Citizenship

Choose the best answer: (A) It's comforting to know that 73 of 100 New Jerseyans know Gov. Whitman is a Republican. (B) It's discomforting that 27 out of 100 New Jerseyans don't know. A Star-Ledger/Eagleton Poll conducted last month asked some rather simple questions about state politics. And if this had been a test, New Jersey would have flunked. Heck, it would have had to stay after school and clap erasers. Only 49 percent know that the Republicans control the state legislature.

Poet Margaret Randall, trying to stave off deportation and regain her U.S. citizenship, yesterday told a federal immigration judge that she praised Fidel Castro during her 11-year stay in Cuba, but said that had no bearing on her love for the United States. Randall acknowledged under cross-examination by immigration lawyer Lupe Gonzalez that she had praised Castro, but denied that she had joined the Communist Party or espoused communism. Gonzalez asked Randall whether she had ever described Castro as "the most brilliant, courageous world leader of our time or any time," and Randall said she had written those words.

Long before becoming a U.S. citizen, Dominican immigrant Birmania Romero raised her right hand and swore to die, if need be, for the United States. It mattered little to Romero that she had fewer rights than a citizen, could not vote, and would not qualify for certain jobs. Joining the U.S. Army was something she had wanted to do since first seeing an ROTC uniform in high school in Michigan. "It's truly taking part in what's going on in the world," said the Army specialist, 22, of Grand Rapids, Mich.

Strolling down the street on a sunny day, pushing their 7-month-old son's carriage, Roberts and Olga Ancvers seemed to be a young couple facing a brighter future in newly independent Latvia. Free of the shackles of the Soviet system, this little Baltic republic is expected eventually to flourish, providing greater economic and political opportunities for Roberts and Olga, better educational chances for their son. But Roberts and Olga are facing an unexpected problem. Although both were born here, they may soon find themselves citizens of different countries.

I AM THE daughter of legal immigrants from the Philippines who proudly chose to become Americans. They stood in line, aced their citizenship tests, filed tons of paperwork, and - speaking in English - swore allegiance to the United States. The 206-year-old oath my parents took declares, in part: "I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty . . . I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic . . . I will bear arms on behalf of the United States . . . I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God. " For millions of naturalized Americans like my parents, the oath of allegiance is sacred.

Throughout the war that finally brought communism to her native Vietnam, Nguyen Nguyet Vien held on to her hope that someday she would study computer science. She told an audience at a naturalization ceremony yesterday that she began living her dream on coming to the United States six years ago. America, she said, became a "promised land. " "Even though my English is not good, I am proud of being an American citizen and the education I received here," Vien said. She graduated from Philadelphia Community College in 1984 and now works in data processing for a supermarket chain.

This spring, my household features two graduates, Sara from college, Matt from high school. So forgive a proud dad for trotting out an old columnist's chestnut: the "advice to graduates" riff. First: Yes, by all means, wear sunscreen. With homage thus done to the classic example of this genre, let me offer other earnest advice to all of you who this season will flip the tassel on your mortarboard. Much of this you may know, or will soon learn the hard, best way - by making your own mistakes.

Right up there with the Pledge of Allegiance and the "Star-Spangled Banner" is a handy piece of information every American should know: Don't leave anything of value unattended in a public place in a big city, not even for a second. Brothers Tuan and Vinh Vu learned that lesson the hard way Friday less than three hours after they became U.S. citizens in Philadelphia. A video camera, a videotape and a suitcase filled with presents were stolen from them in broad daylight. "They were devastated," said Jack Duffy, a Levittown resident and friend of the brothers.

The 1999 Philadelphia Award for outstanding citizenship, officials announced yesterday, is going to Cecilia Moy Yep, a grassroots activist who spent three decades revitalizing Chinatown and defending it against encroaching development. But the 70-year-old community leader said last night she has been too busy defending the enclave against its latest threat - a proposed Phillies ballpark at 12th and Vine - to revel in the high honor. Yep was thrust out of semi-retirement three weeks ago when the Street administration announced that it would consider building a 44,000-seat stadium just north of Chinatown, in addition to a handful of other locations.

Courage is not a willingness to take action in the face of danger without fear; courage is the determination to act despite fear. The young Americans we have asked to put their lives on the line in the name of liberty and liberation provide lessons in courage every day. Images and examples of bravery come to us now with incredible immediacy as unprecedented media coverage gives us rare glimpses into the daily sacrifices our troops are required to...

