Jahanshah Javid

My daughter Mahdiyeh woke me up Tuesday morning and asked if I wanted to come to her U.S. citizenship ceremony. "When is it?" I asked in a daze. "Eight o'clock," she says. It was 7:30. I had forgotten all about it. I quickly got ready and we took a cab to a Washington DC courthouse >>> Photos

I had imagined a dry ceremony run by boring bureaucrats. But no. The clerks were cordial and helpful and the presiding judge was a sweetheart. What made it more special were the speakers -- model citizens and activists who recalled the importance of the Bill of Rights as well as the need to preserve the language and culture of the new citizens' country of birth in order to make America a richer, more diverse and vibrant society.

I'm greatly relieved that Mahdiyeh is finally a U.S. citizen. She will now enjoy a level of individual freedom and security few countries can offer >>> Photos

Video: The court clerk had difficulty reading Mahdiyeh's name. He said something like "Javed, Mada" :o)