by Matthew Pilling, guest writer

SALT LAKE CITY, UT | 1 July 2008 | When people hear that I am Canadian, they often ask questions about whether or not I would consider becoming an American. Ironically, I am a citizen of the U.S.A. by birth—my mother is American and my family came from Canada when I was still a minor. Similar to an “army brat”, I was considered an “American Citizen born abroad”.

But the question has often caused me to reflect a little. Would I willingly exchange my Canadian citizenship and heritage for a paper that declares me American? Up until the past few years, I didn’t really think it mattered. Even the people asking if I want to become American tend to preface the question by saying that “it really doesn’t matter, but…”

Canada acquired its freedom through a paperwork process. There was no battle, no revolution, and little change in the life of the average citizen. Canadians will tell you that they value their freedom, but most couldn’t really define their freedom. In similar fashion, not having had to fight for American citizenship, I wonder if I value it the way that I should. Do I really understand what has been given me, and do I act as proper steward over the gift that I have been given? Do any of us who haven’t physically fought for and completely dedicated our time, talents, and resources to the cause of freedom fully understand what freedom is, why it is so important to our happiness, and what we need to do to safeguard it? I would wager that we don’t yet understand it. Even those of us who have studied long and hard to know the Founding Fathers and the truths that motivated them only bear a theoretical knowledge of what freedom really meant to them. I guess you get what you pay for. And, as most of us have paid little or nothing for our freedom, we don’t yet “get it”.

Over the past two years, I have had my eyes opened. I have been privileged to stumble upon the truths that bolster our American freedoms—truths that will guarantee freedom to any nation that chooses to actively live by them. I have learned how those truths are simple, yet their effects are profound. I have experienced that the more fully we commit ourselves to those truths, the more freedom we experience in all areas of our lives, regardless of the political climate that surrounds us. I have learned that my American citizenship does matter. It is citizenship in the only nation on earth that has a government based on documents that identify, define, and defend those very truths. While I am always free to control my thoughts and attitude (and can thereby experience a level of freedom in any political climate), living in the only country on earth that fully fosters that freedom is a huge privilege and blessing. In the words of John Wayne, “I do think we have a pretty wonderful country, and I thank God that He chose me to live here.”

The Founding Fathers saw citizenship as more than land ownership or occupancy of a space within a nation. They saw it as a commitment, a willingness to do whatever was needed to further the cause in which they participated. Today, we seem to have forgotten that cause all together, and view our citizenship as a squatter’s right. We believe that our mere presence, rather than our contributions, qualifies us as citizens. In large part, we have become moochers. We enjoy the fruits without considering the labors.

Conclusion 

Every July 1, I still celebrate Canada Day with my family—not so much because it’s a part of my heritage, but because Canada is another free nation, a nation whose people are welcome to worship as they please, to engage in business with limited interference, and to own and control their own property. And that is worth celebrating. Sure, Canada has socialistic tendencies in government, health care, and everyday life (as do we). But, in looking at world societies today, outside of our own borders, no one comes closer to enjoying their God-given rights the way that that God intended than our neighbors to the north.

I’m grateful for my Canadian heritage. It gives me a unique perspective through which I can more fully understand the value of my American citizenship. When asked if I would consider becoming an American citizen, the answer is simple—I’m working on that everyday.

Action Items 

1. Find someone who has relinquished their citizenship in another country to become an American citizen. Ask that person what it was that caused them to make that change.
2. Ask them how their life and perspective have changed since becoming a citizen.
3. Ask them what the process was like to become an American.
4. Take a sample citizenship quiz.
5. Spend some time between now and Independence Day defining what citizenship really means. Determine what changes need to happen in your thoughts, commitments, and actions if you want to be considered a truly patriotic citizen.

(Matthew Pilling is a member of the FreeCapitalist movement known as the Canadian Capitalist. Despite his time in the Great White North, Matthew loves America and all that it stands for. He lives with his wife and two children in Taylorsville and works in finance.)