I am suffering from a case of writer block, and couldn’t think of anything else to write about. So, I figured I would write this.
Three years ago my friend asked me if I wanted to go with her to her interview at The Department of Homeland Security for immigrations. I have heard of the process, I have read about the process, but the opportunity to watch it. That was something I didn’t want to pass up on.
I have gone with her several times to the office to watch the “process” in action. And, well haven’t been all that impressed. It from my prospective has been a huge example of government bureaucracy in process. Massive amounts of simple paperwork taking months, no years to finish.
As an example, 6 months to do a background check. I can get one done in a matter of hours, not months. Complicated paperwork in English, and hard for everyone to understand; let alone people who have English as the second language.
Today I sat in the audience as “from memory”, 84 people from 22 nations were sworn in as citizens of the United States. During the end of the ceremony, they played the song “proud to be an American” by Lee Greenwood. The song can be considered to be over played, but I still love the song. As I look around, over half of the people in an auditorium of about 300, people singing.
There was the man trying to sell a young women sitting close to me a car, a guy sleeping, and a few people talking. But as this song was playing, the room fell completely silent. Silent that is except for the 150 or so people singing along. A few people were crying, but not many. Most were very excited, and happy.
There was a moment that I can only describe a surreal. As Lee Greenwood got to the end and sang “God bless the USA” My arms developed Goosebumps. The hair on my neck and head started to hackle, and the room went completely silent.
It lasted only a moment, but it happened. I was thinking it was just me, but as I walked out my friend also mentioned that she had Goosebumps during the song. I didn't even ask her, she just stated it. So, that was 2 out of the 300 confirmed that it happened. And from story's I have read from peoples experiencing it, I know more than the two of us felt it.
It was actually a nicely done and rehearsed ceremony.
I am not going to say what it was that I felt. HVAC problems, bad breath from all those people singing.
I have spent a lot of time questioning the existence of God, religion, the afterlife. I do not believe in mere coincidence, or as I joke, random statistical variation. This is another of those things that now need to be on my list of questionable experiences.
I am great full for what I have. I morn for what I have lost. I work for a family that immigrated here to the USA. I employee many people that have immigrated to the USA. I meet people who risked everything just to get here every day. It may not have been a big deal to my friend, and we drug someone else with us that was sick, and in need of sleep. I felt, this should have been shared with family, or even boyfriend. She offered, or I volunteered, to have it shared with me.
I will never experience what these people will, or ever go through anything of the sort. It has been said, that parents live vicariously through their kids. I am grateful for friends that share their personal experiences with me, allowing me to live through them.
Simply put, I love this country. I may not respect its leaders and all of their decisions, but isn’t that one of the reasons this is such a great country. I am proud to be an American, and I do thank god for all that we have. He has blessed this great country, and all of the people in it.
Lee greenwood said it best, and I am sure that is why they play that song. I will not reinvent the wheel; simply listen to the song if you want.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q65KZIqay4E
