Russian, 104, Becomes a U.S. Citizen

The Moscow Times.com ^ | Friday, Dec. 19, 2003. | By Duncan Mansfield, The Associated Press

[aculeus]

Shlema Livshits, who fought in Russia's Civil War and World War II, taking the oath of allegiance at a Knoxville, Tennessee, hospital.

[aculeus]

Great photo ping.

[Paul Atreides]

Now that we have him, can we send some a bunch of our home-grown America-haters to Russia? I think that is a fair trade.

[KantianBurke]

Wow! Now that he's a citizen he might want to consider changing a few letters from his last name :>

[Paul Atreides]

Heaven help him if he becomes a FReeper! ;-)

[LibKill]

He's old, but he's good!

[Vigilanteman]

Now that we have him, can we send some a bunch of our home-grown America-haters to Russia?

Russia is changed and wankers are on their way out. Maybe they could try North Korea.

[NittanyLion]

Presumably he was born in 1899. Just think what events he's seen in his lifetime! From the Czars through Lenin, Stalin, Kruschev, Gorbachev. From no human flight to landing on the moon and flying stealth bombers. Just amazing...

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

My family left Russia in 1912....it took my Grandfather 10 years to be granted citizenship - his original paperwork notes 1918 and he became a citizen in 1928.

Since I grew up with a Russian last name, I got pretty tired of hearing ignorant kids in Texas call me a communist.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Proud to call him a Tennesseean as well.

[TomGuy]

Presumably he was born in 1899. Just think what events he's seen in his lifetime! From the Czars through Lenin, Stalin, Kruschev, Gorbachev. From no human flight to landing on the moon and flying stealth bombers. Just amazing...

Yes. My maternal grandmother lived 1898-1992. It is difficult to conceive all the history she lived through, from what we consider "early inventions" through moon walks, space shuttles, etc. The 20ieth Century was a massive century for inventions and progress--and wars and atrocities (Hitler, Stalin, Hussein, Pol Pot, Amin).

[Arpege92]

"....he might want to consider changing a few letters from his last name:>."

LOL....I was thinking the same thing!

[NittanyLion]

Even though I know it, upon reflection it's just incredible. One wonders what factors led to such rapid innovation. Education? Technology? Medicine?

[ShadowDancer]

I would give an awful lot to have a conversation with that man about his life.

[TomGuy]

I remember reading Alvin Toffler's Future Shock 30-some years ago. That book detailed how great the increase was (then) and how it impacted the 1970's generation. It was amazing how rapid "intelligence" increased--the last 100 years had human knowledge doubling every 20, then 10, then 5 years.

Consider how dependent much of the world is on the Internet. And it really wasn't "open" to the public until about 1994 or 1995.

And who can forget those great inventions---like hoola hoops.

[tomahawk]

I live in Knoxville. This a great story!

[fortunecookie]

Congrats to our new American citizen!!

My family left Russia in 1912....it took my Grandfather 10 years to be granted citizenship - his original paperwork notes 1918 and he became a citizen in 1928.

Since I grew up with a Russian last name, I got pretty tired of hearing ignorant kids in Texas call me a communist.

Two of my grandparents were Russian immigrants (all 4 were immigrants) around that same time. All 4 grandparents and those who traveled with them all became naturalized. I grew up with an 'Americanized' last name, but once people found out I 'claimed' to be of Russian descent, the insults flew. I was called a commie or a po11ack. Because some of the locals were not smart enough to see the difference between a Pole, a Russian or a Communist. Even my 5th grade teacher joined in during a project about world cultures and our backgrounds. I 'fondly' remember arguing with her in front of the class about why I was neither a commie or Polish. I say 'claimed' because in the small, mostly German town (everyone related) founded by German immigrants I grew up in (no offense, freepers of German origin), many didn't even believe me, even among the adults who remember when my family moved to town. Ahh, the wonders of bigotry!

[sharkhawk]

Why are you proud? Talk about immigrants who are a drain on Society. He came here 9 years ago? Who do you think is paying for his health care etc.

[SledgeCS]

I do believe that all of us are immagrants to the great USA. My great-grandparents were part of the original wagon train to the west and there is a town in Colorado named after my great-granmother. All of my ancestors, that I have been able to determine, were legal immagrants and so is the Gentleman. I have NO problem paying for medical benefits to a LEGAL immagrant who has gone through all of the legal loopholes to get to a US Citizen. I DO have major problems with the scum the sneak, crawl and illegally worm there way into this country, and immediantly ask "Where is the welfare office and by the way my wife is pregnant."

To this gentleman is was an honor to become a US citizen and I do not believe he was just trying to get benfits as most if not all of the illegal slime that invades our country everyday...

I am proud of my family history, that includes pioneers/miners/explorers, which all of them where legal immigrants that went through Ellis Island. To me he is not a drain on Society even if we did pay for his health care, at least he went the everything to get legal status...

I, myself, would be proud to meet this gentleman and welcome him as a full LEGAL US citizen. I may have to brush up on my Russian thought, have not spoken it for 36+ years.

SledgeSC

[dr_who_2]

Good to hear. I wonder if they'll change their name though.