In just a few weeks, we’ll choose our next president of the United States. This is a wonderful opportunity to participate in our nation’s government, which is an opportunity many people around the world don’t have. To celebrate, we’re all arguing with each other on social media. And when this election passes, we’ll celebrate by starting arguments about the 2028 election the following morning.
But what if we really did recognize we live in a country that stands out simply for the opportunity to call someone a fascist without knowing what that, technically, means?
Two hundred people from 50 countries became American citizens this month during a ceremony at UNT Dallas. They don’t take America for granted.
A woman from Kenya told me, “I’m free and I’m good. It’s been a really nice and long journey, but it’s worth waiting for.” A guy from Iraq said, “Today, I feel something very powerful. I cannot explain everything inside me, but I’m very happy.”
Before everyone was sworn in, the crew from Citizenship and Immigration Services warmed up the crowd. “Hey, are we ready to become Americans? I can’t hear you!”
The professor at the end is Mara Queiroz-Vaughn. She works as an ambassador for USCIS and teaches civics classes at UNT Dallas. They’ve already started their next round of classes and career training.
The ceremony was a few days before the deadline to register to vote this November, and as people picked up their information packets outside the auditorium, the League of Women voters had a table to sign people up.
Turnout in Texas was about 67% for the 2020 election, so new citizens may be more enthusiastic about participating and know more about how our government works than a lot of us [Not me, of course. I have an extensive gallery of myself posing with an “I voted” sticker].
A well-known lawyer who’s also a first generation American talked about how new citizens brought us deliciousness.
We may feel disillusioned knowing no matter whom we vote for, we’re essentially electing the better public relations team, but the woman from Kenya says everyone wants to be an American.
We might feel isolated or weary about the political system but if we look the macaque, we can see the importance of coming together to reach a common goal.
