Citizens have a new country

31 people participate in naturalization ceremony

By Lauren Radomski (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Friday, March 21, 2008

When Olad Mohmed Ahmed was looking to leave war-torn Somalia back in 2001, he received a piece of advice from his brother in the U.S.: Come to Minnesota.

Now that 24-year-old Ahmed has lived in Pelican Rapids for roughly seven years, he’ll tell you he made the right decision.

“We got work, we got married, we got everything here,” he said. “Minnesota is great.”

On Thursday Ahmed joined 30 others for a naturalization ceremony at the Fergus Falls Federal Courthouse, making him one of this country’s newest citizens. In a relatively short ceremony, participants from 12 different countries received flags from local officials, watched a video greeting from President Bush and recited an oath of allegiance to complete the naturalization process.

U.S. Federal District Court Magistrate Judge Mar Kay Klein likened the ceremony to a wedding — a marriage between new citizens and their new country.

“As in the case of a wedding, there is both gaiety, and I would expect, anxiety,” she said.

Klein and others emphasized that while citizenship offers new freedoms, it also entails new responsibilities.

“By becoming citizens of this great country, you’re changing not only your lives but those of future generations,” said Chad Felstul, president of the Otter Tail County Bar Association.

As of Thursday, these new citizens have the opportunity to vote, run for office and work for changes in government, Felstul said, actions that ultimately affect all Americans.

“Our country is stronger and more dynamic because of citizens like you,” he said.

Mayor Russ Anderson, a second generation immigrant, welcomed the group on behalf of the city.

“As we come from all the various corners of the world, our backgrounds are all different but today we are the same,” he said.

Sitting in on the ceremony were fourth graders from Cleveland Elementary. Observing such events has become an annual tradition for Fergus Falls students, said teacher Jean Larrivy.

“The reason we do it is because we like our kids to see how much it means to other people to become citizens,” she said. “We want them to just appreciate what they have and use it for their advantage.”

For Magda Erickson, Thursday was a long time coming. Erickson came to the U.S. from Mexico when she was 16, living in California for 10 years before moving to Minnesota.

“Since I came I wanted to stay here because I love it,” she said. “I’m very happy, I’m very proud.”

Now living in Pelican Rapids with her American-born husband and five children, Erickson said she’s adjusted so much to life in the U.S. that she hardly knows anything different. Not even Minnesota winters will send her as far as California.

“And I love it over there, but it’s so hot,” she said.