This Month’s Featured Article

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.…

– The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

To think that 250 years ago, a group of men gathered to write The Declaration of Independence and declare that “these United States” were now independent from England. Since 1492, immigrants have come to this country in search of a new life, of freedoms, riches and adventure – in search of the American Dream. That is still true, as immigrants arrive every single day.

I am one such immigrant.

Our methods of arriving might differ slightly from the time of Christopher Columbus or George Washington (I arrived by airplane in 1989), but a lot of us come here in search of what millions of people before us have come here for.

From an immigrant’s perspective

I’d like to pose a question: how many of you have actually read the Declaration of Independence? I’m genuinely curious. I read it when I was in elementary school, and I read it again just now. It is quite fascinating. I encourage you to take five minutes and read it as well, especially as America celebrates its 250th anniversary.

It has always intrigued me that America’s forefathers stated the things that I included in the quote at the start of this article. To declare that we each have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness … for the time, that was so forward-thinking. And I believe, as a result of this mentality, America has become synonymous with freedom. 

I’ll state right here and now that this is not some political commentary. I came here as a child and have partially grown up in this country, embracing its history, culture, and ways while meshing it with my Icelandic culture and heritage. I am, in so many ways, living the American Dream. Sure, I have my political beliefs, just like you have yours. We may not agree on everything, but that’s neither here nor there. I respect everyone for their beliefs and hope that everyone will respect mine, for we are each living our own American Dream. 

As I reflect on America’s 250th anniversary, I wanted to share some thoughts on America from an immigrant’s perspective. 

 A great history

I am a student of history. For as long as I can remember, I have loved history and found it fascinating. I even went so far as to double major in college, graduating with a BA in history. My ultimate focus became the era of World War II, but a lot of my early memories after arriving in America are related to learning about this country’s history. I still remember field trips to a one-room schoolhouse outside of Kinderhook, NY, as well as to the homes of President Martin Van Buren and President Franklin D. Roosevelt; learning about the Native American tribes that once lived right where we live today; and all of the stages of exploration and expansion that this country has seen. I will add that not all of that history was good, nor was it all bad. It feels as if it is the stuff of storybooks though, so to know that these things actually happened is even more amazing.

I remember in my eighth grade first period English class, Mr. Clark made us recite the entire Gettysburg Address in front of the class. To this day I can still begin it: “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

About 20 years ago, I had the distinct honor to stand on that hallowed ground where President Lincoln had stood when he gave this speech on November 19, 1863. If you’ve never been to Gettysburg, you should make a point of going. I believe that there are a select few places in this country that every American should make a pilgrimage to, and Gettysburg is one of those places. 

My parents and I were visiting friends in Maryland, and being the student of history that I am, I told them that on our way home we would need to stop in Gettysburg. As we walked towards the battle fields and watched the reenactments, we were fortunate enough to meet a park ranger who proceeded to spend an hour speaking to us and one other family, outlining the entirety of the Battle of Gettysburg along with how the geography shaped decisions, and ultimately how this battle shaped the war and the future of America. My parents and I were totally enthralled by the recounting of this piece of history, but further, to be standing on the same ground as the men who fought – the men who made history – it was remarkable. 

We then walked to the memorial where the Gettysburg Address is forever memorialized overlooking the battlefield and cemetery. I stood there and read the whole speech, feeling as connected to President Lincoln as one can ever hope to feel. 

It was truly a moment that will forever live with me.

A day that will live in infamy

Much like my day in Gettysburg, there was another moment in time that is forever etched into my soul. Some 15 years ago I toured Pearl Harbor in Oahu, Hawaii. 

As previously stated, not only am I a student of history, but World War II was my focus, and I dedicated a large portion of my school years to studying it. This was a war, and a series of events, that will forever impact humanity. So for me, having studied every facet of this time in history, to physically stand in a place where pivotal events happened … I can’t begin to describe to you the emotions that went through my body.

I have yet to visit mainland Europe, and so I have not stood in any of the places this war touched there. But I have seen many parts of the war in my home country of Iceland, a place you might not think the war would have impacted much. But you’d be wrong. Still today you can walk into the bunkers that were built into the hillside by Reykjavík airport, where the British, and later the Americans, looked out onto the harbor to patrol for Nazi airplanes, boats and submarines. At the base of Hvalfjörður, a very deep fjord, still stands the old Allies submarine base. 

When I visited Oahu and entered the visitor center at Pearl Harbor, I felt very excited yet incredibly humbled. We received headsets for a self-guided tour that led us through not just the memorabilia and museum, but also the events of that fateful day. Jamie Lee Curtis narrated the tour, because as she explained, her father had served in the war. Curtis’s narration was truly moving; it was informative and fascinating, yet very sad. The culmination of the tour was boarding boats that took us out to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial that’s situated over the USS Arizona. 

