Joy and privilege

While the cornfields and gravel roads of southeast Nebraska are different from the hills of Scotland, Owen Derrick, minister of Christ Lutheran Church in rural Pickrell, is quick to note that, in his words, people are people.

Derrick, who is originally from Greenock, Scotland, was to join approximately 50 people at the Homestead National Monument of America Tuesday in becoming a U.S. citizen.

After completing an interview process and passing a 10-question test on U.S. government on Aug. 20, Derrick said he has had mixed emotions in the last month as he thinks about the change his life will take.

“I really have two feelings about it,” Derrick said. “There's a feeling of great joy and of privilege in becoming an American citizen. There is also a great sadness of losing my Scottish citizenship, but they really can't take that away. What I value most is the unique mixture of freedom and responsibility and the idea of being part of the American Dream.”

Fulfilling a lifelong desire to work in the United States, Derrick moved to Minneapolis in 1999 where he worked as a computer consultant for the Spherion company. The next year, he moved to Lisle, Ill., to be closer to his girlfriend, Dianne, whom he would marry in 2001.