Land of dreams
U.S. is great because the door is open
AFEW DAYS after the 9/11 terrorist attack, I received a letter from the Justice Department containing my notice to be sworn in as an American citizen.
I was both ecstatic and a little anxious upon receiving the letter. I had been essentially living in the United States continuously since college and for the previous seven years as a permanent resident under green card status. But as one born in Canada, I had yearned for the right to vote and fully engage as a citizen in this country.
As directed in the letter, about a month or so later, I went down to the courthouse in lower Manhattan for my swearing-in ceremony. As it was so soon after the terrorist attacks, I entered cautiously, walking past the armed soldiers guarding the building. Inside, I felt a sense of awe as the presiding judge discussed the meaning of being a citizen of the United States and had us recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
After reciting the Pledge, I stood in silence, reflecting on my heritage. I knew that my Canadian upbringing and exposure to a bilingual culture had a significant impact on who I was but, over the years, I identified more and more as an American and marveled at this ever-present, irrepressible and indescribable spirit to dream, to choose and to have an opportunity to soar. I was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude to finally become an American citizen and now able to fully participate in the civic life of this country.
As I looked at the other people who had just been sworn in, I noticed an elderly Asian man. He could very well have been 100 years old, with a gentle face and tears running down his cheeks. I wondered what his journey to get to this country might have been and why it was so important to him that he become an American citizen near the end of his life.
As the Daily News and CUNY prepare to join forces for their 15th annual Citizenship NOW! effort to provide immigrants with information and access to service providers to help them on their own way to citizenship, I again reflect on this man and imagine what his path to American citizenship may have been. I will never know why or how this elderly man became an American, but I believe that he felt blessed during the ceremony. Like other immigrants, he cherished the opportunities available in this country and the possibilities ingrained in the ideals of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Of course, American democracy is still evolving, as is the notion of identity in this country. Our values need to be constantly challenged and the notion of “opportunity” in our country has different meanings for all Americans. The history of our country’s experiment as a democracy has been a struggle for what is right, for what is good, for what is equitable and for what is demanded within this country. But I am proud to be a citizen of the United States of America. Our ideals stand as a beacon to much of the world.
Sadly, our standing as a country of immigrants has been under attack recently. Yet, the richness of our culture and heritage as well as our strength as a nation are inextricably linked to our openness as a society and our history of being a place that welcomes others.
Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s founding father, once famously said that America would lead the 21st century because — although China had 1 billion people — the United States had 7 billion people, because it had access to the world’s best and brightest, the most adventurous, the risk-takers who seek to make their lives here.
No doubt, immigrants have made major contributions in many fields and will continue to do so. Think of Google founder Sergey Brin (Russia), Tesla founder Elon Musk (South Africa), former New York Yankee Robinson Cano (Dominican Republic), businessman George Soros (Hungary), or former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright (the Czech Republic). Or think of such foreign born New Yorkers as fashion designer Carolina Herrera (Venezuela), singer Nicki Minaj (Trinidad), model Alek Wek (South Sudan) or fashion designer Jason Wu (Taiwan), who are part of the almost 40% of New Yorkers who were born in another country.
Such individuals — and the millions of naturalized citizens like them — contribute immeasurably to our nation and city, including, in many cases, creating numerous jobs that support other citizens. And, given the centrality of science and technology in this modern age, without greater progress in these disciplines, our nation stands the risk of stagnating and, ultimately, falling behind.
We remain a nation of opportunity. The journeys of immigrants and their contributions are central to the overall American story. Common sense immigration reform can ensure that this American melting pot continues to combine both depth and richness in priceless ways. As we move forward as a nation and celebrate this week of Citizenship NOW!, let us both remember our past and, as we look ahead, our pathway forward.
Gertler is Co-Chairman and Co-Publisher of the Daily News.