I am a United States Citizen

I am a United States Citizen.

I am a citizen of the United States of America.  I happen upon citizenship by birth, but I think there is more to being a citizen of this country than just a result of happenstance of birth.  And, I think there is more to citizenship than the naturalization process, though I am proud to say that I have taken the citizenship test and I aced it.

Back in the days when I was in elementary school there was space on report cards to assess citizenship.  I’m not exactly sure how citizenship was measured in grade school, but I was always pleased that I received satisfactory marks in that area.  I’m not in grade school anymore, but I think I still qualify for a satisfactory mark on my report card in citizenship.

As a citizen of the United States I vote.  I vote in national elections, including the presidential and mid-term elections.  I also vote in school bond and local elections.  While I am affiliated with a political party I do not vote for the party; I vote for the person who most closely aligns with my values and my beliefs on the way government runs.  Sometimes the options aren’t so great.  And yes, there have been times when I’ve stood in the voting booth and refused to vote for any candidate as my own private protest against all candidates for a particular office.  I vote for state and local officials using the same criterion for those candidates as I do for those running for national office.  Frankly, I believe our local officials have more impact on us as citizens than does the federal government. 

I get up at 4:30 in the morning on election day to unlock the doors to a polling location, set up tables and chairs, supply my own personal equipment to help make voting possible, and lock up the building after the end of a day’s election.  It is but a small sacrifice for such a cherished right.

I communicate with elected officials.  I have sent e-mails and snail-mails and made personal visits to express my views.  My elected officials in or for New York rarely agree with my views.

I have actively participated outside the voting booth in the election process.  I have gone door-to-door campaigning for a candidate of my choice on more occasions than I care to think.  Sometimes it was in the cold rain and snow, but I went.  I was a precinct committee chairman responsible for getting people out to vote.  I also assumed responsibility for finding and promoting candidates for public office and I have participated in political conventions.

I have testified before legislative committees advocating for action on diverse initiatives such as substance abuse prevention and domestic abuse response and treatment.  I’ve authored a bill before the New Mexico Legislature and lobbied for its eventual passage.  New Mexico had no law against Breaking and Entering until I authored the bill that made that activity illegal.

I welcomed the opportunity to serve on jury duty.  I reported to my Selective Service Board to register and make myself eligible for the draft.

I take a stand on issues that matter most to me.  I pay my taxes.  Yes, I grumble about having to pay taxes, but I pay them.  And pay.  And pay.  I stand with my hand over my heart when the National Anthem is played and as chills run up and down my spine.  I still say the Pledge of Allegiance when asked to stand and do so.

I have attended military funerals and bowed my head in reverence as Taps is played and bagpipes droned in the background.  I jump just a little at the sound of the first volley of gunfire at the graveside.  I remain at attention when a flag is removed from the coffin of a veteran, is then folded, and presented to the next of kin.

I have been a merit badge counselor for Boy Scouts for the Citizenship in the Community and Citizenship in the Nation merit badges.  I’ve taught young women how to rise, lower, and fold our flag.  I have presided over several flag retirement ceremonies and have gratefully burned the hair on the back of my hands and arms in doing so.

Times have changed, so I’m not sure what it means to be a good neighbor anymore, but I try to keep my nose out of other people’s business yet make myself available to help when I can.  I report drunk drivers to the police.  I intervene when a personal injustice takes place in my presence.  I’ll clear a neighbor’s or friend’s driveway of snow and I’ll leave the house in the wee hours of the morning or night if called upon to help.  I contribute what I can to help feed and clothe the hungry and homeless.  I’ve stopped on more than one occasion to help change a flat tire.

I’m not really sure which qualifies a person more as a citizen, taking part in government and fulfilling citizen responsibilities such as voting and serving on juries or in the armed forces or simply being involved in the community and being a neighbor.  However, if by nothing other than birth into this country, I am a citizen of the United States of America, and I am proud of my citizenship.