Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

ALBERT EINSTEIN from Germany, the theoretical physicist whose discoveries in that field earned him world-wide renown.

FELIX FRANKFURTER from Austria, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Such as these have brought their gifts to America! Throughout our history, certain immigrants have achieved greatness in various fields of activity, but these alone could never have made America great. Year after year, foreign-born Americans, countless thousands from the great common people, have played simpler, though not less essential, roles in making America great. It is fitting, therefore, that the addresses stress, as they have frequently done, the worth and importance of every individual citizen-particularly of the ordinary man.

More and more the addresses given at these ceremonies include emphasis upon the sacredness of human personality and upon the inherent, inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness which have their roots in the Divine 2-not to be taken away by any human power. Recognition should be given to the fact that our country is the only nation on earth that includes the right to the pursuit of human happiness in its basic principles.

The sacred rights of American democracy were established by the first immigrants to America and were strengthened by the millions who followed them. These rights will continue to be upheld, as they have been in the past, only as long as they are recognized not merely as privileges to be enjoyed but as a trust to be maintained and defended.

Maintenance and defense of this trust challenges every American citizen to make a positive and continuing contribution to America. Lip loyalty is not sufficient. Repeating the Ameri

2 Father JAMES HOWARD, St. Michael's Church, Pensacola, Fla. "That is why when this glorious country began, our founding fathers were most anxious to find some foundation for human liberties, some guarantees of human personality which would escape the clutching, grasping hand of tyranny, dictator and abuse.

"The Fathers looked first for their model of liberty to England, whose theories and rights were rooted in Parliament and rejected it because 'if Parliament can give rights and liberties then Parliament could take them away.' The fathers next looked to France where it was believed the rights of man were rooted in 'the will of the majority,' and rejected this theory because if the gifts of man are the gifts of the majority, then the majority can take away 'the rights of the minority.'

"Ultimately the founding fathers, rejecting all of the theories, decided the rights of men were rooted not in the state, parliament, dictator or any human powers but in Almighty God.”

[ocr errors]

can Creed, or pledging allegiance to the flag, or singing songs about our country becomes an empty form unless followed by activities that add to the individual and total happiness of our people. Celebration of national holidays 3 and Citizenship Day becomes meaningless unless in spirit every day is a "good citizen❞ day.

3

Each citizen must do his part to make democracy work for all, instead of expecting it to work for him alone. The Golden Rule must prevail, and hate, with all of its kindred evils, must be eliminated from the heart. Hate, prejudice, and bigotry, whether religious or racial, tear down and destroy and can have no place in our democracy.

4

The address might well point out that above all the new citizens must not be content with the progress already made. Much yet remains to be done to achieve the ideals set by those who have gone before. Many inadequacies still exist in our American lifeinadequacies that can be removed in a legal and orderly way. Because the flag does not fly over a perfect country, sovereign citizens, genuine and faithful in purpose, must be ever mindful of their trust to hand on to the next generation a greater and better America than they themselves found.

5

3 HANS KINDLER. 1940. "Many people all over the world are losing—almost overnight the rights and ideals that have taken perhaps hundreds of years to win. We in America cannot protect democracy by remembering it on just a few national holidays and taking it for granted the other 360 days a year."

United States Office of Education. LET FREEDOM RING. Bulletin No. 32, p. 179. "Struggle for Freedom never ends! Ground that is lost must be regained! Each generation must re-win its rights! Eternal vigilance is still the price of liberty! Let us strive on, to the end that our children's children may always know the glorious fulfillment of that noblest cry known to men-Let Freedom Ring!"

4

PETER MARSHALL, D. D. The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, Washington, D. C. "Our foster mother is not perfect. There is a wisdom that comes only with age, and a mellowness that only time can bring. Here and there in her public life we see selfishness and greed of men and women who are not true to the American heritage. But we who have taken that solemn oath of naturalization have the privilege of helping our foster mother to become as great as she is strong, and as good as she is great. We, her new citizens, her adopted children, can make her laws respected by keeping them ourselves. We have a part in making her government good by exercising the duty and the privilege of the ballot box. We can show our gratitude for all that America means to us by the quality of our citizenship. A good man or a good woman will be a good American, and the true American will be good."

