"My bizarre experience becoming a 'naturalized' American citizen"

[pddp 240]

"I was excited to become a US citizen. That quickly dissipated during the ceremony, which felt like a middle school graduation."

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/22/us-citizenship-naturalization-ceremony-bizarre

[Kathryn41 3,205]

LOL!

[lost_at_sea 995]

Weird tone. I don't think the naturalisation ceremony in the UK is much different. Slightly stuffier, perhaps, but just as "archaic".

Seems quite condescending of the author, and quite ungrateful. Assuming she's a UK citizen, she's now got 2 citizenships. Lucky her - many people would love those 2 passport options.

Edited December 28, 2013 by lost_at_sea

[sbai2000 31]

Weird tone. I don't think the naturalisation ceremony in the UK is much different. Slightly stuffier, perhaps, but just as "archaic".

Seems quite condescending of the author, and quite ungrateful. Assuming she's a UK citizen, she's now got 2 citizenships. Lucky her - many people would love those 2 passport options.

my sentiments exactly!

I was just wondered what the purpose was of writing the article! why did she waste the brain cells! LOL!

[agnesb 47]

Did she expect fireworks, Obama's handshake, a hug from Mickey Mouse or Brad Pitt's autograph?

[Cathi 5,755]

Ungrateful twit.

[JIJourney 96]

Maybe she should leave?

[IDeciam 3]

Ungrateful twit.

Why is she ungrateful?

I would have felt the same way she did at a ceremony like that...and I am born and raised American and always been very patriotic. But we have a way of talking about people from other countries like they are so damn lucky to get to be here....it IS condescending. It's one of our national cultural characteristics, and one of the things people from other countries hate about us. And I don't blame them. I would feel the SAME WAY in their shoes.

Patriotism is a virtue. NATIONALISM is a vice. It's just dressed-up arrogance.

[IDeciam 3]

I remember once I was teaching at a private elementary school, and they were supposed to be learning the differences between patriotism and nationalism. So I told them that patriotism is loving your country. Nationalism is thinking your country is better than everyone else's.

So one student said, "what if it is better?"

I said, "Okay, tell me what you mean by better. What makes a country better?"

He said, "We are stronger and we have more stuff."

That's nationalism. That's what the lady in the article is complaining about. Being treated in a condescending way.

(The conversation continued because I asked him, "if there is a boy in the school who is stronger and has more things than any other boy, does that make him better? " The boy (and the whole class) said, "No way!" But it is all a little abstract for children, they just repeat what they hear from mom and dad.......)

[JIJourney 96]

I remember once I was teaching at a private elementary school, and they were supposed to be learning the differences between patriotism and nationalism. So I told them that patriotism is loving your country. Nationalism is thinking your country is better than everyone else's.

So one student said, "what if it is better?"

I said, "Okay, tell me what you mean by better. What makes a country better?"

He said, "We are stronger and we have more stuff."

That's nationalism. That's what the lady in the article is complaining about. Being treated in a condescending way.

(The conversation continued because I asked him, "if there is a boy in the school who is stronger and has more things than any other boy, does that make him better? " The boy (and the whole class) said, "No way!" But it is all a little abstract for children, they just repeat what they hear from mom and dad.......)

As someone who is from the Armed Forces I am damn proud to protect our Country.

[Josie! 3]

I'd like to know how she had a job with the Federal Government without being a citizen.. that is very unusual.