By Dena Potter
CHARLOTTESVILLE
When she fled Iraq out of fear for her life, America welcomed her with open arms.
On Friday, President George Bush did the same, hugging Hataw Saadi Taha as she received her certification of citizenship along with 71 others from 30 countries at Thomas Jefferson's mountaintop home of Monticello.
Taha and her husband, Baqir, came to America 11 years ago. They left northern Iraq to avoid being killed for working for an organization that helped children orphaned by genocide that received funds from the United States and other countries.
Baqir Taha, 42, hopes to become a citizen later this month.
"America was the only county that opened its arms to our people and made us safe," said Hataw Taha, 37, of Harrisonburg.
Taha and others said it was an honor to have the president welcome them as citizens, especially at the home of the author of the Declaration of Independence on the nation's 232nd birthday.
"The president is a great man, and we are very happy about today," Hataw Taha said.
But not everyone was happy to see Bush.
Police removed six hecklers, who interrupted the president's speech with shouts of "Impeach Bush" and "Fascist." Another 100 people protested at the bottom of the hill leading to Monticello. No one was arrested.
Yolanda Mata said the protests only demonstrated what is special about America.
"That's what I think everybody comes here looking for: freedom, freedom of religion, freedom to work," said Mata, who came to the U.S. from Honduras seven years ago. She hopes to bring her three daughters to America, too.
Bush is the fourth sitting president to participate in the annual naturalization ceremony at Monticello, where more than 3,000 men and women have taken the oath of citizenship. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and Gerald Ford also welcomed new citizens at the Charlottesville estate.
About 3,000 people attended the ceremony. On Wednesday, it took only 30 minutes for people to snap up the 1,000 free tickets that were available to the public to see the president's speech.
Bush told those about to take the oath, "From this day forward, the history of the United States will be part of your heritage."
"Throughout our history, the words of the declaration have inspired immigrants around the world to set sail to our shores," Bush said.
Foreign-born residents account for one-quarter of Virginia's population growth since 2000, according to a study released this week by the University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. One in 10 Virginians was born in another country, and 43 percent of those have become U.S. citizens through the naturalization process, Cooper Center demographers found.
Josef Beery, a Charlottesville artist, joined protesters at the bottom of the hill. He said it was important for every citizen who disagrees with the government to stand up and voice an opinion.
"The Declaration of Independence was all about the idea that when the government stops representing the people, the people need to stand up, and that's what today is all about," said Beery, 51.
For Taha, this Fourth of July was about something very different.
"I am going to have the same rights and privileges like any other American," she said.
The right she's looking most forward to using: voting in the November presidential elections.
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Exact Same Description, Different President
Funny, but that's the exact same comments we hear from the other side about Bill Clinton.
Being President
Being President is one thing, being a lying, deceptive, arrogant, underhanded, cover-up President is quite another. Just because he's President doesn't mean he is due respect. Respect is something earned.
Imagine Supporting POTUS,Liked or Disliked
"There still may be a handfull of supporters out there"
Gee, what a concept to support the Commander In Chief of the United States of America, despite your contempt for him. I guess I felt the same way during the Bill & Hill show, but I still supported him during "their" term since he was the President. I just can't fathom the reason "people" would still qualify him as one of the "best" now that his term has ended (thankfully). But that would be a another debate another day.
Not my opinion and many others
"His term must expire before anyone judges his presidency."
As far as many of us are concerned, Bush's legacy will only define what is already know. He is the most unpopular, arrogant president in history. One lie after another one deception after another, history will not be kind to Bush and rightly so. There still may be a handfull of supporters out there, but we see that all the time. Thet simply can't help themselves.
Re-Direct
Hey Georges, shouldn't you have been directing your last comment to Gertz Point rather than Gabrielle. I think so. Gertz only believes what the liberals have brainwashed him with. The facts show he is not the most unpopular president, ...yet. His term must expire before anyone judges his presidency. Oh, sorry Simple Simon, I guess I'm once again not bringing anything intelligent to the conversation!
gabrielle
(I chose to move to Virginia for many reasons, putting up with whackjob America haters was not one of them.)
