"I am an American"

Cynthia Weber
The Lancaster University, Politics and International Relations professor, Cynthia Weber, researches, writes, produces and creates multimedia presentations amoung other projects concerning humanitarian ideas.

The following video is a collection of post 9/11 American citizen profiles.


Here are two completely different stories involving American citizens.

Guadalupe Denogean
Guadalupe Denogean retired from the U.S. Marine Corps due to being "seriously injured" during the Iraq war. Guadalupe talks about his trials to become a U.S. citizen and his eventual fast-track to citizenship.


Some interesting marks Guadalupe made in this video:

• "It's ironic that you have to get injured to become a citizen"
• Key to America = American citizenship

Greg and Glenda Avery
In this video, Greg and Glenda talk about their experience being homeless after the catastrophic results of Hurricane Katrina.

A few interesting points they bring up:

• Refugee vs. evacuee
• "Is there hypocrisy in our democracy?"

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The following Web sites made this post what it is:
openDemocracy - free thinking for the world
Merriam-Webster - online dictionary
youtube - broadcast yourself

Tourism

Tourism can change a city. It can also change a person. Prior to moving to the U.S., my family and I visited friends in Tucson, AZ. It was that visit that persuaded my mum to move us half way across the world.

I recently visited Las Vegas, Nevada, also known as "Sin City" or "Lost Wages" to celebrate my friend's 21st birthday and realized I wasn't the only one with the intention to celebrate.


Nevada's Senator Harry Reid spoke of Las Vegas' tourism Feb. 11 on the U.S. Senate floor. "There are 140,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas," Reid said. "That is far more than any other place in the world."

Las Vegas attracts all kinds of people. Living in Tucson, I am used to interacting with Hispanics but in Vegas, I was walking the streets with more Asians than Hispanics.

"The largest convention center in the world is Las Vegas," said Nevada Senator Reid.

Las Vegas is a diverse city with attractions for everyone.
The following is a list of attractions by hotel.

New York New York:

Roller Coaster

Stratosphere:

Big Shot
Insanity - The Ride
X-Scream Ride

MGM Grand:

Lion Habitat

*Photos by Jodie Kristensen and Emily Lesauski

"Albergue" - "Shelter"

I spent Friday evening in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico at the Albergue San Juan Bosco, the migrants' shelter owned and run by Juan Francisco and Hilda Irene Loureido.

Stephen Ceasar accompanied me to Nogales, Arizona. We met 2 ladies from
The Santa Cruz Community Foundation, which gives money to the shelter.

The Albergue offers a place to sleep and eat for those that need it. Most of the people that come are migrants who have been deported from the U.S. They are allowed to stay 3 days at a time.

"It's [the shelter] a 911 call," said Alma Cota de Yanez, executive director of
la Fundacion del Empresariado Sonorense, A.C. (FESAC).



Clothes are also provided for those that need it. Socks are the most needed piece of clothing. Similar to Food Drives in the U.S., the shelter has Sock Drives, said Yanez.

The Albergue has served men, women, and children in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico for 26 years.

The American Dream

20 is how old Asim Badar was when he left Pakistan and moved to the United States.

4 is the number of American Universities that fitted Asim's preferences.

3 is the number of weeks Asim had lived in the States before the events of 9/11.

100's is the number of rumours Asim heard that people from the Middle East won't have any job opportunities.

28 is how old Asim is now, living in Boston with a degree in International Business. Asim is living the American dream.

Asim Badar came to the U.S. looking for an education. It was a "personal decision" that he made and with the help of his father and the College Board Organization he was able to go through with that decision.

Asim believes that the U.S. is "the one place that people are free". "The American dream is security." Also being able to "live a good life; a very comfortable life."

Stay tuned! A more detailed profile story on Asim Badar will be up next week!

American Assortment

The new, redesigned citizenship test came out on October 1, 2008. It is structured more around U.S. history and government.

Those that filed for Naturalization on or after that date, will take the new test which now includes an improved English Reading part, an English Writing part, and 100 new History and Government questions. The History and Government part is also available in Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog and Vietnamese.

Use the old test to your advantage!
Test Yourself!

*The following video is for mature audiences only*


Russell Peters is an Indian comedian who, in this video, talks about what would happen if different races mixed together. Think of why this video is funny. Is it funny to imagine that a man from Holland and a woman from the Philippines could happen?

I think the underlying message about the world's races that this video gives is important. Soon, people will identify with multiple races and there won't be one single dominant race. I believe the U.S. is an example of what the world will be in minuscule - full of a mix of cultures and races.

United

The song by Geoff Moore and the Distance, New Americans, sends a message that I can appreciate; one that isn't given often. A message for those that live in the U.S., no matter where they came from or what they look like, they are in fact Americans and need to unite as one nation.

Barack Obama being elected the first black president of the United States sends a huge message as well. Because he is the president, he has the power to unite a nation and present that nation in a good light to the rest of the world. But Obama also has the capability to unite people, no matter their differences.



I believe a united nation is a strong nation and that the United States of America is on its way to become stronger than ever.

Introduction

Hiya. I'm Jodie Kristensen writing from the University of Arizona in Tucson. I look forward to writing about the unique individuals I will come across whom have traveled to Arizona from Mexico. The struggles, triumphs, and ambitions of these travelers will be explored through my interactions.