I have a lovely friend, a very serious person of German birth. She married an American GI about 10 years after WWII and moved to the US. About 12 years ago she became a naturalized citizen and was so excited about it. When I asked what took her so long she said, for years she had had a problem renouncing all allegiance to her former homeland. Then on a trip back to Germany to visit family she became aware the fact that she no longer referred to Americans as "they" but as "we". She said she knew then that it was time.
Fine story, Darlin'.