March 25th was the first day that I was allowed to apply for citizenship in the United States of America. It's been a long road getting to this point. I met my American wife online in a quit-smoking support group. We courted and were married in the summer of 2001. I moved to California from Quebec, Canada with every intention of becoming a good contributor to the community. I came here with a truckload of ideas about "Truth, Justice, and the American Way". I came here with the belief that America is strong because America is good and fair. I came here with the conviction that being a white-hatter was the right thing to do. Naive... I know. But the question remains: Is this the America that I was willing to put my whole heart and soul behind? Is this the America that I would be proud to say I was a part of?
I have to admit that many of the ideas that I had about the U.S. have fallen by the wayside. And on November 3rd I had asked myself if I had wandered into some central-American dictatorship. I despised the red sheep then who were putting my, and my wife's life into jeopardy because they were either fascists, or breathtakingly ignorant in believing the neocon mantra. I honestly believe that we are in danger of becoming what we fought against 60 years ago if nothing is done to educate those people who are being fed the lies without someone there to show them the truth as an alternative.
This administration and it's accolytes are the antithesis of all that has made America shine. It is the opposite of baseball, hotdogs, and apple pie. It is the opposite of hard work being followed by hard rewards. It is the opposite of all the ideals that have enabled Americans to say that they lived in the bastion of democracy, the common good, and fairness to all. It is the opposite of all that inspires freedom and respect. It is guilty of treason in the sense that it has betrayed all the ideals that have made the United States a great country.
On Nov 3rd, I hated the neocons and wanted nothing to do with a country that they could manipulate so easily. To quote Mike Malloy on Air America: "Have I told you recently how much I hate these bastards?". And therein lies my quandary: I feel emotion about the U.S.A. I believe it is a great nation, and I believe that if I should support it and it's growth, then I should go all the way and become a citizen. That hate that I felt for the neocons was an indication that I cared about this country and wanted to do something to make it better. I cannot sit by and watch these individuals ride rough-shod over the Constitution without accountability. I cannot sit by and watch them ignore the wishes of American citizens whether they be in a majority or not. I cannot sit by and watch them commit crimes and then write legislation to remove the penalties for those crimes.
I have to become a citizen. I have to because I believe in all the ideals that I had heard about before I came here. I believe that all men are created equal and that all should have equal access to justice and free speech. I believe that lies should be counteracted immediately and that anyone who attempts to stop that counteraction is guilty of stifling free speech. I believe that a person should be free to follow, or not follow whatever faith they choose. I believe that the government is there to serve the nation, not rule it. I believe that evil must be fought wherever it is found, even if it is in our own home. I have to become a citizen because I cannot do enough to promote what is right about America from the outside. This country is worth fighting for. The American vision of liberty and equality is worth fighting for. Good is worth fighting for.
Some of you may be wondering why I am doing this here, and there are two reasons:
First, I believe that if you're going to take a stand on something, then belt it out. Do so with a great thunder and announce your will so that all the world knows. Let there be no doubt about where you stand and where you are going. Let there be no question of your views and beliefs even as you respect the views and beliefs of others. Hypocrisy is the creed of the neocons, not those who want to help the U.S. grow and be safe. Secondly, my wife asked me on the evening of March 24th what decision I would make the following day and I told her that I didn't know. She is an active member here and you know her as dianem. This is my way of saying "Yes. I am going for it. God help us all".