Proud

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.