Independence Day Reminds Us You Can Be American by Choice
Like many holidays, talk of July Fourth immediately summons to mind the ways in which you’ll celebrate. Barbecues. Potlucks. Fireworks displays. Parades. All delightful celebrations. I’d like to add another to the list: naturalization ceremonies.
Society has been missing out by omitting these from the classic Independence Day festivities. The events—during which immigrants are sworn in as U.S. citizens—are infectiously happy occasions generally. (They are free and open to the public, and you can easily find any happening near you via a quick Google search.) But the ones scheduled yearly on the Fourth also serve as a particularly relevant reminder that people can, and do, choose to be American.Â
There are many reasons someone might do so, chief among them the very reasons we celebrate the Fourth of July in the first place: Despite our problems, the U.S. offers the sort of freedom, liberty, and opportunity that is anathema to many places around the world. Naturalization ceremonies shine a spotlight on American exceptionalism in a way that most other events cannot.
Not everyone agrees, particularly as we continue sitting in a time of intense polarization around most everything, but especially around immigration. On Tim Pool’s Timcast IRL show last week, for example, the popular podcaster told me that New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani should be stripped of his
Article from Reason.com
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.
