such as myself — names like Ana Mercedes León or Massimo Rossi — as well as unpronounceable ones with ten syllables or just one vowel in the middle of eight consonants.

It’s safe to assume that all of us had been living in the US quite a while, given the number of years required to move from one of the work visas to permanent resident to citizen, if your various applications are all approved with no glitches.

After what had been a torturous process for a lot of us, we were ready to receive the rights and privileges of citizenship.

The judge who administered the oath to my group — a large man in a black judge’s robe — was straight out of a movie. He was an excellent speaker and you could tell he very much enjoyed his role. His message was one of excitement and gratitude that we were about to become citizens. He talked about his own immigrant family and about the optimism and vitality immigrants bring.

People had dressed up nicely for the occasion, and, as names were announced, each one of us walked over to the judge to be handed our certificate. Many had their picture taken with him, who was ever so gracious about it.

It was all immensely exciting.

I’m convinced the vast majority of native-born Americans would be positively moved if they witnessed a naturalization ceremony.

For those who are cynical about the country’s future, the event will make it all too clear that people all over the world still place their hopes for a better life on this land.

Those who forget there’s a whole wide world out there filled with good people just like them might begin to keep it in mind more.

Those who’ve never pondered what being a US citizen means to them might start giving it some considered thought. Maybe they’ll realize they ought to go out and vote in local and national elections.

Who knows? Those who believe immigrants are bad for the US, period, might reconsider their stance, even if just a bit.