As soon as we exited the boat and walked onto that pristine white USS Arizona Memorial, not a sound could be heard beside the movement of the ocean. Walking toward the Shrine Room, which is at the back of the memorial, and looking into the waters below, where it just barely skims the top of the smoke stacks of the USS Arizona, was one of the most emotional moments of my life. Facing the marble wall in the Shrine Room, which is engraved with the names of 1,177 sailors and Marines that died during the December 7, 1941 attack … words truly cannot describe the emotions that run through your mind, body, and soul.

At that moment, I recalled President Roosevelt’s words: “Yesterday December 7, 1941 a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” Like visiting Gettysburg, it was incredible to stand in that very place where the attacks happened and see the USS Arizona mere inches away me. There are some places that every American should visit. Just stand there, quietly, and soak in the significance of what happened. It is life changing.

Other places of significance

I have also visited Washington, DC, where I saw the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and Reflecting Pool. To be in the place that this country’s presidents and people of significance as well as everyday citizens have all stood … it too puts things into perspective. It reminds us that we are all here, in this country, sharing a past, present, and future.

As I stood with my brother, with the large statue of President Lincoln in his memorial at my back, and looked out at the Reflecting Pool, I thought about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his delivery of the infamous “I Have a Dream” speech on August 28, 1963 in that very spot. 

In that speech, King referenced the words of this country’s founders: 

In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our Republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men – yes, Black men as well as white men – would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  …

We continue to this day to discuss equality, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness. I hope that we can all find these things within ourselves as well as within our society. And it is my humble opinion, as a modern-day immigrant, that we as Americans should all take a moment to learn more about this country and its history. I will again encourage anyone and everyone to go stand in a place that was significant to this nation. We are literally surrounded by these places right here in Dutchess / Columbia / Litchfield / Berkshire counties, or make a trip to one of the places I mentioned or to the thousands of other places of importance in this nation. 

We Americans take pride in our heritage, culture, and country. I say embrace that by learning more or visiting these places. And when you’re there, stand there – quietly – and let the significance sink in.

Becoming a citizen

I want to share one more significant moment in time with you. About eight years ago, my parents, brother, and I became American citizens after years of having green cards. 

Our decision to finally become citizens was multi-faceted, and on the onset felt overwhelming (the application is over 20 pages long, plus you have to supply additional documentation, followed by an interview and a test). But it honestly was a very easy process. We quickly realized that the American government simply wanted to know if we were good people, contributing members of society, paid our taxes, didn’t have criminal records, and did not have any association with terrorist organizations. (We are. And we don’t.)

Some time after submitting the paperwork, we received dates for our interview and citizenship test. The test is essentially 10 questions from a list of 100 questions, drawn from American government, history, and geography. Frankly, it is stuff that every American should know, but shockingly not everyone does. 

My brother and I already knew the answers to almost all of the 100 potential questions, having learned those topics in school here. But studying for the test was a nice refresher nonetheless. 

Our interviews and the test were very stressful because there was so much on the line. And even though the immigration office is a very serious place, we found all of the staff there and our immigration officers to be very kind, helpful, and welcoming. 

The citizenship ceremony (which took place a few weeks later) was one of the most amazing and moving things that I’ve been a part of. Our ceremony took place on a beautiful September day in downtown Albany. There were literally people from all corners of the world being sworn in as American citizens that day, including a Tibetan monk who must have been in his eighties. Hearing some of the stories shared, as well as the words of the judge who swore us in … let me just tell you that it was an incredible and emotional day. 

For most Americans, you are born here and may not even think about what it means to be an American. But as someone who made the choice to become a citizen, it is both an honor and a privilege. One that I do not take for granted. When my family and I swore our allegiance to the United States of America, we renounced allegiances to any other nation, and we swore that we would protect this nation and uphold the Constitution above all else. 

I am a proud American. I will also always be proud of my country of origin. That is the way of immigrants. America is a melting pot of cultures from around the world, and we are all proud of where we have come from, and are also proud to be where we are.

Here’s to 250 years

I’m not sure how you’re going to celebrate this Fourth of July, but I will continue pondering what it means to be an American. I have been thinking a lot about not just what the past 250 years mean to this nation, but also about all the years prior to that too. As I shared, I just re-read the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, and the “I Have a Dream” speech. I have also been watching many Netflix documentaries that have been released recently about America’s leaders as well as CNN’s special called “This Land”. 

This country, although a young one, is diverse. It is rich in culture and history. It is proud. I love all of these things about it. Of course no one and no thing is perfect, but here’s my hope: I hope that we will all continue to celebrate our freedom and that we will all continue to pursue our happiness – both as a nation and as individuals.

Personally, I am also excited to continue to celebrate this nation by visiting as many of its beautiful and pivotal sites as possible. Yosemite and the Grand Canyon are on my list, amongst others. 

So this July Fourth, after you have a hot dog, wave the American flag, and watch the fireworks, perhaps consider taking a moment to read the Constitution, watch a documentary featuring a pivotal person or time in history, or plan a trip to visit a place that has shaped this country. You won’t be sorry. In fact, you’ll feel even more connected to this place that has shaped who you are. 

Happy birthday America, here’s to 250 more. •