Posted on 05/25/2011 8:31:48 PM PDT by thecodont
There are certain opportunities that are so rare and so special, you'd be nuts not to grab them. This is how I ended up at the Phillip Burton Federal Building on Friday afternoon watching my friend Nadir be sworn in as an American citizen.
Born in Portugal and arriving in California at age 9, Nadir has spent the past decade working towards his citizenship. Now 26 years old, it's not like Nadir's been lounging around, twiddling his thumbs, waiting for a passport. Nadir put himself through college, he's currently working in Washington DC for a Congressman and next year, he'll be attending Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.
Nadir makes most people look like ungrateful deadbeats who litter.
So when he invited me to attend his swearing-in (I sorta begged for an invite), I was thrilled to worm my way into such a special event. All I knew of citizenship ceremonies, I knew from that episode of "Designing Women" where Suzanne made Anthony dress up as her maid, Conseula.
Turns out, the real thing is considerably more interesting and emotional.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/culture/detail?entry_id=89622#ixzz1NQPEXvh6
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
When my wife was sworn in as a Citizen, we both were in tears. It really is quite overwhelming and, to me as a USA-born native, humbling.
My brother married into an Asian family and one of her sis in law’s was originally an illegal. Unlike other illegals, she had an ITIN, which is like a tax number/SSS # and paid into the system. She eventually got her green card, then eventually became a US citizen this year. It is overwhelming and emotional. She loves this country unlike most people who call themselves “American’ aka liberals. It was also a great time for me to party because their side of the family can really booze it up LOL.
San Francisco Chronicle is excerpt link only. Your post had to be removed because it contained more of the already excerpted article.
I see no reason to assume that he came here legally. I would be willing to bet he and the mother started out as illegals. Legal immigrants can expect to be and are paid the minimum wage, citizenship has nothing to do with it, legal residence does. If she entered legally, she could have become a citizen long ago, within five years of arriving, but she isn't, and is being sponsored by her son. Hmmmmm.
Wonder what congressman Nadir is working for. I wonder if the mosque helped him get that job? And wonder why that congressman wasn't named. Also, a kid whose parents were born here and paid taxes all their lives, ditto grandparents and great-grandparents, won't get to go to Harvard's Kennedy School of Government because Nadir will be there in her place. Sorry, nope, this isn't much of a feel good story at all.
We should welcome anyone who comes here and works hard to better themselves and gain citizenship.
Everyone I’ve met that gained citizenship this way has been proud and happy to be in America.
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