Moving from one country to another...

This is something I've been meaning to document, but haven't had the time, I became a citizen of the US of America, on Friday, September 30th 2005 at around 2 pm. By around, I mean the ceremony was like high school graduation, literally, each of us (80+ people from 35 countries) even got to stand up and speak about what we do and what country we come from. There was a choir to sing patriotic songs, and three judges to administer the Oath of Allegiance, one of whom was also the guest speaker. There were plenty of family members to watch the occasion to boot.

The whole ceremony thing was as anti-climactic as it could've been for a student who has been living in the US for 9 years now.

Some of the immigrants were students, who grew up here and a couple people really couldn't speak English. The rest were middle aged, for whom the guest speakers' speech was perfect for the occasion. The talk about freedom and freedom of speech, even for FOX news is something immigrants understand, but not really. Disagreements aren't considered a part of the process like they are here most of the time. The only thing that kept me from yawning during the speech (far from it actually) was that he mentioned, briefly and in an unbiased manner, nearly all the issues facing America today. Which I was amazingly surprised at, since he is a judge from Kansas. He especially mentioned education, and how he specifically disagreed with the bush administration on it.

Here is the Oath:

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

Well, I could careless about the Oath, but... The first sentence, which I have to say, I wasn't fully prepared to say, is it really necessary? Just because my family and I immigrated to the US for better economic opportunities, doesn't mean I'm ready to renounce all allegiance to my birthplace.

My point is this: Neither India nor the US is perfect by a long shot, and I agree and disagree fundamentally with how both countries are governed while still abiding by the current laws. Because both are free countries after all, and the changeable governments and laws are meant to serve the people, not vice versa. So, by my count, I either pledge allegiance to both, or neither.

Confused? All I can say is you have to be an immigrant. I will add though, that the place where I grew up, Mumbai, India, holds a very very special place in my mind and heart, and that isn't about to change.

This is a coincidence, The Daily Show the following Monday, had a newly naturalized US citizen on too, David Rakoff, and their conversation went something like this:
DR: And finally I decided I had to vote.
JS: Why?
DR: Why!? (semi-shocked at question)

A couple other random thoughts: I wouldn't mind knowing, what the importer from Colombia imports to America, and voting is apparently every judges' pet peeve. They all mentioned it enough times.

I know there might be some people from other countries reading this, so, let me clarify when I said 'disagreements aren't considered a part of the process', I meant, no were else can you be more libertarian than in America.

I finally get perks for moving to the US, applying to companies like L3 which require US Citizenship, and Voting... Neither of which is a dream come true.