sir_eccles

Less than a week to go until my oath and I'm wondering if I should be feeling anything? Should I have some sort of upwelling of civic pride or sadness about pushing my UK citizenship down a rung?

I'm sort of feeling nothing really. It feels like just another bureaucratic thing to be done. Obviously I am taking the oath in good faith and will mean every word of it when I say it, just no real emotion. Perhaps I will surprise myself and burst in to tears, I don't know.

Talking to some of my born and bred USC friends there seems to be something in a lot of them, perhaps the way they were brought up, that makes their citizenship and allegiance to the flag very emotional. I don't know if I'll ever understand it. I don't think Brits in general think the same way about such things.

kimilseung

In reality isn't that all it is? If I get around to doing it, it will just be the feeling that it is the full stop at the end of a process that makes it different.

Bob

Yes...a matter of convenience...if ever able to afford it at least

Likewise, I wouldn't really expect anyone taking on UK citizenship to feel any different. Why would they?

Sarah

Making kids pledge allegiance to the flag every morning of their lives (at school) is a good way to ensure national pride.

md95065

S Folinsky

Although you are only one - you now have the right to vote. In my opinion, the ability to vote gives you the right to bitch and complain. If you don't exercise the franchise, don't bitch.

Brit3964

The point at which I felt I was a USC wasn't the Oath Ceremony itself but once the blue passport arrived. To me, that's the real value of Citizenship (and the right to vote).

robin1234

I agree with this, and this gets at why I chose to become a US Citizen in 2006. To be honest, I've always been a bit prejudiced against the United States.. American Exceptionalism, hypocrisy, imperialism, torture, Vietnam, Guantanamo, you name it. I was always bitching and complaining, but as an outsider. I felt if I knocked on the door and was let in (after all, I'd been paying the taxes for a decade and more,) then I could vote, give money to candidates, and bitch and complain.

fatbrit

The ceremony in Phoenix is generally quite good. I enjoyed it.

S Folinsky

In 1940, a fair number of European born Jews naturalized as American Citizens. Among them were my mother and her parents. Here is a picture of another one talking to the judge after administration of the oath in 1940.

I have attended one swearing-in in my life. I can't quantify it, but there is something about that very solemn oath. I was born a US citizen, but my grandparents passed on the idea that it was something quite special and that is why they did it.

Here is a link to what the late William Safire wrote about the private swearing in ceremony for his English wife, Helene.

joto

The only real feeling was "they can't chuck me out now". I was pleased when I got the passport and didn't have to make any emergency trips while waiting for it. Good luck with your oath ceremony.

anotherlimey

How many times have you been through it?!

fatbrit

Once for me as participant, couple of other times as a guest.

Poppy girl

Dito and that's it felt nothing still don't it is what it is and I we are still UK Citizens so who cares it just another day!

Englishman43

You aren't, you're just getting a few pieces of paper to make your life easier.