I don't know where you moved from, but have you thought of moving back?
Now I'm curious
(I chose to move to Virginia for many reasons, putting up with whackjob America haters was not one of them.)
Just moved here myself, and I don't see anymore wacko haters here than anywhere else, but I do have a question. So is being an American hater simply anyone who speakes against the most unpopular president in history?
ROFL Georges
>>>The Pilot has been pulling comments right and left. I guess it's how much you are in favor of Bush that determines if your comment remains.<<<
This is hilarious. This paper despises the President. The Code Pinko witches were rightly removed from the ceremonies. Their removal should never have made news, as it only encourages their disgusting behavior. I am fully aware of their uncouth behavior at Walter Reed and it has only been my own upbringing that has kept me from slapping most of them silly for their ignorance.
I chose to move to Virginia for many reasons, putting up with whackjob America haters was not one of them.
Why was this artice written at all?
The Pilot has been pulling comments right and left. I guess it's how much you are in favor of Bush that determines if your comment remains. If the Pilot doesn't expect controversy then articles like this should never hit the news stand.
Let's see how soon this comment gets pulled.
Importing poverty...
Like Europe we need a points system to pick our applicants for a green card, and a path to citizenship. Americans are fed up and angry with picking up the copious tab for supporting the poor, almost illiterate illegal aliens. We do not need to subsidies the outlandish profits of predatory businesses that hire illegal labor and dump the needful on the taxpayers. We should expedite a process, to bring to America scientists, engineers and people with the highest skills.
Time to repatriate by 'ATTRITION' illegal aliens who have forced themselves on American compassion. We need to enact the federal SAVE ACT (H.R.4088) seal our borders, implement honest free trade and specifically rid our country of illegal nations with criminal records. Democrats must endorse the SAVE ACT now! NUMBERSUSA for facts!
Why you ask Philip?
Because the Pilot has nothing better to report. They fill their pages with ads and non-news. They can't seem to find anything worth while to report. The reporters must moon-light for WTKR because it seems they have the same sit-com jerry springer way of depicting news.
Why was this piece written like this?
Welcome to the USA - new citizens. Happy Independence Day all citizens.
Why did we have to be told about 6 people in a crowd of 3000? Why are newspaper sales going down? Why is there so much bias in the newspapers?
code pink...
...are extremist hypocrites. To be ignored. Removing them was the right call.
Wrong mesage, wrong time.
jmo
Let's protest Obama for for pretending to care about Ameican
Is a vote against what America stands for, no matter how bad Obama is for this country people will still vote for him.
Would the Bush protesters get mad if Obama is treated the same way?
Those little idiots I bet don't even know who gave them their rights to protest (when permitted) and I bet they think the Clintons, Carter and Al Gore are people who made this country what it is today.
The news as it should be reported concerning this matter...
Happy 232nd Birthday America!
The discrace Bush has brought to the prinicipals of our country
Warrant, in my mind, that every time he appears anywhere, he should be reminded by American citizens, what he is guilty of. Those who tout educate as an excuse that protesters should not voice their concerns are just not in touch with the rights that are fundamental. I won't go into the myriad of contradictions and infringements. I'm all for respecting the dignity of the Presidency, that is if there was someone who was president who would cared about these princpals.That is clearly not GW Bush.It cannot be denied and we as citizens have every right to state this anywhere
Code Pink
So they weren't just typical protesters. They were Code Pink. This group supports Obama and raises money for him. They also protest outside of Bethesda against our troops.
Oh well
To see history being made with the induction of new citizens to these United States as legal citizens would be a great thing to witness however we still have a few disgruntled Owl Gore kooks out there looking for a recount. Grow up nitwits.
Time and place
Well, free speech or not, they certainly could have picked a more appropriate time and place to insult him. I personally wouldn't muddy up a naturalization ceremony like that. That's just disrespectful to our new LEGAL citizens...
When did rude idiots become protestors?
This isn't protesting anything. This is just some idiots trying to get some TV times and stroke their own egos.