Last September 25, 2024, Jackson became a naturalized citizen. Kim and I (and Frank) attended the ceremony and that goes down as one of the highlights of my 2024! 
There were over 60 immigrants there from 32 different countries. One of the countries was as close as Canada and as far away as Australia. But most of the new citizens were like Jackson: refugees from a very troubled part of the world. Or… perhaps more correctly… many troubled parts of the world.
I’m sure every new citizen had an interesting story to tell about how they ended up in the United States. For example, why would a Canadian want to become a US citizen. I just always considered Canadians to be nicer versions of Americans. “You know what I mean?… ehh?”
(Several years ago, I worked with a guy who was Canadian. He lived in Michigan only because his wife, who he met at Calvin College, was from Allegan County. He would end every fourth or fifth sentence in a conversation with, “You know what I mean?… ehh?” And I would reply with, “Yoose right.” Kind of a northwest corner of Iowa thing. In Iowa, yoose means you are. Or as a Minasoa’tan would say, “Ya betcha, don’t chew know?”)
A couple of things that stood out: immigration and naturalization are functions of the State Department. But the actual granting of citizenship is a job of the U.S. District Court.
The ceremony started with a person from the State Department addressing the new citizens with the information they needed. “Even if you don’t understand everything I’m saying now, it’s all in this packet here that each of you received. These are important documents and you need to safeguard them like tax returns, titles of ownership of your car or house, and documents like that.”
Next, a bailiff from the US District Court addressed everyone and told us what followed would be an official proceeding of the court and that as soon as she called the court to order, the whole room would be an extension of the federal court and that everyone would be expected to respect the honor and decorum of the court.
And with that, came an authoritative command: “All rise. Hear-ye, hear-ye, hear-ye! A session of the United States District Court of the Western District of the state of Michigan is being called to order. All those with a petition before this court are asked to give their undivided attention to this court and to the honorable Judge Robert J. Jonker. This court is now in session!”
I thought that was very compelling. Not like the annual call to session of the US Supreme Court, but still moving. Click on the following to have a shiver of emotion run down your back. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bct6RRAe0_s
Next Judge Jonker introduced himself and gave a short speech. He said of all his duties as a federal judge, this was his favorite. He mentioned “Unlike Americans born in the US, a lot of you new citizens know what it’s like to live somewhere where a country is not governed by the US Constitution.” He pointed out the US has a lot of ugly history when it comes to immigration, but at least we’re making progress – slow as it may be.
And then Judge Jonker said something that caught my attention, especially after I researched him after I got home. He said, “Immigrants who choose to become a US citizen are what make the US the great country it is. It’s not a government or a politician or even the President, rather it is you immigrants. Many of you are refugees but make no mistake, each of you is what makes America great.” 
And the way Judge Jonker said that seemed to imply a poke at the non-sensical populism that is endemic in the US. I appreciate that – perhaps it shows what a decent human being Judge Jonker is. Given that he was born and raised in Holland MI, he probably has a spiritual conviction that conforms nicely to dozens of references in the Bible to how Christians are to treat refugees.
Next, all the new citizens would be called and asked to walk across the stage to receive their official document and have their picture taken with Judge Jonker.
“But first,” continued Judge Jonker, “there are three people here who are unable to walk across the stage so I’m going to greet these people first.” Then Judge Jonker walked into the audience to three elderly women in wheelchairs. All three of these women were wearing burqas and were from Arab countries where women are second-class humans at best and the property of a man at worst.
Imagine the honor of a federal judge going out of his way to welcome these women to the US. And not just welcoming them, but kneeling to their eye level to have his picture taken with them.
Now that’s what makes America great and makes me honored to be an American citizen.
WAS THAT THE STATUE OF LIBERTY?!
Even though the ceremony was an official extension of federal court, there was an atmosphere of fun and celebration.
Contributing to the festivity was me when I recorded Jackson walking across the stage. You hear me calling to Gariso, Jackson’s African name. And then as I congratulate him.
But the most heart-warming part of the show was a young girl. When her name was called, she just didn’t just walk across, she danced across the stage. I believe she was from Uganda. Whatever musical score she was listening to in her brain, came out in a beautiful African dance. The girl had at least a dozen family and friends there and apparently this music was loud enough that they began clapping to the beat in unison. I recorded a small part of that and later researched African dance and I believe the dance and music (only heard by her and her friends) is called Jerusalema. It originated in Uganda where is known a masaka Africana. It’s a commemoration to thank God for his mercy to help a person to persevere through hardships.
Here’s an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdFudLPyqng&t=1239s
(Specifically, go to 6:35 in the video then notice the little girl at about 6:58. So how fun is she having?)
During the Covid lockdown, the dance become a TikTok challenge with most of world participating to see who could get the biggest group to dance in unison.
But what made this young woman so memorable is she was dressed in a traditional African full length dress made out a red, white and blue fabric and she had also used the material to make what would remind you of a diadem like the headpiece on the 
Statue of Liberty. Then instead of shaking the judge’s hand, she opened her arms for a hug and with a big smile, Judge Jonker embraced her. Then she lingered so her friends could take her picture – she stood tall, raising a small American flag in her right hand and held her new proof of citizenship in her left!
After the participants had their picture with Judge Jonker, they walked to the end of the stage then down a couple steps to get back to their seat. I was standing at the bottom waiting for Jackson when another girl took a misstep on the stairs and almost fell. She was Arab and wearing a full burqa which is why she couldn’t see the steps too well. I instinctually reached out my hand to assist her, but she pulled away from me. At first I didn’t understand that, but then realized as a Muslim, she’s probably prohibited from being touched by a man. 
I got to thinking later: you know what’s nice about living in America, she can wear whatever she wants, but now it’s her decision and only her’s. She is no longer beholden to a religion, a government or a man. Whether she recognized that new freedom at the time seems doubtful. But in time, she will find her sense of self and realize she’s just as valued as a man, a federal judge or anyone else. She can make her own decisions just like any other American. And she deserves to be treated with respect and dignity!