He became interested in America after hearing stories of relatives who had immigrated there a century ago, including his grandparents. His grandfather and grandmother immigrated to America from the west of Ireland in the 1920s. It wasn’t an easy journey, but there was hope for a better life at the end. What could be more hopeful?
The “Americans” returned to Ireland decades later to visit Declan’s family in Dublin. Declan and his friends watched the 1994 World Cup in New Jersey and watched American TV shows like “Friends.” It all looked very glamorous.
“America seemed interesting,” he says. “I’d always wanted to go on holiday there. I wanted to see New York.”
Luckily, Declan met his wife, Jenna, a California native, in Germany during a break from college. The two married in Europe a few years later. They initially lived in London, but moved to the United States when Jenna enrolled at Emory University’s Goizueta School of Business. After three years in the U.S., he applied for U.S. citizenship.
“I pay taxes here, I work here, I live here,” he said. “I want to be involved. I want to feel like I can vote, be a part of the process, be involved.”
The citizenship test, administered by the Department of Homeland Security, includes a written English test and an oral exam on the country’s origins and values. Of the 100 questions asked of applicants, the average American would be able to answer about 40% of them, starting with the first: “What is the supreme law of the land?” (the Constitution, of course).
Other questions are harder, like: Name one constitutional power that belongs exclusively to the states? Name one of the authors of The Federalist Papers? Can you name the first two people in the line of presidential succession? Declan can answer.
Some citizenship questions explore how America became a nation, while others remind us of the great benefits that being an American brings that most of us take for granted: “What are two rights of every person who lives in the United States?” There are lots of them.
Declan already had a master’s degree in American history, but he was prepared for the worst by taking practice tests every day, with his wife and co-workers asking him for the answers. After weeks of preparation, he passed the test in an unassuming government building in Atlanta and was sworn in as a citizen that very same day.
Credit: Courtesy of Declan Clear
Credit: Courtesy of Declan Clear
I’ve heard some Americans say they plan to move to Canada or Europe if their candidate loses the November presidential election. Maybe they’re joking, maybe they’re serious. But Declan says that despite the recent political turmoil, he doesn’t regret becoming an American, and he definitely doesn’t plan to move depending on who wins the White House.
“I think there’s a lot more to America than just politics,” he said. “There are a lot of great people here and I think the people are very kind.”
The day after taking the oath of citizenship, Declan arrived at his office to find it decorated with American flags and buntings. They welcomed him by singing the national anthem.
Two days later, he celebrated Flag Day by helping carry a giant American flag onto the field at Truist Park, right before the Braves game, of course, with the second-to-the-bottom white stripe.
“I think it’s easy to be cynical about what’s going on in politics, but I think there’s something really great about America, this state, this country,” he said. “It’s very special. I’m very grateful to be an American.”
So Declan Clear became the third generation of Irish people to find not only opportunity but family, community and purpose in America. The son of Irish immigrants, my father served in the U.S. Air Force. My mother’s favorite song is John Philip Sousa’s Patriotic March. Her favorite holiday is Independence Day. And so do I.
Happy Independence Day, Declan, and welcome to America.
