I became a citizen less than 2 years ago. I did it with trepidation. I live here so shouldn't I become a citizen? This is my home and has been on and off since 1988. There were tax reasons for doing it. Practical but a pretty poor reason. After the 2004 elections, I felt embarrassed when I spoke with friends and family back in Europe. The Idea of America – a notion that had attracted me here in the first place (well that and the American missus) seemed a little less shiny.
In the end, I became a citizen for one reason. I wanted to vote.
I feel incredibly privileged to be one of 133 million Americans who took part took part in history. Above all I feel proud to be an American.
Congrats on your election participation!
I have voted every opportunity since I was 21 so I take much for granted. It is good to be reminded of the privileges of citizenship and the advantages of somewhat more favorable taxation from someone who appreciates it as something new. As long as I have the freedom and health to sail this wonderful blue-green planet along with my wife, it remains a pretty perfect world. Welcome to America mate!
Isn’t it a great feeling to be part of this process? I, too, am an immigrant (although of longer vintage than you) and I still believe that the biggest thrill of my U.S. citizenship has been the times I’ve gone to the polls and being able to have my say about choosing my president or deciding who to elect to my local school board.
Oh yeah, and to have a role to play in helping the country turn itself around when it finds itself on a wrong path.
Seems like a scam to me…wait for a hugely important election in a country the world is watching…swoop in, become a citizen, vote, and then bask in the moment.
Very suspicious.
🙂
Did you catch Obama’s press conference yesterday? It appears wee can look forward to four years of clear, concise, articulate English.
Curse you sir! You have found me out. I am thinking of becoming Russian next as someone needs to take a stand against this whole Putin becoming the President again thing