Bush welcomes 72 new American citizens, including Indians

Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington, Jul 5 (PTI) Describing America "a melting pot
of cultures" from across the world, President George W. Bush
welcomed 72 new citizens from 30 countries, including India,
on the occasion of the U.S. Independence Day.

Among those sworn in as U.S. citizens, six were from
India, said Wayne Mogielnicki, the spokesman of Monticello in
Virginia, where Bush made his final Independence Day
appearance on Friday before the expiry of his tenure in
January 2009.

There were originally seven persons from India on the list
but one did not show up, Mogielnicki told PTI.

"We also honour Jefferson's legacy by welcoming newcomers
to our land. And that is what we're here to celebrate today,"
Bush said referring to former President Thomas Jefferson, the
principle author of the U.S. declaration for independence.

Monticello was Jefferson's estate.

Throughout the history of the U.S., immigrants from around
the world set sail to its shores, he said adding, "these
immigrants have helped transform 13 small colonies into a
great and growing nation of more than 300 people."

"They made America a melting pot of cultures from all
across the world. They made diversity one of the great
strengths of our democracy. And all of us here today are here
to honour and pay tribute to that great notion of America."

He said those taking the oath of citizenship represent
many different ethnicities and races and religions, but have
"one thing in common, and that is a shared love of freedom".

"This love of liberty is what binds our nation together,
and this is the love that makes us all Americans," Bush said
going on to single out a man from Myanmar who joined the
growing ranks of American citizens.

"One man with special appreciation for liberty is Mai Eso
from Burma. As a member of the Shan ethnic group, Mai faced
discrimination and oppression at the hands of Burma's military
junta. When he tried to teach local villagers how to read and
write the Shan language, the regime interrogated him and
harassed him," the U.S. President said.

"In 2000, he left a life of fear for a life of freedom. He
now works as a painter in the Charlottesville community. Today
we welcome this brave immigrant as a citizen-to-be of the
United States of America," Bush said. "I'm sure there are
other stories like Mai's among you,"

Bush said the desire for freedom burns inside every man
and woman and child.

"More than two centuries ago, this desire of freedom had
inspired the subjects of a mighty empire to declare themselves
free and independent citizens of a new nation. Today, that
same desire for freedom has inspired 72 immigrants from around
the world to become citizens of the greatest nation on earth,
the United States of America," he said. PTI SK
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