Congratulations!
Nevertheless I have to say as being a German I could not imagine giving up my German citizenship for becoming American. I do not say that I am content with everything in my country but it is the place were I have my roots in all regards. Therefore I have to say that the US are a nation I keep warm and good feelings for, but America will never be the place where I want to be a citizen. It is a matter of love for the origin. Therefore we Germans call our country “Vaterland” (Father’s Land).
I totally understand what you are saying. I will never forget my Canadian roots! Canada is a wonderful country, with many freedoms, and like the U.S. is blessed in many ways.
After living as a Legal Permanent Resident in the U.S. for the past 35 years, I have a DEEP love for this country and all it stands for, in spite of it’s faults. My decision to become a citizen is not taken lightly or frivolously - it’s something I have pondered for a long time.
Canada will always consider me to be a Canadaian citizen (Canada recognizes dual-citizenship - some countries don’t). My becoming a U.S. Citizen had no “anti-Canada” connotation to it whatsoever, but was a desire to make a LEGAL committment to the U.S. - a country that has blessed me in a million ways! (I already had a “HEART” committment.)
I want to be able to participate in voting, and “giving back” to this country in whatever ways I can. I really think if you had lived in the U.S. for a significant period of time, you would share these sentiments also, without abandoning your love for your “Fatherland”! (Incidentally, I am of German descent, on my father’s side.)
I lived in Germany for four years, and two of my children were born there. It is a beautiful country, with many nice people. Nevertheless, I could never become a German citizen. In fact, the more I saw of the country, the more I understood why my great, great, grandfather left, and came to America. There is room in the world for many differences, and Germany has many things to recommend it, but America is home for me, despite its warts. I imagine your feelings for your home are much as mine are for my home. I have ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War, and others like Grandpa Max, the son of my G’G’Grandfather, who brought the rest of the family over to join his father in their new home in the last days of the 19th Century. There is room enough for us all.