Hooray! It's Thursday and get to look forward to Geography of Home. And today Home has yet another meaning. Heartiest congratulations on becoming a citizen! That's a very big deal. You've worked very hard to achieve that in many more ways than studying for an exam. You must be so excited. It's also a big priviledge to be a citizen of two globally important democratic countries, even if each is bit or completely screwed up.
Although I got about half the test questions right, the thought of the questions of what might be on the citizenship exam for Spain sends shivers down my spine. All those kings, queens, dukes, princes, princesses, infantas, and the rest. I can never keep them straight. What's worse I don't even care if I remember who they are. Except of courese, Ferdinand and Isabella who keep coming up my Snippets from Spain. They are memorable.
I too hope to become a Spanish citizen. If I live and pay taxes here, I want to have a say in matters. I don't want to lose my American citizenship as I still want to vote there. Your post makes me think more deeply about what it means to pledge allegiance to two countries. Does that mean I'm equally loyal? Would I have to choose one over another somehow? Do I say I'm American or Spanish? Probably American - or both.
I share your memories and feelings about the Pledge of Allegiance. Even though I spouted the words and often didn't think about them, many times I did. And I felt proud that my country tried to uphold those values even though the methods were sometimes questionable.
I felt the same way, almost teary sometimes, about some of the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner:
And the rocket's red glare, the bomb bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Pray that our first country will continue to be the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Oh thank you so much! I am sure your path to citizenship in Spain will proceed smoothly. I feel extremely privileged to be able to be a citizen in two countries and do not take this on lightly. I am still an American, or perhaps more accurately a Californian 😎, and I feel the weight of representing both countries as fairly as possible. That said, I also get frustrated at one or the other sometimes, and am happy to point to the other as a better example. Other times they are both just as frustrating! As you know all too well, it's good to have lots of ways of looking at things to keep your perspectives open and challenged. And like you with the Star Spangled Banner, I will probably also tear up when they play "God save the King" at the end of our ceremony.
Wow, Sabrina, such a fabulous post - I'm so thrilled for you. In answer to your question I have never knowingly pledged allegiance - apart from as a Brownie and a Guide, when I promised 'that I will do my best, to do my duty to God, to serve the Queen, to help other people and to keep the Brownie Guide Law'. And at school we didn't have to pledge allegiance in the way that happens across the pond, but as part of our daily assembly we did all recite The Lord's Prayer.
I think I'm correct in thinking that my American SIL and my British-but-US-based-since-1982 uncle have become citizens of the nations in which they have chosen to reside.
Awesome post! I'd saved it up to read, and it's given me such delight this afternoon. Thank you.
Aw thanks Rebecca. Those questions are difficult! I'm sure I couldn't pass the US one if I had to take it now. I had a similar pledge for my Brownie and Girl Scout years, and of course church and State are allegedly still separate in the US, so no prayer required in school.
It's funny, because it wasn't actually a church school - although plenty are - so it was a requirement of the school itself, if you like, rather than the state.
I'd love to read all about the ceremony afterwards! Do let us know all about it, won't you?
My other half went to a very bog standard school outside London and he said the Lord's prayer every day too. Our customs are endlessly fascinating, to me anyway! I hope to have something interesting to write about the ceremony and day, thanks for asking!
Congratulations on the additional citizenship Sabrina! 🎉 That is very exciting, and I’m so happy that your hard work has paid off….
I’ve occasionally toyed with the idea of living in another country but realistically I don’t think that’s going to happen. I have great respect for those of you who are doing that, though, and really enjoy hearing about the process and the experiences, so a continued big thank you for that!
Gosh, I got a few wrong 'uns in the questions, but I'm mollified by the fact I'm an Australian, not an Englishman. That said, our history and culture were arm in arm with the UK. Now that multi-culturalism is alive and hopefully well, things are changing. A positive thing I would hope but there are always racists...
