This Side of the Pond

I have pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands.

To one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

In other words, I write to you for the first time this week as an American.

Last week, after more than a decade of earning the right, I traveled to Casper to stand with 22 other immigrants and take the oath of allegiance. It was a privilege afforded to me after passing the final test earlier this summer and being approved for United States citizenship.

I wasn’t allowed to call myself American yet, even thou...