taking over the world....
Los Angeles Daily News
By Troy Anderson
Staff Writer
In a sea of small U.S. flags, nearly 7,500 immigrants from 100 nations became American citizens Friday at naturalization ceremonies.
The new citizens, including 23 servicemen and -women who received enthusiastic applause from the crowd, praised America's war to oust Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
"I don't know why they left him until now," said Khajik Haroian, 65, who came to the United States from Baghdad six years ago.
"My feeling of gratitude to our troops is so deep," said Ann Claire Van Shaick Pahlavi, who was born in Tehran. "I feel such gratitude for their willingness to fight for my freedom. If only for that, I'm proud to come here today."
In all, 7,450 immigrants were sworn in during the day's two mass-citizenship ceremonies in the downtown Los Angeles Sports Arena, which served as a temporary federal court for the occasion.
Officials from the newly formed Department of Homeland Security Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services said the top five countries represented in the ceremony were Mexico, with 1,991 new citizens; Philippines, 649; Vietnam, 524; Korea, 492; and Iran, 397. Six former Iraqis became U.S. citizens Friday.
In the Los Angeles district, an estimated 125,000 will be eligible to become naturalized U.S. citizens in 2003.
"We are very happy," said Yorba Linda resident Rasik S. Pater, 46, who moved from India in 1990 and owns a dry-cleaning business. "This is my dream -- American citizen. It's the greatest country in the world."
Glendale resident Agasthi Ranasinghe, 42, who came from Sri Lanka several years ago, said he's proud to be an American.
"Especially at this moment, when the United States is going through hard times in the world," Ranasinghe said. "I'm very proud to be a citizen of the United States. I hope I can contribute positively to America and make a good life for myself and my family as well."
Los Angeles resident Sudesh Silva, 29, said he won the lottery from Sri Lanka to get a green card to come to the United States. He now works as an automobile technician at a car-rental business.
"It's the land of opportunity," Silva said. "I saw it on TV and the news. That's why I came over here."
Hollywood Hills resident Sol Kaye, 34, said he came from Iran to the United States with his family in 1979 during the Islamic Revolution and is now the first lawyer in his family. His father owns a business in the downtown garment district.
"I'm ecstatic," Kaye said. "I get to become part of this great nation full of opportunity. It took me a long time. I was 9 years old when I came here. It was during the Islamic Revolution and because we are Jewish, we felt it was best to go to another country and America was the natural choice.
"We came here right before the hostage crisis when Iran took 52 hostages and held them for 444 days. Unfortunately, we got a lot of backlash for that, because a lot of people didn't realize we were against it."
The morning oath was administered by U.S. District Court Judge Gary Feess, who made special remarks for the military personnel who became citizens.
"Freedom comes with a price," Feess said. "I salute them and their willingness to sacrifice their individual objectives in the short run for the long-term objectives of their country."
Leroy Alveranga, an Army specialist, said he had no doubts about serving his new country.
"It's all about what you promised to do, defend the Constitution of the United States," said Alveranga, who was born in Jamaica. "It's not about where you are from, it's about where you live."
Hollywood resident David Gomez, 45, said becoming a citizen is important to him because now he will be able to vote and express his opinions about the government.
Gomez said the United States is a very good country though the war in Iraq concerns him.
"It really worries me because I think that this war is not necessary because the government can fix the problems in another way, not this way -- with a lot of people dying," said the furniture store clerk. "I don't think it's good."
The new citizens for the most part expressed strong support for America's war in Iraq.
"For one stupid guy like Saddam a lot of innocent people will die," said Pravin Patel, 45, from India. "We had to do something. He's a crazy guy." The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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Where are you moving to???? And why????
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