NATURALIZATION CEREMONY WILLIAM PACA HOUSE IN ANNAPOLIS JULY 4, 2012 Thank you, John, for that kind introduction.

Its an honor for me to be here today in this historic home in this historic city on this historic day. There really is no better way to celebrate our nations independence than by welcoming its newest citizens. On behalf of President Obama, congratulations to all of you on this joyous occasion. This is also a special day for the family members who have supported you during this process: the family that brought you to the United States; the family you left behind in your native countries; and the new family youve created in this country. So please join me in thanking all of the family members who are here today. On occasions like this, I often think of my own family, especially my parents, who made enormous sacrifices so that I could be an American citizen. My father was only a teenager when he traveled from Taiwan to the U.S. to attend college. He arrived by ship on the West Coast, and then boarded a Greyhound bus headed for a small college in Tennessee. At the time, my father knew very little English. So, as the Greyhound bus stopped in small towns to pick up and drop off passengers, my father would go inside the bus station to buy something to eat. But the only thing my father knew how to order in English was hamburgers and milk. So, thats what he ate, three meals a day for the entire week-long journey across the country. Hamburgers and milk. That was my fathers introduction to this country. A few years later, my mother came to the U.S., also to attend college in the South. When my mother arrived at her college in Georgia, she was confronted by something she had never seen before signs that indicated which restrooms white people could use and which restrooms colored people could use. That was my mothers introduction to this country. Fifty years later, the son of those immigrants goes to work each morning in the White House. If President Obama were here, he would tell you that my story, his story, and all of your stories exemplify the spirit of possibility in our country.
1

As the President has said, this spirit is an ethic that says if youre willing to put your shoulder to the wheel and apply your God-given talents, if you believe in yourself and you play by the rules, then there is a place for you in the United States of America no matter where you come from and no matter what you look like. As our newest citizens, this spirit of possibility will enable you to fulfill your dreams whether its starting a business, pursuing a career, getting an education, or building a life for your family. But this spirit of possibility also comes with a price. It comes with responsibilities. And one of those responsibilities is being a participant in the worlds most vibrant democracy. Being a participant means learning about the issues that affect not only your life but also the lives of all Americans. It means engaging in debates about these issues. It means voting. And for some of you, it might even mean running for public office. You are the newest participants in our democracy, but that doesnt mean you have to conduct yourself like those of us who were born into our citizenship. In fact, I hope you will do better. As you may have noticed, theres far too much name calling and bitterness and vitriol in our public discourse. Too often, when we oppose someones political views, we end up attacking their character and integrity. If we want our democracy to continue to flourish, we need to learn to disagree without being disagreeable. We need to participate in our democracy in a positive way that allows for a full airing of different views yet does so in a civil and respectful way. To do that, I hope youll be open-minded in learning about the issues that affect our country. Read newspapers and watch TV stations that have different viewpoints. Talk to people whose views are different from yours. And when you meet those people, try to understand their perspective and debate the issues without engaging in personal attacks. And never forget that at the end of the day, despite our differences, all of us are Americans, and all of us love this great country. Those of us born as U.S. citizens often take for granted what it means to be an American. Even though you are our newest citizens, you can play an important role in challenging how the rest of us view our roles in this democracy. Through your example, you can make the rest of us better citizens. As you embark on your new roles as U.S. citizens, I know some of you have mixed feelings. Youre proud and excited to be Americans, but youre also worried that youre somehow losing part of your heritage, your culture, your traditions.
2

Let me assure you: just because youre a U.S. citizen today doesnt mean youre any less of what you were yesterday. The diversity of this country is also its strength. You can be more than just one thing. You can speak multiple languages and eat a variety of cuisines and celebrate different holidays. I was raised with both American and Chinese traditions. In my family, Thanksgiving dinner meant turkey and mashed potatoes, but it also meant lo mein, Chinese vegetables, and dumplings. I know that might sound a little odd, but believe me, it was actually quite tasty. This combination of cultures makes me who I am today and it makes this country what it is today. America is unique among all nations in both its unwavering stability and its constant evolution. We have a Constitution and a system of government that has withstood war, depression, and industrialization. Yet, with each new person who becomes a citizen, the country also changes a little bit. Todays ceremony is a powerful symbol of our stability and evolution qualities that make our country so great. I welcome you to U.S. citizenship. And I challenge you to use your unique talents and perspectives to strengthen our democracy and to help our country continue to form a more perfect union. Thank you for your commitment to our country, and for reminding us of the spirit of possibility. Congratulations on this wonderful accomplishment, and God bless the United States of America.