This whole procedure seemed unlike any official proceeding and more like a middle school graduation ceremony. This impression was enhanced by the program – eight pieces of paper stapled at the top corner, which proclaimed “Congratulations to our newest citizens!!” along with the obligatory images of the Statue of Liberty and the American flag.

After we had signed our certificates (the men with the briefcase having finally shown up), we raised our right hands to recite the oath of allegiance. This involved promising to “entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty”, and to “bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law”, and sneakily covered the possibility that one might recite these words without the desired intent by adding that “I take this obligation freely and without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion so help me God”.

This bizarrely archaic piece of ceremony seemed to bear no relationship to reality, and to leave no room for freedom of religion, freedom of speech for those who opposed war, or loyalty to the country of our birth, whether legal or emotional. We pledged allegiance to the American flag, which apparently stands for “liberty and justice for all”, trying not to think of those many citizens and other human beings who had been arbitrarily deprived of these in this country. Paranoid that there might be hidden cameras watching us, I reluctantly mouthed the words with my fingers crossed in my pocket.