Can we have a big DU WELCOME for a newly sworn US CITIZEN?!

[havocmom]

I mean, to this man and his family, it is a BIG and important time!

We will give DUer, blondeatlast, an excused absence from war protests this weekend. Her husband is being sworn in as a US Citizen! Hey, folks, a newly minted voter who leans our way ;)

Don't know if any of you have had a friend or loved one go through this, but I speak from experience, it is a truly wonderful thing to behold. It re-affirms what America REALLY is about: freedom, opportunity and a chance to be a part of a grand experiment.

Put aside all your misgivings about the now and look at the big picture. Celebrate with blondeatlast and her family! There's lots of :toast: going around today anyway. We can add this family's special day to our reason celebrate life!

To Mr. ### and his future as an American citizen! :toast: :patriot:

To his supportive and happy wife :toast: and :hug:

To their son, we at DU pledge to work even harder to ensure a better America for your future!

To those who saw the vision, built on a dream, and busted their humps to be a part of this thing call America! Let us be renewed by their faith in the Grand Experiment!
:toast:

Ayy, tis a grand day full o' promise!

[miss_american_pie]

1. Congrats!

:toast:

[havocmom]

2. Perfect first reply, miss_american_pie!

Let me get you another round!

[ThomCat]

3. And don't forget LionessPriyanka too!

She's also getting sworn in as a US Citizen this weekend.

:toast: to people who know more about the US than most people born here.
:toast: to people who are here by choice, not just an accident of birth.

:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:

[havocmom]

4. WooHoo! It's a Two-Fer Folks!

Congratulations LionessPriyanka! :patriot:

What a celebration this can be!

[Ariana Celeste]

18. Woot!

Congrats Lioness!! :hug: :toast:

[bigwillq]

5. Congrats!

:party: :toast: :bounce:

[Crazy Dave]

6. This made my day

I get a little tired of this nation and it's leaders myself from time to time but reading something like this slaps me right back into reality. I love this country and I'm not going anywhere.

Thanks and congratulations to your friend and his family. We're all proud and glad to have him as a fellow citizen.
:patriot:

[havocmom]

8. We all need some good news now and then!

That's what I told blondeatlast when I lobbied her to let me post her family's GREAT NEWS!

We all need to stop, take a breath, remember what the foundations, the vision and the big picture.

My thanks to her husband for giving us a much needed refresher course!

And, DaveTheWave, glad you are sticking around. We have a mess to clean up, but we are getting more help for the job all the time! Many hands makes lighter work.

[underpants]

7. YAAAAAAAAAAY!

Congrats

[mdmc]

9. congrats Mr. Blondatlast!

:patriot:

[Maddy McCall]

10. Congrats, hubby of blondeatlast!!!!!

This is wonderful for you both, and I hope that you two can get a babysitter and go out and celebrate tonight!

:party: :woohoo: :party: :bounce: :patriot: :beer: :toast:

[Patiod]

11. Welcome, Mr. Blondeatlast

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

Naturalization ceremonies make me cry. I love seeing all those faces in all those different colors and clothing (from suits to saris) all there for the same reason.

:patriot:

[auntAgonist]

12. congratulations to

Mr ### and Mrs ### and to the Lioness! Such good news in a world so full of bad news. Things are indeed looking up!

:toast:

Having been through a citizenship swearing in (Canada) I know the excitement and pride and overwhelming emotion that comes with it.


:bounce: I hope they enjoy the day!! And work for a better tomorrow!



thanks Havocmom for sharing this with us.

aA

[havocmom]

15. My pleasure to be sure

I'm so glad the gentleman's fine lady shared their secret with me! Oh, I did get permission before ringing the bell to call all to the party!

Thanks for another testimonial about what an emotional celebration it is. Anybody who hasn't gone through this with friend or family is missing a lot! Hits one at a very basic level and makes one appreciate what we have.

To the immigrants, their progeny and to America! :toast:

[commander bunnypants]

13. Welcome to America

and in 06/08 we will get it back


:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

CB

[Redstone]

14. Well, all righty, then. We can use as many like him as we can get.

Redstone

[havocmom]

16. Absolutely!

And for his son, and yours, we renew our pledge to never give up on America!

[Ariana Celeste]

17. That's awesome!!

Big congrats!! And a :hug: to you both!

