Welcome!

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres with Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer Shelia Kelty, are joined in this photograph by the 25 new citizens of the United States. (Contributed Photo)

Editor’s note: The following is the text of the remarks made by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres at the 2018 MLK Day naturalization ceremony at the U.S. District Court for the NMI.
 
Good morning, everybody! Hafa adai and tiros!

I want to start by first thanking Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona, Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy, and the staff here at the U.S. District Court for the NMI for having me here today.

To my fellow citizens, the newest members of our American family, “congratulations!” I am genuinely excited for all of you and your families. You all come from different walks of life, from many countries like the Philippines, China, and South Korea.

In this room, all of us, including myself, have our own personal stories—our journey to where we are today. But what unites us all together is our commitment to the United States of America and the people that call this great nation home. When you raise your right hand and take a very important oath, you answer the call to serve your community as a citizen with great responsibilities.

As of today, your story will be connected with my story and with the larger story of what America is all about. Your journey was long, and at times it was frustrating and stressful. Immigrating from the country you came from was difficult, but you all know the importance of why you left in the first place. Here in the Marianas, our ancestors navigated in dark nights, guided by the sea of stars, in search of a better life for themselves on these beautiful islands. In America, we learned about the stories of the Pilgrims, who escaped religious persecution, the Africans who were brought into slavery, the Irish and Italians who came through Ellis Island to escape poverty, and the Chinese who came to California to build the railroads of the West.

But when they all arrived at their new places, life wasn’t easy. Our Chamorro and Carolinian ancestors had to endure typhoons and learn to fish and plant food on the islands. We all also remember Typhoon Soudelor in 2015, how everyone was affected regardless of your status or your background, and how we all had to help each other together. Everyone who arrived in America over the years had to learn to adapt to a different environment that was at times scary and unpredictable.

However, today is a reminder of why you all left the country you came from and came here to the Marianas—to America.

In the same way you all have a story, you all have a dream.

A dream of starting up a business or going to a new and exciting job opportunity.

A dream of being able to write your own destiny, practice your own religion, and love whomever you choose.

A dream that one day, you will be able to provide a better life for yourselves, for your children and your grandchildren, and for your families.

Your dreams are deeply rooted in the American Dream, just like the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who we honor and remember this weekend.

For those that don’t know, Dr. King was an American who devoted his life to advancing equality and opportunity for all. He called us to address the challenges within our community together. He dreamed of a nation, where people will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

Dr. King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

As governor of the Northern Mariana Islands, I ask myself that question all the time. I see the many problems before us as a Commonwealth. With all the problems that exist in our community, I have spent many stressful nights wondering what the solution is… if there is a solution.

But every once in a while there are times where we are given the chance to do things that make people’s lives better—that give them a chance to succeed. It’s why I am working to continue growing our economy so that our students receive a great education, our hospital provides better healthcare, and you and your families can continue to pursue your dreams. It’s why I’m working to get more of our unemployed folks into jobs, so they can also write their stories of success.

I also think about our CW issue that we face today and how it will not only hurt our businesses, but it will negatively affect the many people who immigrated here and now call these islands home and who have dreams of their own. I work for them too. 

We have a lot of problems that we need to work on. The issues are complex and the solutions are never as easy as we would hope. But we have the duty to solve them together as one community under the American flag.

Being a part of America means being a part of something greater than yourself. It is a place where we can contribute for the benefit of each other and create new opportunities for the people around you.

This is why today is not the end of your journey. It’s only the beginning.

Our Commonwealth and our country need you to be active citizens by following our laws, voting in our elections for who you believe provides you with the best opportunity to pursue your dreams, letting your government know what you need, and helping your fellow citizen when they need your help. Just like Dr. King’s dream, this is what being American is all about.

Don’t ever forget where you came from, but always remember that you are now an American, and it is a blessing that should not be taken for granted.

Thank you and God bless you all. Welcome to our American family.