Importance of Having a U.S. Citizenship

I never knew someone could serve in our military and not be a United States citizen. That seems unfathomable to me. So it never entered my mind that you didn't have to be a citizen until after I met my husband. He is still a citizen of El Salvador even though he served for four years active duty in the United States Marine Corp.

My husband, although he is a citizen of another country, has lived in the United States for most of his life. He is a legal resident and is now in the process of receiving his American Citizenship and I think that should be the ultimate goal for all those that wish to live in this country.

It's okay to be here legally; that's a step. But it's also important to have your citizenship. It defines who you are and who your loyalty belongs to. You should be proud of the country you live in. If you're only here due to it being convenient for whatever reason, you can be sure there is someone out there who is dying to take your spot and embrace the real meaning of being an American.

I received this in an email and I thought it was wonderful:

In 1907 Theodore Roosevelt declared: "In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

It clearly states how you should act if you truly want to become a citizen. There are many who do feel this way and they have my utmost respect in their endeavor as they go through the proper channels to become a United States citizen.

For more information regarding citizenship, be sure to check out www.uscis.gov.