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Title: 37 in BR become U.S. citizens
Source:
The Advocate
URL Source: http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/070905/new_citizen001.shtml
Published: Jul 9, 2005
Author: WILLIAM TAYLOR
Post Date: 2005-07-09 19:16:23 by NOLAJBS
Keywords: citizens, become, U.S.
Views: 59
Comments: 2
On a trip to the United States more than five years ago, the woman from Moscow met her future husband. Olga and Cliff Starks were married within a couple of weeks. However, as good as those days were, Friday was even better. "This is the best day of my life," Olga Starks, 53, now of Slaughter, said. She and 36 other immigrants from 19 nations became U.S. citizens during a ceremony in the U.S. District Courthouse in Baton Rouge. The United States is very different from her native Russia, Starks said. America is so organized with its laws and merchants who can actually help their customers, she said. "It's like a real life," Starks said. "If you work and have a family, it's just impossible to be unhappy here." U.S. District Judge Frank Polozola presided over the ceremony along with Judges Ralph E. Tyson and John V. Parker. Yuka Latulippe, a Bishop Sullivan High School graduate brought in to play an electric piano, performed "The Star Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America." The judges challenged the new citizens to be good Americans by obeying the laws and doing their duties as jurors, witnesses and voters. "You live in the greatest democracy on the earth, but that democracy is not self-sustaining," Tyson said, urging the new citizens to do their parts. Livio Alberti Bolanos, 65, stood ready to do just that. "I need my citizenship," he said. Bolanos dreamed for years of bringing his family from Colombia to the United States. "There was always trouble in Colombia," his oldest son, Ivan Adolph Bolanos, 23, explained. "It's not safe there, so you can't live freely." The application process took 16 years before Livio and Ivan Bolanos could move here about 5 1/2 years ago. Livio Bolanos had to wait two more years before bringing his wife and other two sons here also. On Friday, the father and oldest son took the citizenship oath together. Ivan Bolanos, who is studying mechanical engineering at LSU, said the family has always felt welcome in the United States, but on Friday they felt something new. "You know you are part of America," he said. "You can vote. You can make a difference." Registering to vote was the first task Cynthia Lluvia Weil, 42, wanted to do after getting her certificate of citizenship. "It's the most awesome opportunity and gift," she said. Weil, whose last name was changed from Trahan with her citizenship, is a single mother of three who moved to the United States 15 years ago from Cozumel, Mexico. "Where I come from it's poor and there are no opportunities," shesaid. Here she works for AEA Technology and has a house: "Things I never could have done in my own country." Her oldest son is 17 and already in basic training with the National Guard. "I pray that everyday people in America don't forget why this country is so great," Weil said. "I just feel it is one of my jobs as an American to vote. "In that way I can teach my children to be good Americans." Khalid Daifallah moved from Morocco nearly six years ago to work in that country's section of the Epcot Center theme park at Disney World. While in Orlando, he met his wife, Shana, and they eventually moved to Baton Rouge to be close to her family. Today, Daifallah, 28, works as the front office manager at the Baton Rouge Marriott. He has found the new life he sought when he immigrated. "I love this country. I love the people, family and friends and people at work. Everybody has been nice to me."
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#1. To: Border (#0)
:: Ping ::
"What is this JEWS thing. You sound like a Nazi." -- Mekons4 posted on 2005-06-02 23:41:48 ET
uh...stick around and pay attention, Mrs.Starks. Welcome to the gulag.
#2. To: NOLAJBS (#0)
"If you work and have a family, it's just impossible to be unhappy here."
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