You are now entering the Jewish Currents archive.

O My America: Citizenship at Monticello

lawrencebush
July 5, 2011

by Lawrence Bush

Returning from my now-annual foray into the American South to visit my daughter in South Carolina, I happened upon a marvelous event: a July 4th naturalization ceremony for 77 new citizens (from 44 countries) at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. This was the 49th annual naturalization event there — next year, I imagine, Obama will be there as the keynoter. This year the keynoter was the CEO of Coca Cola, who holds dual American and Turkish citizenship (he was born here). His company was distributing hundreds of red-white-and-blue Coke bottles and guess what? There was no provision made for recycling!

It was nevertheless a deeply moving event that brought me to tears several times. One of the presiding judges offered a tribute to dissent in the American tradition and urged the new immigrants “not to be afraid to disagree.” Among the new citizens, one woman from Bolivia did just that, reminding us that she was “already an American, a South American” (she’s a legal aid attorney).

I kept thinking about my bobe and wondering what her naturalization ceremony was like and whether she, too, had gotten the opportunity to make a few remarks. If so, she would have left a fire smoldering behind her, no doubt. . .

O Beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years . . .