I have a great belief in the Commonwealth of Nations - especially in this convoluted world. If it can be sustained, I think it could do a great deal of good in international relations. It's always viewed as a legacy of imperialism by the naysayers but in the 21st century, it's so much more - ask any leader of a small third world nation within the Commonwealth.
We don't have any allegiance swearing - Aussies are mostly laid back and the idea of swearing daily to a flag would probably be a complete anathema to a huge proportion of the population. I think it goes back to the ethos of hard-won freedom by the convicts who were sent here from Britain in the 1800's. And First Nations definitely wouldn't swear to the flag when they see it as a symbol of what they have lost.
Congrats on the citizenship. I applaud you. Well done!
Thanks Prue. I'm also in favour of alliances and countries working together, particularly when it helps us all understand each other a bit better. Hence my quotation from Eleanor Roosevelt at the end. I think some of the States in the US now don't require an official flag swearing anymore, I'm assuming in part for the same reasons you mention about First Nations. I think it is a nice tradition, but requiring it seems unnecessary. At any rate, I do love a good ceremony and will have a fun morning getting to go through the affirming and pledging and anthem playing!
The US Pledge of Allegiance gets a bad rap nowadays, but I too have fond memories of it as a ritual that started the school day. I love your rendition with the words smushed together! That's exactly how we recited it.
Thanks so much Erin! I am glad to hear you have good memories too. It was such a particular cadence to the words, and I tried to glom the words together the way I remembered saying them. The rhythm came right back to me! I'm not sure it will make as much sense to our English friends who don't have the same repetition imprinted in their brains.
My, my! Congratulations on this big step! It’s been a long time coming and I couldn’t be happier for you.
Your recitation of the Pledge cracks me up! That is exactly how it sounded and I wasn’t sure of what some of the words actually were for many years.
And I believe I failed miserably on the your test. It reminds me that all natural born US citizens should be as well-versed in the constitution as our new citizens. The majority of Americans would never pass that citizenship test!
Hooray! It's Thursday and get to look forward to Geography of Home. And today Home has yet another meaning. Heartiest congratulations on becoming a citizen! That's a very big deal. You've worked very hard to achieve that in many more ways than studying for an exam. You must be so excited. It's also a big priviledge to be a citizen of two globally important democratic countries, even if each is bit or completely screwed up.
Although I got about half the test questions right, the thought of the questions of what might be on the citizenship exam for Spain sends shivers down my spine. All those kings, queens, dukes, princes, princesses, infantas, and the rest. I can never keep them straight. What's worse I don't even care if I remember who they are. Except of courese, Ferdinand and Isabella who keep coming up my Snippets from Spain. They are memorable.
I too hope to become a Spanish citizen. If I live and pay taxes here, I want to have a say in matters. I don't want to lose my American citizenship as I still want to vote there. Your post makes me think more deeply about what it means to pledge allegiance to two countries. Does that mean I'm equally loyal? Would I have to choose one over another somehow? Do I say I'm American or Spanish? Probably American - or both.
I share your memories and feelings about the Pledge of Allegiance. Even though I spouted the words and often didn't think about them, many times I did. And I felt proud that my country tried to uphold those values even though the methods were sometimes questionable.
I felt the same way, almost teary sometimes, about some of the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner:
And the rocket's red glare, the bomb bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Pray that our first country will continue to be the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Oh thank you so much! I am sure your path to citizenship in Spain will proceed smoothly. I feel extremely privileged to be able to be a citizen in two countries and do not take this on lightly. I am still an American, or perhaps more accurately a Californian 😎, and I feel the weight of representing both countries as fairly as possible. That said, I also get frustrated at one or the other sometimes, and am happy to point to the other as a better example. Other times they are both just as frustrating! As you know all too well, it's good to have lots of ways of looking at things to keep your perspectives open and challenged. And like you with the Star Spangled Banner, I will probably also tear up when they play "God save the King" at the end of our ceremony.
8 out of 13! Seems I'm barely British after all!
