Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Learning for Life (08/23/04)
TITLE: A Proud Moment for Felipe By John Scott Cooper 08/23/04 |
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It had nothing to do with the festive, yet somehow solemn crowd of people in which he stood. He knew none of them, and could not understand most of them; many were speaking languages other than English or his native Mexican dialect.
Felipe’s big, unstoppable grin was caused by a deep satisfaction he felt at the coming of this event – the second-greatest moment of his 45 years.
He had passed the tests, and he was proud that it was not like the recent past. He had been told that not long ago, all he would have had to do was write a sentence in English and answer one or two key facts about the United States government.
Felipe could read and write, though he had only a few years of school when he was a child. He taught himself – along with some tutoring by a priest – to read, so he could read the Bible. This he did as an adult after his conversion.
He was pleased that he was able to read and memorize facts about the system of government of the United States. He even memorized the names of the forty-seven presidents and most states and their capitols.
He missed out on so much as a child. But he found that he enjoyed learning; it was very precious to him.
Didn’t the scripture say in the Proverbs that fools hate knowledge and choose to not fear the Lord?
Felipe chose to learn. He learned how to run a successful business. Eventually, he was able to move to America.
He learned to speak and read English even better with the goal of becoming a citizen ever before him.
As the judge entered the chambers and Felipe and the other immigrants about to become naturalized citizens became quiet, they heard the words, “Raise your right hands and repeat after me.”
"I hereby declare, on oath, ...”
With exultation rising within him until he was nearly bursting, Felipe repeated the rest of the oath: "... that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the armed forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."