VEEP. 10 p.m. Sunday, HBO. "What have I been missing here?" asks Vice President Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) as she prepares to make nice with a senator (Kate Burton) she hopes will get her out of a tight spot with the plastics industry. "Power," replies the senator, who only pretends to be joking. That's one exchange from the Sunday premiere of HBO's satiric, and hilariously profane "Veep" that doesn't require the insertion of dashes. It also sums up the predicament in which the holder of what our first vice president, John Adams, called "the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived" finds herself after losing her party's nomination to a man who apparently stopped calling as soon as she'd helped get him elected.

WANT TO LEARN more about the DREAM Act and give your two cents on the issue? Sandra Shea, the Daily News' editorial page editor, will moderate a discussion at 7 tonight at the Free Library of Philadelphia's Central Branch, 1901 Vine St. "The Pursuit of Happiness: Immigrant Youth and the Dream Act" will feature speakers from DreamActivist Pennsylvania, the Nationalities Service Center and the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians....

Over the last eight years, Inquirer readers have easily identified dozens of neighbors who exemplify citizenship - each one fit to receive a Citizen of the Year award. This year is no exception. 2011's choice will be announced Sunday, but the field comprised many worthy contenders who showed the importance of dedication, service, doggedness, and foresight. These nominees of readers and the Editorial Board are working to enhance growth, promote ethical government, fight poverty, preserve the environment, and expand opportunity.

NEW YORK - Scores of immigrants waved tiny flags after taking the oath of U.S. citizenship at the foot of the Statue of Liberty on Friday, 125 years after the American symbol and beacon welcoming visitors and immigrants was dedicated. "We are a nation of diverse people," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said during the naturalization ceremony on Liberty Island. "And that diversity strengthens our nation. " The new Americans, 125 immigrants from 46 countries, pledged to renounce foreign power, then posed for photos with their citizenship certificates.

CLEVELAND - Federal prosecutors said they would fight a "brazen" attempt to restore U.S. citizenship to a man deported to Germany and convicted on Nazi war-crimes charges. In a U.S. District Court filing Tuesday night, prosecutors said retired Ohio autoworker John Demjanjuk was trying to cast himself as a victim after his May 12 conviction in Germany on more than 28,000 counts of accessory to murder. Demjanjuk's attorneys charge that the government failed to disclose important evidence, namely a 1985 secret FBI report that indicates the bureau believed a Nazi ID card purportedly showing that Demjanjuk served as a death-camp guard was a Soviet-made fake.

Exploring the frontiers of newfound freedom, many tweens and teens quickly embrace the raunchy, rude lingo of cyberspace, casually flinging insults, obscenities, and taunts that make chat rooms sound like barrooms. "Foul language is just what is popular," said Rachel Carrasquillo, a junior at St. Francis High School in Mountain View, Calif. "I think half of the stuff people say on Facebook they'd never say face to face. " But now, as kids head back to school, they may find more adults are paying attention.

At 55, Bangladeshi-born Mariam Begum wants to become a U.S. citizen. But after 15 years with her husband and children in Upper Darby, she has yet to master the language of her second home and twice has failed the citizenship test requiring proficiency in English and civics. So with her daughter Fatima, 33, a U.S. citizen, translating for her Thursday, Begum explored her options at a special U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) forum at the Southwest Philadelphia office of the African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA)

Nearly two weeks ago, a Brazilian couple walked into the offices of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Second and Chestnut and asked a clerk whether he'd like to deport them. Livia Maria Borges, the wife, was so nervous she had to squeeze back tears. Her husband, Welismar De Jesus, was a little calmer. Their lawyer had assured them there was little risk of their having to say goodbye to the good, though illegal, life they had built in Northeast Philadelphia during the last decade.

The long-rumored signing of attacking midfielder Veljko Paunovic by the Union has finally taken place. He signed on Monday and will be eligible for Saturday's game in Vancouver against the expansion Whitecaps. Paunovic, who will be 34 in August and has Serbian and Spanish citizenship, most recently played for Partizan FK of the Serbian SuperLiga in 2008. The majority of his professional career has been spent in Spain. He has had two caps with the Serbian national team, the most recent in 2004.