THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 20, 1995 TAG: 9501180155
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Guest Column
SOURCE: BY XIAOHONG ZHANG SWAIN
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
After more than eight years living in the United States, I finally earned my American citizenship certificate this month.
It feels like it was just yesterday that I, a Chinese radio journalist, left my home in Beijing and ventured to an American university in West Virginia.
In the beginning, I had no plans to become an American citizen. My goal was to earn a master's degree in broadcasting journalism and then to return to my reporting post at Radio Beijing.
But on completion of the graduate program, something about the United States enchanted me and made me want to stay.
Two more years passed. Meanwhile, I earned another master's degree, this one in sociology. Earning the second degree might not have helped to advance my career, but it gave me time to learn about this country. It became ever clearer to me why I wanted to stay in America.
Freedom and democracy. Opportunities. Prosperity.
For me, these words weren't just abstract concepts written in books. I witnessed them coming alive in America.
When I lived in China, I felt my individuality was constantly suppressed. I couldn't speak what was really on my mind. Like most other Chinese, I was always careful not to say the wrong thing. Luckily, I was too young to be involved in the infamous political movement - the Cultural Revolution - which began in 1966 and ended in 1976. Countless innocent Chinese died or were jailed during that era. Even today, after China has made major political and economic reforms since 1978, freedom and democracy are still very limited. The 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre reminded people that it is still wise not to talk about guo shi, or national matters.
True, the United States is not perfect. It has its shames. One can still argue that Americans don't enjoy absolute freedom and democracy.
But, compared to other nations, the United States is undoubtedly the champion for achieving liberty and justice for all.
I didn't have to apply for American citizenship in order to remain in the country. An updated ``green card'' would have been sufficient for maintaining my legal status. But since I have decided to spend the rest of my life here, I want to be able to participate in the country's political process that guarantees the freedom and democracy we are enjoying. Being an American citizen allows me that opportunity.
It wasn't an easy decision for me. Obtaining American citizenship requires swearing an oath of allegiance that states, ``I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity '' to my native country.
``This doesn't mean you have to give up the culture and heritage of your native country,'' explained the presiding judge to the 111 soon-to-be citizens at the naturalization ceremony on Jan. 11 in downtown Norfolk. ``It means that you now only obey the regulations and laws of the United States.''
The second part of the oath says that, as an American citizen, one will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies, and that one has to bear arms, perform noncombatant service in the military or perform civilian work of national importance when required by law.
As we read the oath aloud, I fought to keep tears from rolling down my cheeks. It was a moment mixed with happiness and sadness.
I'm happy that I am now officially an American. I can go hand in hand with my American husband to cast election ballots. I don't have to prove to anybody that I am allowed to work in this country. I can just state proudly: ``I'm an American citizen.''
But I'm sad to realize that I am now officially a foreigner to China.
But, please, China, my motherland, do not treat me as a foreigner the next time I come to you. I will bear a navy blue American passport, but my face and heart are still Chinese. I am still one of your children. MEMO: Ms. Swain, who lives on Erik Paul Drive in Chesapeake, is a
correspondent for The Clipper.
by CNB