5 RAYMOND PITCAIRN. TODAY WE ARE AMERICANS ALL. Copyright 1942. "For today the Torch of Freedom is in our hands. We must guard it well. On us depends whether it shall keep America the refuge of the oppressed, the hope of the despairing, the land of justice and opportunity for all. On us depends whether its shining splendor shall still serve as a beacon-fire to men and nations everywhere that seek Free Government. With us rests the responsibility to keep aglow that sacred flame on which rely all human hope, all human progress."

CERTIFICATES OF CITIZENSHIP AND MEMENTOS
OF THE OCCASION

Some judges make the presentation of certificates of citizenship a part of the regular ceremonial. These judges believe that the awarding of certificates at this time carries much greater significance than the handing out of them by the clerk at a later date. Such presentation requires the cooperation of court officials, representatives of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and others. Photographs and signatures must be appended to the certificates and details completed just prior to the final ceremony.

Mementos, such as small American flags, copies of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, or the Bill of Rights, or of the American's Creed, furnish a concrete symbol of the emotions experienced at the time of the assumption of citizenship. An attractive program, with the American flag decorating the front page and the names of the new citizens printed within, may be given to each one as a remembrance of the occasion of his admission as a citizen. In this connection, it should be pointed out that the souvenir need not be expensive, but it should be of sufficiently good quality that the new citizen will cherish it as a keepsake. A beautiful little flag, in keeping with the intrinsic worth of citizenship, makes a desired memento. Many place their first flag in the Bible or other sacred place, and take delight in showing it to visitors or friends. Therefore, care should be exercised that the flag is not of poor or cheap material.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service makes available to each newly naturalized citizen the pamphlet "A Welcome to U. S. A. Citizenship." This publication is the Government's welcome to the new citizen and contains personal messages from the President of the United States, the Attorney General, and the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization. It is presented at the time of naturalization, preferably by the presiding judge. Some judges prefer to autograph these pamphlets before delivery in order to increase the personal touch and make more meaningful the welcome of the court at this time.

Generally, representatives of patriotic organizations not only provide, but present, the souvenirs to the new citizens; occasionally,

the judge himself makes the presentation after proper acknowledgment has been made to the organization that furnished them. When the latter practice is followed it is in the belief that the memento is more highly prized if the judge presents it himself. Also a friendly handshake and a personal word of congratulation by the judge to each new citizen, as he starts on another stage of the journey of life, is most important.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The courts that make the pledge of allegiance a part of the court ceremonial vary as to the place at which they bring it into the program. Some make the pledge an effective part of the ceremony by placing it immediately after the taking of the oath, and by having both the old and the new citizens participate. The foreign born are thus no longer treated separately from the rest of the groupthey are Americans now. Sometimes one of the students from the many classes which are invited to, and usually do, attend these hearings is selected to lead the pledge of allegiance. On other occasions one of the new citizens is chosen to do so. It is a significant moment when the entire group is caught up in a common feeling, as the new citizens pledge, and the old renew, their allegiance to democratic ideals.

In some instances, the pledge of allegiance follows the address of the judge or his designated representative, and all present in the courtroom join in. A large percentage of the new citizens know the pledge of allegiance to the flag. In some ceremonies, particularly those held in larger auditoriums or stadiums, there is an exchange of flags of the various countries for the flag of the United States, after which the pledge of allegiance is repeated.

The United States flag has deep and noble significance to those who are already citizens. In some respects it may have even deeper significance to those who are just becoming citizens. To those who are already citizens, the flag symbolizes something which they now have; to those who are becoming citizens, it symbolizes something for which they hope but do not yet have-fellowship in the spirit of liberty and the glorious ideals of human freedom. A pledge of allegiance, therefore, to the flag that not only symbolizes

but guarantees the sacred right of human freedom and the blessings of American citizenship may fittingly be given anywhere, in the courtroom or any other place.

CLOSING OF COURT

Most courts close in the usual manner. In some courts, however, the pledge of allegiance is followed by the national anthem or "America," after which the retirement of colors takes place. All stand and give proper homage to the flag. This procedure produces an inspirational and appropriate atmosphere for the solemn closing of the court.

« ÎnapoiContinuă »