22 August 2018

I saw a lot of people become Americans today! Seriously, it was one of the coolest things I ever saw. Very moving.

Over 1700 human beings from seventy-eight countries took the oath of US citizenship at San Diego’s Civic Hall, this morning.

It’s a significant thing, to welcome strangers and give them equal status (well, nearly–still can’t be POTUS, so far) as anyone whose family has been here already. Impressive. We should be proud that we’ve done this for the entirety of our existence.

In a lengthy but lively exercise, each new American-to-be stood with their fellow emigrants, by country, prior to taking the oath. The largest blocs were Iraqis, Filipinos, Vietnamese and, of course, Mexicans.

My grandfather sailed to Ellis Island from Bohemia and took the same oath in 1910. I never met him, but I feel a little closer to him today. I can imagine him in a room with his hand raised, too, about to embark on the same adventure as the folks I met this morning.

It reminds me that our country still means something good, bright and optimistic to a lot of people around the world.

To share the moment when they leave that native citizenship behind to join our great experiment is a profound treat. I recommend it.

#NewAmericans
#FreshCitizens
#ImmigrationIsGood