Editorial: July 4 citizenship events show emptiness of Lt. Gov.'s attack on multiculturalism

CBC Editorial: Friday, July 5, 2019; Editorial #8440
The following is the opinion of Capitol Broadcasting Company

A dozen days ago Lt. Gov. Dan Forest stood before the congregants of Cornerstone Church in Salisbury and condemned multiculturalism during a Sunday “Celebrate American Service.”

“No other nation, my friends, has ever survived the diversity and multiculturalism that America faces today, because of a lack of assimilation, because of this division, and because of this identity politics,” said Forest, who’s seeking the Republican nomination for North Carolina governor in 2020.

What a contrast it was on Thursday, July 4, the 243rd anniversary of American independence, to witness 25 people from Bolivia, Burma, Canada, the People's Republic of China, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Guatemala, India, Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Mexico, Nigeria, Vietnam and Yemen, standing on the state Capitol grounds in Raleigh.

They renounced their allegiance to any leaders or nations under whom they were once subjects or citizens. Before their families, friends and an entire nation they swore to “support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United states of American against all enemies.”

Watch these people in this inspiring video. It was no casual moment. It was the fulfillment of a dream and the culmination of much struggle and study. Citizenship for these 25 and more than 7,500 others around the nation who became citizens in ceremonies this week, was hard-earned. It was no birthright.

Dan Forest wants us to believe, as he says he does, that North Carolina and the United States is a weaker place because of differences in background, nation of origin, forms of faith and worship.

But he is wrong – and our nation’s unique and successful history is ample evidence. It is our nation’s ability to embrace those differences in a system where allegiance isn’t to any individual, royalty, family claims of divine right, or dictator whose power rests in fear.

Citizens in the United States don’t swear allegiance to a president or any politician. Our allegiance is to the Constitution and the law. It was unique 243 years ago. It is the model of democracies that have followed.

Dan Forest doesn’t get it. But we do.

We support legal immigration. We support paths to citizenship.

We welcome these newest citizens. We are a stronger nation for their participation and loyalty.