Item One: This Fourth of July, nearly 14,000 immigrants become America’s newest citizens, swearing the oath of allegiance at 27 naturalization ceremonies across the nation that coincide with the country’s 242nd birthday and the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. “When oath ceremonies are tied to the Fourth of July, it’s a message that immigrants believe in this country. It’s a beautiful and emotional thing,” Joshua Hoyt, executive director of the National Partnership for New Americans, said. “United nations, from Albania to Yemen, are represented in the ceremonies.”
Item Two: This Fourth of July marks a low point in U.S. patriotism. For the first time in Gallup’s 18-year history asking U.S. adults how proud they are to be Americans, fewer than a majority say they are “extremely proud.” Currently, 47{f82a6d9b5e5cff01d97267394322fca158507b75156f51cfa613d94c4c7ae29a} describe themselves this way, down from 51{f82a6d9b5e5cff01d97267394322fca158507b75156f51cfa613d94c4c7ae29a} in 2017 and well below the peak of 70{f82a6d9b5e5cff01d97267394322fca158507b75156f51cfa613d94c4c7ae29a} in 2003.
How can they not be proud, when “Americans” from Albania to Yemen are now their fellow citizens? And it’s interesting, is it not, that all those nations are represented in the ceremonies.