[havocmom]

19. Kick for the afternoon crowd

:kick:

[Missy Vixen]

20. In honor of our two newest citizens, the Lioness and Mr. blondeatlast

I learned this poem in elementary school; it was a song taught to us by our choir teacher. The poem is engraved on the base of the Statue of Liberty. I didn't understand till I was older why so many people would cry whenever we'd sing it.

Thanks for joining us,
Julie
2nd generation American

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

-Emma Lazarus

[havocmom]

30. Lovely addition to the celebration, Julie RB!

Thanks for the sweet reminder.

[Wetzelbill]

21. Hey that is wonderful!

Congratulations to blondeatlast and her family, that is truly something special. :):patriot:

[thinkingwoman]

22. Welcome and Congrats

to our newest citizens!!

:toast:

[Left Is Write]

23. Congratulations!

[blondeatlast]

24. The ceremony really gave me hope for this country.

I just returned. Congrats to lionesspriyanka, too.

First off, thanks for the congratulations! Believe me, they are appreciated.

It wasn't all smarmy patriotism by any means. The judge spoke about the responsibilities of a citizen; something everyone in the room seemed to take very seriously. He spoke about becoming an educated voter. It was at that moment that I wish I'd had voter registration forms handy!

I really felt like the courthouse staff, who have probably done this a thousand times among them, really still enjoyed it. Many of them posed for pictures; even file clerks and they seemed to love it as much as the new citizens and their families. The entire federal courthouse staff seemed to be in particularly good spirits and a bit spiffed up--I've been to this courthouse before and I really felt a diference in their attitude today.

My husband was the first to volunteer to speak and (sniff, blubber) he talked about how being here (since 1989) gave him the opportunity to have a wonderful family--okay, now I'm all out sobbing!

There wer THREE active duty military who were sworn in--it was just astonishing to see their pride. I made sure to congratulate each one of them--thank God (or your favorite divine spirit or goodness otherwise) they got to see this day (one had recently returned from Afghanistan). It really affected me to think what they risked even before they had the opportunity to vote. Just amazing.

They even played that atrocious Lee Greenwood video, but I just shut it out and watched the faces of Americans who have an amazing grasp of what this country should, and can, mean.

Mr. B is currently at a meeting, had to rush off as soon as it was over, but he WILL be registering to vote tomorrow! I have my ways... :evilgrin:

I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

:patriot::patriot::patriot:

[havocmom]

25. Thanks for giving us a look into your important day!

Havoc O'Dad is pouring... you want white, red or Irish? ;)

:toast:

[blondeatlast]

26. Irish, m'lass--my maiden name is Harrington! nt

[havocmom]

27. Amber heaven it is!

Gads, I am SO glad you shared this with us all today. Best St Pats in ages! Better than being in Butte for this date!

[ScreamingMeemie]

37. Oh wow! How awesome...

You gave me the chills. Congrats to MrB! We are glad and grateful to have him. :hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

28. My dear havocmom......

Thank you so much for posting this.......

And big congratulations to our newest citizens, Mr. blondeatlast, and the Lionesspriyanka!

An important and wonderful day, to be sure, for both of them.....

And for all of us!


:party: :toast: :toast: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :toast: :toast: :party:

[havocmom]

29. Thanks go to the happy family who let us share this important day!

Doesn't it make ya FEEL GOOD!?!

I am so glad to get blondatlast's post about how it all went. Everybody should witness such a ceremony at least once in their lives. It really packs a whallop!

[blondeatlast]

31. A sameless kick for the swing shifters in the Lounge... nt

[Dangerously Amused]

32. Welcome, and....

Yaaaaaay! Congratulations!

[entanglement]

33. Nice to have another liberal on board

:)

On a related note, I'm curious about the political leanings of new citizens (majority left / majority right or majority apolitical)

[blondeatlast]

34. Mr. BAL is socially very liberal, fiscally moderate, as am I

Interesting, because many Indians (as he still is; he retains Indian citizenship) are both socially and fiscally conservative.

However, he works with many, many Indian emigres and they seem to be quite disgusted with the current administration.

Most of his naturalized friends voted for Kerry, almost to a one.

[Alleycat]

35. Congrats

Are you registered to vote????

:toast:

[blondeatlast]

36. He will be--as I mention upthread, I have my womanly ways...

:evilgrin::evilgrin::evilgrin:

[Alleycat]

38. Great

One more can't hurt.

[UrbScotty]

39. Welcome to America! (nt)

[Katherine Brengle]

40. Welcome to the joys of US citizenship! Well... welcome, anyway...

Good to have ya on board!