When we got into the doors I found myself belt-less and explaining that I was not carrying any weaponry. With the contents of my pockets, everything that allowed me to stay in the country, placed in a tiny basket I stopped and spoke to the guard. "You see I just had knee surgery so I have a brace on." The officer attempted small talk with me. "Why did you have surgery." I went on to explain that I had osteoarthritis in my right knee, which always brings people to a pause. "Ho does a young guy like you get that?" He directed me to the metal detector and I explained to him that it was from years of basketball. He looked me over "You better be good."
The detector went off as I walked through. "I am going to have to touch you" the guard on the other side of the detector warned. There wasn't any "bad" touching like I was warned about in elementary school to be careful of.
When we were finally upstairs I was directed to the super secret area for the aliens; Jwow of course had to explain that she wasn't there to be naturalized before she was allowed to proceed. As I sat down during the ceremony I found myself reflecting on the day and my life up to that point. I came to the realization that I had done this little dance a thousand times. I had been "naturalized" before several times: when going through airports and at the Liberty Bell and countless other places with security checkpoints.
America has become one giant fear machine and this has been relayed to me a thousand ways since 2001. I have felt helpless over these five years as I have matured from a teenager to the person I am today. I haven't been able to partake in the most important expression of our freedoms and opinions as Americans. Like all the years before I have to sit this election cycle out. I feel helpless as I cannot directly affect the election, I can't cast a vote.
This is of course extremely pessimistic as there are lots of ways that we all can make a change. Political action comes in several different forms. I believe that it needs to start on a one to one level; if we can just reach out to one person and have that person reach another, the possibilities are endless. At this time of the year we can take part in get out the vote efforts, poll watching and donations.
Do more than vote. Make a real difference. http://domorethanvote.org
