我的英國入籍儀式 Celebrate the natives who welcome
It was with a mixture of scepticism and excitement that I headed for my British citizenship ceremony.
當我前去參加自己的英國入籍儀式時，心中摻雜着懷疑和興奮的感覺。
Rituals have never been my thing. I haven’t been to any of my own graduations, despite having had three such opportunities. Dress up in an overpriced robe, listen to lofty lectures then clap for hours while queueing to receive a decorative piece of paper from a total stranger. How about no? Some weddings I find equally ridiculous. Why invite your favourite people from all geographies to one place just to not hang out with them? Instead of catching up, the couple reaches the pinnacle of a once-in-a-lifetime feat of logistics, recites a legally binding incantation and disappears on holiday.
儀式從來都不是我喜歡的場面。我沒參加過自己任何一次畢業典禮，儘管有過三次這樣的機會。穿着昂貴的禮服盛裝出席，聽着長達數小時豪情壯志的演講而後鼓掌，同時排着長隊等待從一個完全陌生的人手中接到裝點門面的一紙文書。沒有又能怎麼樣？我發現有些婚禮也是一樣的荒謬。為什麼要把你喜歡的人從各地請到一個地方，只為了不和他們共聚？新婚夫婦不和朋友們敍舊，而只是專注於完成自己的終身大事，背誦一句具有法律約束力的咒語，然後就消失度蜜月去了。
By contrast, the ritual by which one completes the final step to beComing British proved surprisingly enjoyable. The ceremony I enrolled in took place two weeks ago in a south London registry office. The weather was on form — a mixture of grey skies, indecisive rain and occasionally worrying thunder. There was tea, biscuits and a longer wait than I was expecting before we even began. All in, it was the perfect setting in which to cement one’s place in the UK — in my case, after having studied here for seven years and worked for six, with stints in a couple of other countries in between.
相比之下，成為英國人的最後一步的儀式卻愉悦得令人意外。我參加的那場儀式是最近在倫敦南部的登記辦公室進行的。天氣中規中矩——灰濛濛的天空、連綿不斷的細雨、偶爾響起的令人擔憂的雷聲。官方準備了茶和餅乾，儀式開始前等待的時間比我預期的長些。所有這一切構成了夯實外國人在英國地位的完美情境——就我而言，這種身份是在英國學習了7年、工作了6年（其間曾在另外兩個國家短期居住）之後才獲得的。
But something important was missing from the proceedings. Namely natives. Each soon-to-be Brit could bring up to two guests, and most appeared to be relatives or close friends. There wouldn’t have been space for more.
但是，過程中少了某些很重要的事——本土英國人。每個準英國人都可以帶來兩位客人，其中多數客人似乎都是親戚或密友。現場也沒有場地讓更多人蔘加。
The danger of holding these ceremonies in small rooms off to the side is that few British people bear witness to the successes of settled migrants. Instead there are just headline statistics that group everyone together: those coming here to study, as I did back in 1997; or to work; or, in the case of refugees, to reach safety. Big faceless numbers can stoke fears about how many incomers the country can support, even though not all become permanent residents.
在一個不起眼的地點的某個小房間內舉行這類儀式的危險在於，鮮有英國人能親眼見證新移民的成功。相反，人們看到的是把同一類人捆綁在一起的整體數據：那些像我這樣1997年就來英國學習的人；或者來英工作的人；再或者那些為了獲得安全的難民。不分個體的大數字激起人們對這個國家能夠承受多少移民的恐懼，即使並非所有來英國的人都會成為永久居民。
What is clear, however, is that, for those who make it all the way to citizenship, it’s something to be celebrated by all. Ideally in a more public and personalised manner.
然而，顯而易見的是，對於那些終於成功入籍的人來説，這是值得所有人慶祝的事。在理想情況下，最好是以更加公開而個性化的方式來慶祝。
It wouldn’t be practical for every citizenship ceremony to be open to a broader audience, of course. But, when naturalisation is approved, there could be an invitation to apply for a more elaborate public ceremony. From the applicants, a diverse group of people could be selected — from different parts of the world and professions. Much like how the recent “I am an immigrant” poster campaign in the UK did, when its organisers endeavoured to highlight the positive side of migration. A Polish firefighter was featured on one poster; a Syrian occupational therapist on another; and, full disclosure, this FT columnist made an appearance.
當然，讓每一場入籍儀式都向更多觀眾開放也不實際。但是，當入籍獲得批准後，不妨邀請人們申請參加一個比較隆重的公眾儀式。有關方面可以遴選來自世界不同地區、不同職業、形形色色的申請者來參加。就像英國最近“我是移民”的海報活動（其組織者努力彰顯移民的積極面）。一名波蘭消防員上了海報；還有一名敍利亞的職業理療師也出現在海報上；基於全面披露原則，身為英國《金融時報》專欄作家的筆者也出現了。
Given a larger venue, we could add local dignitaries, perhaps an MP, plus a touch of pomp and circumstance. This might entice British-born residents to accept invitations, without regarding the event as a duty akin to jury service. More tickets for applicants to give to friends and neighbours would further increase turnout.
有了更大的場地，我們還可以邀請當地政要，或許請一位議員到場，再把排場搞得稍微隆重些。這或許會促使本土出生的居民也能欣然接受邀請，而不是把這當做類似於陪審團工作的義務。申請者可以向朋友和鄰居分發的入場票更多，出席儀式的人數也會進一步增加。
To make it more personal, would-be Brits could write their own vows in addition to the usual affirmation of allegiance. And participants could also do something natives struggle with but enjoy hearing others do: say how wonderful the UK is. Coming from the US, I’d have liked the chance to say how grateful I am for the National Health Service. I love it when, at the end of a doctor’s appointment, you just walk out. Straight past reception. There’s no “Show me your insurance, this is the co-payment you have to make, please can I have your credit card”. Having a health service looking after you, rather than a medical industry profiting from you, is just wonderful.
為了使入籍更加個性化，準英國人不妨在標準版本的效忠誓詞以外加入自己所寫的誓詞。同時，參與者還可以做一些本土居民自己很糾結、但又喜歡聽到別人做的事：訴説英國有多麼美好。來自美國的我，很願意能有個機會表達一下自己對英國國民保健體系(NHS)的感激之情。醫生問診結束後，你可以一走了之，我非常喜歡這一點。直接走過前台。沒有什麼“給我看看你的保險，這是你必須做出的共同支付，請把你的信用卡給我”之類的流程。擁有一個照顧你的醫療體系、而不是一個從你身上獲利的醫療行業，那感覺太美妙了。
Others less fortunate than me — trading one peaceful, developed country for another — would have even more solemn things to say.
我是從一個和平的發達國家入籍到另一個和平的發達國家，沒我那麼幸運的人甚至會有更多事情需要鄭重表達。
As the UK prepares to welcome more migrants of all kinds, ceremonies should be open to the public to celebrate both those who make this country their permanent home and those born here who welcome them. Tea, biscuits, bad weather and all.
在英國準備歡迎更多形形色色的移民之際，入籍儀式應該向公眾開放，既讓那些在英國安居樂業的人慶祝，也讓出生在英國的本土人有機會歡迎他們加入。茶、餅乾、壞天氣以及所有的一切。
