Peter Grant stood and took the oath. On emotional things like this, I get profoundly mute and stupid so I always fear I am going to say the wrong thing. I am also a Naturalized Citizens and I want to tell you why is so moving for us:
We took the Oath.
You see? Most Americans unless they are serving in some manner to our country, do not have to take the oath. It is not quite the same like when a soldier does it, for example, but it is intense. My right hand was up, I was saying the words with the heart pounding like crazy, mind was racing and it was bogged down at the same time. It was a bit of roller coaster of emotion.
And then I was a Citizen. It felt great.
I know Peter must felt something similar and yet, very particular.
I want to dedicate two scenes from two movies to him. The first one became a premonition in 1981 when I went to NYC for vacation. A siren call.
The second is from a great Robin Williams movie: Moscow in the Hudson. It is a comedy as with all comedies situations are exaggerated… and then again many of us felt identified with Robin’s character because it is hard to shed the mental chains forged from our old countries and they clash with US way of life. And when life gets tough, sometimes we made the mistake to revert to the old familiar thoughts even if they were wrong because there is comfort on what you were raised on.
In one way or another, we all were a little bit of Vladimir Ivanoff.
Peter, Welcome Brother!
Several months ago I traveled to Decatur , Texas to do some business face to face and eat lunch with Peter. He is a gentleman, a scholar, theologian and a soldier- he is aptly named -a real Renaissance Man.
Welcome to the team brother, it also means you are a Texan.
Taggart
Miguel, that scene from MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON always makes me misty-eyed. Nothing in cinema has ever come close to depicting our immigrant/exile experience like that movie. I too am a naturalized citizen and I take citizenship oath seriously:
“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”
It was with awesome pride I took that oath in 1983. God bless America for all she’s done for of us.
Well done, sir! And we’re proud to have ALL of y’all!!!