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Wednesday, August 1, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Commentary...
Becoming a citizen
By Kathryn Godsiff
Correspondent
My husband, Allan,
became an American citizen
two weeks ago.
After living and working
and paying taxes here for 19
years, he decided it was time
to be able to have an opinion
that could be backed with
action.
My initial reaction, which
I still feel, is pride that he
wanted to take this big step.
When we lived in his coun-
try, New Zealand, I did not
pursue citizenship there,
afraid that it would make
me less American. I clung to
my birth country as a lifeline
of identity. And now that
he is a U.S. citizen, I feel
some small fear that he will
become less Kiwi. Will he
suddenly start quoting base-
ball stats instead of cricket
scores? Will football replace
rugby? It appears not, as his
first words to me the day
after the naturalization cer-
emony were about a rugby
match.
Allan’s citizenship day
was the culmination of
seven months of forms,
trips to Portland for appoint-
ments at the offices of U.S.
Immigration and Citizenship
Services, study and yes,
dollars. He needed to know
the correct answers to one
hundred questions about
American history and gov-
ernment. On interview day,
10 of those questions were
asked and six of them had to
have correct answers.
I must have been listening
in U.S. History and Civics
classes, because when he’d
quiz me for fun, I knew most
of the answers. He, however,
knew ALL the answers.
I’d only ever seen photos
of happy looking new citi-
zens after their naturaliza-
tion ceremonies and never
knew exactly what went on
in the courtroom. Available
information was sketchy,
only saying it was a solemn
occasion and to dress befit-
ting its dignity. That left
things pretty wide open;
there were suits, dresses,
jeans and traditional garb
on men and women of all
shapes, sizes and ages. Each
person’s face wore a serious
expression during the cer-
emony, but all left sporting a
jubilant one.
The courtroom was filled
to capacity with the new
citizens, families and sup-
porters. The 70 participants
represented 36 different
countries. They were called
in one by one to present their
green card and other forms
and were seated in order.
Allan’s green card was a
constant presence in his wal-
let for 19 years. Turning it
in and swearing allegiance
to the United States makes
it possible for another legal
immigrant, somewhere in
the world, to come here to
live, work and pay taxes.
Through the whole pro-
cess, Allan felt welcomed by
all the officials he encoun-
tered. From the smiles of
the guards operating the
security gates to the warm
welcome and encouraging
closing remarks made by
the presiding judge at the
naturalization ceremony,
it was clear that becom-
ing a legal citizen, the way
America has been doing it
for nearly two centuries, is
not the fraught journey he
thought it might be.
Yes, there are responsi-
bilities that come with citi-
zenship. When the Oath of
Allegiance is sworn, declar-
ing that a new citizen will
renounce all allegiance
and fidelity to any foreign
prince, potentate, state or
sovereignty of which they
had formerly been a subject
or citizen, will bear arms on
behalf of the United States,
perform noncombatant ser-
vice in the Armed Forces
and will perform work of
national importance, if
required by the law, they
undertake a declaration that
is wide ranging and unique.
Voting, serving on jury duty,
upholding the Constitution
and carrying a U.S. passport
are earned rights for these
people and are precious
indeed.
The ceremony closes with
the Pledge of Allegiance and
singing the “Star Spangled
Banner.” At last Saturday’s
Rotary Hoedown, the
Prineville Band of Brothers
presented colors and Audrey
Tehan sang the national
anthem. For us it was a
Allan Godsiff will
always be a Kiwi —
but now he’s an
American.
PHOTO BY KATHRYN GODSIFF
special moment: For the first
time in public, Allan could
stand before the flag and
proudly put his hand over
his heart, just like every
other American citizen.
Dr. Thomas R. Rheuben
General, Cosmetic, Implant
and Family Dentistry
~ Your Dentist in Sisters Since 1993 ~
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