When we travel internationally, my favorite part of coming home is customs. I look at the U.S. citizens’ line, and I’m always amazed at how similar it looks to the non-citizens’ line. Americans have roots all over the world, but we’ve found a home together here.
Like every big nation, we have problems, but we also have some vast cultural differences to bridge. Here’s to our shared freedoms, our gorgeous country, and our communal struggle to figure things out.
Happy Independence Day, fellow Americans. I like you guys.
Mighty Girl 
Amen to that! Have a peaceful and (civic, freedom of religious practice) blessed 4th.
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Please – indeed!
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That’s always what I think when I come back through customs, too. It’s never demonstrated more clearly than in the customs officers: in June at JFK, I counted among the officers one American-Italian, one Chinese-American, one African-American, one Hispanic-American, one Indian-American and one white (uh, German-Irish-Scot?) American, all checking passports. Kind of great.
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Have a Happy and Safe Independence Day everyone!!
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Hear, hear! My sentiments exactly. Happy Independence Day, EVERYBODY!
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Happy 4th from North of the border.
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Amen!
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I like you too!
(Says the girl that reads you daily but never comments!)
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Yeah!!! Happy 4th to you too!!!
(says the guy that became an American a bit over a year ago)
=)
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I will second that Amen, sister! Another in a long list of reasons that I am in the process of importing my husband.
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imigration officer to the arriving crowd: “U.S. citizens?” some people make themselfs known. imigration officer: “this line please, welcome home guys”. never seen such a scene at any other immigrations and calling strange people sounds still weired in my ears
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Well said. Cheers!
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My favorite part is when they say “Welcome Home” and I grin.
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The difference is: The non-citizens-line is waaaay longer and mostly you are not greeted with a “nice to have you visiting” or a simple smile. Thats sad.
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