Wow, Sabrina, such a fabulous post - I'm so thrilled for you. In answer to your question I have never knowingly pledged allegiance - apart from as a Brownie and a Guide, when I promised 'that I will do my best, to do my duty to God, to serve the Queen, to help other people and to keep the Brownie Guide Law'. And at school we didn't have to pledge allegiance in the way that happens across the pond, but as part of our daily assembly we did all recite The Lord's Prayer.
I think I'm correct in thinking that my American SIL and my British-but-US-based-since-1982 uncle have become citizens of the nations in which they have chosen to reside.
Awesome post! I'd saved it up to read, and it's given me such delight this afternoon. Thank you.
Aw thanks Rebecca. Those questions are difficult! I'm sure I couldn't pass the US one if I had to take it now. I had a similar pledge for my Brownie and Girl Scout years, and of course church and State are allegedly still separate in the US, so no prayer required in school.
I'm very much looking forward to the ceremony!
It's funny, because it wasn't actually a church school - although plenty are - so it was a requirement of the school itself, if you like, rather than the state.
I'd love to read all about the ceremony afterwards! Do let us know all about it, won't you?
My other half went to a very bog standard school outside London and he said the Lord's prayer every day too. Our customs are endlessly fascinating, to me anyway! I hope to have something interesting to write about the ceremony and day, thanks for asking!
Congratulations on the additional citizenship Sabrina! 🎉 That is very exciting, and I’m so happy that your hard work has paid off….
I’ve occasionally toyed with the idea of living in another country but realistically I don’t think that’s going to happen. I have great respect for those of you who are doing that, though, and really enjoy hearing about the process and the experiences, so a continued big thank you for that!
That's very kind of you to say, thank you. I absolutely acknowledge the privilege of this opportunity so happy to share the experience of it!
Gosh, I got a few wrong 'uns in the questions, but I'm mollified by the fact I'm an Australian, not an Englishman. That said, our history and culture were arm in arm with the UK. Now that multi-culturalism is alive and hopefully well, things are changing. A positive thing I would hope but there are always racists...
I have a great belief in the Commonwealth of Nations - especially in this convoluted world. If it can be sustained, I think it could do a great deal of good in international relations. It's always viewed as a legacy of imperialism by the naysayers but in the 21st century, it's so much more - ask any leader of a small third world nation within the Commonwealth.
We don't have any allegiance swearing - Aussies are mostly laid back and the idea of swearing daily to a flag would probably be a complete anathema to a huge proportion of the population. I think it goes back to the ethos of hard-won freedom by the convicts who were sent here from Britain in the 1800's. And First Nations definitely wouldn't swear to the flag when they see it as a symbol of what they have lost.
Congrats on the citizenship. I applaud you. Well done!
Thanks Prue. I'm also in favour of alliances and countries working together, particularly when it helps us all understand each other a bit better. Hence my quotation from Eleanor Roosevelt at the end. I think some of the States in the US now don't require an official flag swearing anymore, I'm assuming in part for the same reasons you mention about First Nations. I think it is a nice tradition, but requiring it seems unnecessary. At any rate, I do love a good ceremony and will have a fun morning getting to go through the affirming and pledging and anthem playing!
Congratulations, Sabrina.
Thanks Roberta. Possibly easier than the Greek route :)
The US Pledge of Allegiance gets a bad rap nowadays, but I too have fond memories of it as a ritual that started the school day. I love your rendition with the words smushed together! That's exactly how we recited it.
Congrats on your dual citizenship!
Thanks so much Erin! I am glad to hear you have good memories too. It was such a particular cadence to the words, and I tried to glom the words together the way I remembered saying them. The rhythm came right back to me! I'm not sure it will make as much sense to our English friends who don't have the same repetition imprinted in their brains.
My, my! Congratulations on this big step! It’s been a long time coming and I couldn’t be happier for you.
Your recitation of the Pledge cracks me up! That is exactly how it sounded and I wasn’t sure of what some of the words actually were for many years.
And I believe I failed miserably on the your test. It reminds me that all natural born US citizens should be as well-versed in the constitution as our new citizens. The majority of Americans would never pass that citizenship test!