As a child of an immigrant mother myself, I was excited to speak at a ceremony in March at the Yokosuka Naval Base where more than 70 new Americans received their naturalization papers. One of the new U.S. citizens was a Japanese woman married to a U.S. Navy sailor. Another was a seven-year-old Filipino boy whose American father, also serving in the U.S. Navy, told me he was happy to raise his son as an American.

Usually immigrants must live in the United States for five years before they can apply to become a citizen, but under a new U.S. law, active duty military members and their families living abroad are allowed to "naturalize" or become U.S. citizens too.

Becoming a naturalized citizen means earning many new rights, such as the right to vote, to run for office, or travel with a U.S. passport. It also means accepting new responsibilities like paying taxes, serving on a jury and defending one's country.

During the ceremony I told the audience that the United States is a country that has been enriched by immigrants who brought with them their culture and traditions. In my family I grew up proud of my mother's homeland of Switzerland and I very much enjoyed eating Swiss delicacies like veal in cream sauce and chocolate. We always celebrated Swiss independence day on August first by flying the Swiss flag from our home. I told them that while they have chosen to become U.S. citizens, they should continue to be proud of their origins and introduce the best of their home country's traditions to the United States. In this way the United States will become an even more diverse and culturally rich country.

I remember when I was four years old and my mother became a naturalized U.S. citizen. I didn't really know what it meant to become "naturalized," but I knew it must be something to celebrate, because my Mom baked a chocolate cake for dessert that night.

Of course, that's one tradition I very much enjoy continuing and I ate with relish a piece of cake after the ceremony at Yokosuka Naval Base!

Japan is now debating whether to allow more immigration. What do you think about this issue?

Until next time,

Jim