Think of it as Yoga for the brain, we are going to stretch a bit.
The Ceremony That Reminded Me What America Is
Citizenship is not just the right to live in America. It is the duty to stand with America. One nation. One flag. One future. -- YNOT!
The other day, I went with a friend to their naturalization ceremony.
I had never been to one before, I didn’t go to my parents or siblings. and I’ll be honest — it touched me more than I expected.
There were 100 people in that room from 38 different countries. Argentina, Colombia, Canada, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Vietnam, Israel, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and many more. Different languages. Different histories. Different journeys. But in that moment, they were all standing together for one reason:
They chose America.
They came here legally. They followed the process. They waited years. They paid their dues.
They learned the language, the history, the government, and the meaning of the Constitution.
And then they stood up, raised their right hands, and swore allegiance to the United States of America. That matters.
Because citizenship is not just paperwork. It is not just a passport. It is not just the right to vote or the right to work.
Citizenship is a covenant. It means you are no longer just living in this country. You are part of this country. You owe allegiance to it. You take on its responsibilities, not just its benefits.
Watching those 100 people become Americans reminded me of something many people born here forget:
America is still worth choosing.
Citizenship Ceremony — (TEXT BELOW because I did a bad cameraman job.)
Welcome all 100 new citizens. Here you have many things in common, including the fact that you have all come here by choice. By the same token, you are a very diverse group. You come from 38 different countries around the globe, and in a few moments, you stand together as one to become United States citizens.
I will call the countries um of origin uh now. Okay. Okay. So the way we’ll do is I ask that you stand. When you hear your country of origin, you stand and you remain standing. I will call the whole list of 38 countries. Once all the countries have been called and everybody 100 of you are standing, then we will go ahead and take the oath of allegiance.
So obviously when your country is called you can cheer, you can applaud. We’re very happy today. Obviously our friends and family as well. So I will start now with the list and like I said, please remain standing. You can put your things in your chair when you stand. Okay?
And I’m going to call the number of applicants from each country. So order.
Yes, it is. It is. So we’re going to start with Argentina for give it up for Argentina.
Yes. The Bahamas.
Mahas Bangladesh Bangladesh
Bolivia Bolivia.
Okay. All right. Let’s hear it for Brazil.
We have Canada. Six Canada. We have Chile. One person from Chile.
We have China. One China.
We have nine Colombia. We have Dominican Republic.
One Ecuador from Egypt. Egypt.
France. France. Okay. Thank you to Germany. Germany too.
India Ireland
Israel for Israel. for my Jamaica six.
Okay. Uh Italy to Italy
Jordan one Jordan Mexico. Mexico two.
All right. The Netherlands. One. Netherlands. Nicaragua. Nicaragua.
Pakistan. One. Pakistan. Panama. Three. Panama.
Peru. Five. Peru. Philippines to Philippines.
One Romania and Russia three Russia
Thailand Thailand to Thailand.
Uh, I think that’s it. Spade one. Fade.
Turkey. One. Turkey. United Kingdom. Three. United Kingdom.
Vietnam. Vietnam.
I think all my should be standing. We have one here.
All right. So, so each applicant, so each of you have been personally exam examined under oath by a designated officer. Each has demonstrated an understanding of the English language and knowledge and principles and fundamentals of history, principles and form of government of the United States. Each of you have been found to be a person of good moral character attached to the principles of the Constitution and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States. So therefore I respect or I recommend that 100 of you upon taking the oath of allegiance become admitted as citizens of the United States of America.
Okay. So I need you all 100 please raise your right hand repeat after me. You can follow up in the screen. I hereby declare on oath I hereby declare on oath that I absolutely and entirely I absolutely and entirely
renounce and objure renounce and obure all allegiance and fidelity all alliance and fidelity to any foreign prince
to any foreign prince potent state or sovereignty state or sovereignty of whom or which
of whom or I have fear to for I have to being a subject or citizen being a subject or citizen
that I will support and defend that I will support and defend the Constitution and Laws the Constitution of the United States of America
of the United States of America against all enemies against all enemies foreign and domestic foreign and domestic
that I will bear true faith that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the saint and allegiance to the saint that I will bear arms
That I will bear arms on behalf of the United States on behalf of the United States when required by the law when required by the law
that I will perform non combat service that I will perform non combat service in the armed forces of the United States
in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law when required by the law that I will perform work of national
importance per work of national importance under civilian direction.
under civilian direction when required by the law. when required by the law.
And that I take this obligation freely obligation without any mental reservation
without any reservation or purpose of evasion or purpose of evasion. So help me God. So help me God.
Congratulations. Congratulations.
Thank you everyone. So remain remain standing my guests if you don’t mind standing also. We’re all going to do together the um
So this one with your heart with our hands over our hearts. Let’s do it all together.
