Sticking To It

My dad and I were watching the Today Show this morning and they did a feature on this 18-year old kid who bought farmland with the help of his family and neighbors in a small farming town in Massachusetts.

One of his neighbors wanted to retire from farming, but didn't want to sell it to some corporation that would only transform his farmland into houses and whatnot. So he sold it to the kid that helped him out every summer. He was offered millions by those big corporations. He sold it to the kid for only $32,000.

Now the kid is selling produce from his farm and his neighbors help him out by buying from him. He's keeping his town real, upholding their identity and celebrating its bounties.

He didn't go to college anymore. Some people might not dig that, but he's too busy digging into his own plot of land to care. This is what he believes in and he's sticking to it. It might not be glamorous nor convenient, but he's sticking to it.

***

An uncle and an aunt recently became bona fide American citizens. My dad and I were talking about it this morning and, like me, he doesn't want to be an American citizen - especially because it means that by doing so, you have to denounce your original citizenship. (Of course, you can always apply for dual citizenship, but that comes later on, I believe.) That is something neither my dad nor I would like to do.

I had a conversation with a friend of my in laws and he was telling me about the beauty of America, the land of opportunity, and how, since I'll be living here for a while, I should be taking advantage of that to the fullest extent. (Now there's something I haven't heard before. Ooh.) I was trying to explain that my intention was to study, maybe work a while, but Chaddy and I wouldn't want to settle here for good. We don't want to raise our children here entirely. Canada, maybe, but not here.

He said I should stay long enough to be a citizen. (Again, how novel! Where do people come up with such capital ideas???) And I said, no, thank you, I don't want to be a citizen. And then he gave me this look. Mind you, we had just met, and he gave me a look like, "You must be one of those crazy, flaming, liberals..." Well, yes, I probably am, but no matter. He gave me a look. And we had just met.

And then he said, "Well, Bush won't be president forever. Your views might change."

And I said, "No, not really."

And he said, "But maybe when you have kids, it'll be different."

And I said, "We specifically do not want to raise our kids there."

And he said, "Maybe your parents will petition you."

And I said, "They would, but then I've already told them I didn't want to be a citizen, so they've let go of that."

And he said, "Think of all the conveniences! For one, you can get to travel anywhere and not need a visa!"

And I said, "Why do something just for the convenience? If something is too convenient, why would it be worth doing?"

And he did: Blink-blink. Naubusan ata.

"It's a principle thing," I said.

And he let go of it either because (a) he had to go, (b) he knew he was going to be in for quite an earful if he asked further, or (c) I would have to get physical with him, even in the teensiest way, be it hurling a few spittle his way from my angry, frothing, liberal mouth.

See, this is what I don't understand. I get why others would like to be citizens. Totally get it. But I don't want to be a citizen. I don't force other people to subscribe to my liberal beliefs (hee-haw said the Democratic donkey...) We can engage in healthy debate, yes, but at the end of the day, I don't want to force people to have the same beliefs and dreams. I don't see why someone else has to force his dream on me.

My dream is to teach kids how to read and write well. My dream is to have kids who are articulate, compassionate, open minded, God-fearing, and (eek) liberal. My dream is to grow old with Chaddy, laughing and crying all the way. While location may not be that important - here, there, Canada, Tegucigalpa, Seychelles - I do not want to get rid of my citizenship. When I die, I will die a Filipino.

I am a Filipino by birth and deed and heart. I might not have chosen to be a Filipino, but I choose to remain a Filipino.

I am not a Filipino because of convenience; if it is too convenient, then why would it be worth doing?