Man uses Twitter, flickr, blogs, video to share naturalization experience
March 19, 2010
When NCoC uses the term “eCitizenship,” we usually intend it to reflect the ways people engage in civic activities in online environments, whether its through donating online, circulating virtual petitions, or sharing video and images on issues and causes.
The 2008 and 2009 National Conference on Citizenship have held naturalization ceremonies which not only swear in 25 new American citizens, but give attendees a chance to reflect on the meaning of the citizenship they (in many cases) were born with.
David Chen took both eCitizenship and his naturalization ceremony to a new level when he used social media to share his experience of becoming a U.S. citizen.
David used Twitter, flickr, personal video, and blogging to chronicle every moment of his experience and share his personal reflection.
As quoted in an article on Mashable, David said:
“I didn’t anticipate being able to live-tweet the ceremony, because I had heard a rumor that they would confiscate my electronic devices. This ended up not being true, so after I checked in, I realized I had an opportunity to show people an aspect of citizenship that they might not usually be privy to. And I took it.”
Last year, surrounding the inauguration of Barack Obama, NCoC asked Americans to taking the Citizen’s Oath as a reminder that good citizenship is the responsibility of every American, whether they are born here or naturalized here:
As an American I embrace the responsibilities of self-government.
• I pledge to learn and live the principles set forth in the charters that define our freedoms: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
• I pledge to keep myself informed about the challenges that face our country and world and to work with others to meet those challenges.
• I pledge to assist persons in need and thereby strengthen the bonds among us.
• I pledge to register and vote when I am of age, in every election in which I am eligible.
• I pledge to conduct myself according to the highest standards of civic decency, to foster those standards throughout my community and to expect them of all public officials.
Through these acts, I commit myself to building a more just, humane and ethical nation, for my own and all future generations.