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US Visa, Green Card and Citizenship

President Barrack Obama will arrive in Jamaica later today. Some persons may be fantasising about a special gift from him of unprecedented numbers of US Visas, so they can go to ‘farin’.

The United States has become the proverbial land of opportunity flowing with ‘milk and honey’. If that doesn’t interest you then streets paved with gold and certainly without potholes may. But why are so many Jamaicans obsessed with getting a US Visa, the coveted Green Card and the road to US citizenship?

I have heard numerous stories of children in school, young adults and grown men literally  putting their lives on hold and doing absolutely nothing because ‘somebody a farin a file fi dem’. What is this nonsense? Some are so obsessed with ‘farin’ that it has caused severe mental illness and this is no joke.

Wanting a better life is a noble aspiration for anyone. However, it seems some of us will only put our shoulders to the wheel and make something of ourselves when we go to America. In fact, Jamaicans have gotten the well-earned reputation of being very industrious people in foreign lands. We brave heat wave, cold and snow to reach work on time and keep the three jobs.  Back home on the ‘rock’ if a little rain even ‘consider’ to fall, we are not going to work.

For the record that I have nothing against America and its system for deciding who she accepts as visitors or residents. Actually, I am very impressed with the American spirit of nationalism and patriotism. If you look-up the meaning of patriotism in the dictionary you will see a picture of an American wearing something in the national colours. But why are Americans so smitten by love for country? I am certain when they bleed the blood is red mixed with hues of white and blue. The only other similar phenomenon is the purple blood that runs through the veins of those who went to school at 2A North Street in Kingston, Jamaica.

 Patriotism is, generally speaking, cultural attachment to one’s homeland or devotion  to one’s country.

I think there are great lessons to be learnt from both the Americans and the 2 A North ‘Streetians’. They are not ‘waggonist’ and their loyalty knows absolutely no boundaries. In good time and bad times they stand by their own. In 9/11, July 4th and Olympic glory; in Schools’ Challenge Quiz loss and Champs defeat, it doesn’t matter. Whatever the ups or downs, they are unflinching in their loyalty almost to the point of being fanatical.

But what does patriotism mean in country built on immigration? It’s almost paradoxical. What does it mean to be an American patriot – particularly after September the 11th and the war in Iraq?

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”                                     

The pledge of allegiance to the flag and the Republic is recited at the start of every school day, by over 70% of American children. Could this provide a clue?  A class of six year-olds when asked what the pledge meant to American said things like, ‘It makes God happy’ , ‘So America can be good’ and ‘For our soldiers, it helps them fight for our country.’ These children grow up to feel a sense of bonding and belonging and fly the flag on their cars, front lawns and wear American themed clothing.

When you get your Green Card and start the walk towards citizenship you have to be converted to this way of thinking. After jumping all the hoops the final step in being accepted by Uncle Sam is that you swear take the pledge of Allegiance. Your blood then changes from red to a strange shade of red, white and blue!

Nationalism is a belief, creed or political ideology that involves an individual identifying with, or becoming attached to, one’s nation.

Jamaicans have a great spirit. We are known to support our teams, athletes, entertainers and representatives on the world stage but they have to start a winning streak first. We love and support Jamaica when a Jamaican is doing well but what of the love and support when things are not going so well? Actually that’s when the support is needed more. Jamaicans must rally around things Jamaican and show more love for country outside of the ‘good times’. It’s easily to be patriotic and put a flag on your car when the Olympic team is doing well or a star athlete breaks a world record. But what about all the other days when nothing exceptional is happening and we await the nod from the US Embassy?

I invite you to join me as I share the journey towards this ambitious goal – 1,000,000 downloads!!!

If your dream does not scare you then it’s not big enough!

More tomorrow…..

Sandra