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by Chip from Phillipston, Mass

Last Post 20 days, 18 hours Ago


David Ortiz, US Citizen
Jun 12, 2008 | 3:32 AM
Category: Sports
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Buried in the midst of a news report replete with fire and death, was a heartwarming story that was easily "missable" for it's brevity.

Yesterday, at the Kennedy Library in Dorchester, David Ortiz, with many others became naturalized citizens. In his spare time, between playing, training and doing superhuman amounts of charity work on behalf of children, he found the time and effort to take the classes, take the test and become a naturalized citizen.

David Ortiz, like his fellow teammate and naturally born Dominican native Manny Ramirez, are what are called LEGAL IMMIGRANTS. They are the finest examples of American citizens, one who came legally and chose their citizenship.

Hat's off, Papi. You have humbled an old white guy born here, not with your prowess with your bat, but with your dedication to OUR (yours and mine) country. And for that I thank you.

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JuneInMA read my blog view my photos
Jun 12, 2008 | 5:46 AM

He did look very sharp during the ceremony, didn't he? Good for him!! :)
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jun 12, 2008 | 5:54 AM

June,

As the days of my life pass, I grow more respectful of folks of Dominican decent. You, young lady, not only have a wonderful outlook and work ethic, you have a proud cultural heritage. I am finding myself more frequently humbled by folks from "that island" than by everyone else combined. And that's saying alot, since I have such a blatant need to be humbled!!!
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jun 12, 2008 | 6:04 AM

And for the record, I posted this on the News Blog, not on sports. I did so intentionally because this ISN'T about David Ortiz the baseball home run hitter. It is about the David Ortiz, CITIZEN.

The fact that he is a sports icon is relevant only becuase it gets his action on the news. It is his commitment to being both a citizen...an AMERICAN CITIZEN.... and his personal commitment to responsible personal action.

JuneinMa is an American citizen of dominican decent. Her family is equally as worthy of respect. I blogged almost a year ago about a gentleman I met in the Legends Box at Fenway, a chef of Dominican decent. He too is as worthy. I later blogged about a man of Latino decent who works at my car dealership, He is just as worth as David Ortiz of my respect.

Fox25...this is not about sports. This is about love of our country, and how humbling it is for those of us who have our citizenship by birthright, to see other work hard to get what we got "with the slap on the *ss" by a doctor...just because that doctor was tanding on American soil...
JuneInMA read my blog view my photos
Jun 12, 2008 | 6:38 AM

Chip,

Again, thank you for the kind words. It is an absolute priviledge to become a U.S citizen and I, like others I'm sure, don't take it lightly. It's not easy to become one, as exemplefied by the huge immigration problem the country is facing, but it's worth joining the battle and doing what's right to achieve the goal. That was a very happy day for me.

My country of birth is very poor. But like David Ortiz always exemplefies, the people there are always so happy. It humbles ME that in the midst of their poverty, they are always so cheerful and make the best of their situation. I always come back with a very different outlook when I visit my little island in the caribbean. I don't know if you've ever been there, but if you get the chance to go on vacation there, I highly recommend it.
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jun 12, 2008 | 7:40 AM

You know me June. I'm always drawing this stuff out of you. And frankly, I knew you'd respond to this blog post. But the messages that are themes of all my posts are perslnal responsibility, the belief in the ability of individuals not governments, and simple patriotism.

No one...and I mean NO ONE speaks more eloquently about that than folks whose citizenship is chosen, not afforded by birthright. In so many ways, you (second person plural...kinda like "you'se) are the best hope for our future, not because Sanish should be our national language, or because darker skin should prevail, but because you are simply the "newest version" of what is truly "American", the Great Melting Pot.

You know I keep baiting you to tell us more about your road to citizenship. I'm trying ot get you past what I bet is a deep humility. Teach the white English speaking masses. We need ot get back to our own basics. The basics of hard work, self reliance adn a firm belief that good will come from hard work...or better that hard work alone is good.

That, I'm betting, is the fuel for the "cheerfulness" in the face of poverty.
fenwaydav read my blog view my photos
Jun 12, 2008 | 8:48 AM

Chip, I always get inspired when I see a group of people taking the oath of citizenship. We sometimes take for granted what we have here as US Citizens. I can get very corny and emotional when I think about some of my realitives arriving at Ellis Island. When I lived in New York, one of my fondest memories is going past the Statue of Liberity. I would always tell people to take the Staten Is. Ferry as opposed to going directly to Liberty Island. (you can do that also) Taking the ferry you pass by Miss Liberty just like the immigrants saw her. David, Manny and June you are three welcome addition's to the United States of America
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jun 12, 2008 | 10:01 AM

Dave,

The lesson of "diversity" is not to "give anything speical" to one group, but to "cherish the contributions" of all groups. Ellis Islad is a monument to that perspective. But the other thing it's a monument to is sacrifice. Nothing good in life comes withut sacrifice. NOTHING. Those things given to us fall easily by the wayside. those things we struggle for become our most cherished possessions/moments.

I fear so deeply we are making "America" cheap. From my perspective, look at Fox25's response to this blog. As much as I appreciate having my work chosen for the Community Pages, it saddens me that the put this in "Sports". Nothing in this story is less trivail than baseball, and nothing is more profound that the love you have to have for this country than to make it, by choice, your own.

And yesterday, a whole group of immigrants were, for just one moment, equal to "Big Papi". How appropriate is that?
fenwaydav read my blog view my photos
Jun 12, 2008 | 10:31 AM

i THOUGHT YOU MADE THAT CHOICE. I ALWAYS DECID WHERE I WANT MY STUFF AND I NEVER NOTICED IF THEY PUT IT ANY WHERE ELSE??????
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jun 12, 2008 | 10:54 AM

Dave, I made the conscious choice and clicked on "News". They changed it to Sports. It is their prerogative, but I hope they understand that it devalues their perspective. It is the second time they moved my posts.
TheEliteOne read my blog
Jun 12, 2008 | 11:04 AM

David Ortiz is the best. I hope when his playing days are over he stays with the Sox.
fenwaydav read my blog view my photos
Jun 12, 2008 | 12:13 PM

It didn't devalue what you had to say....
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jun 12, 2008 | 12:41 PM

Hey Dave...ya gotta be careful. You are agreeing with me way to much!!! I'm gettin' sentimental, dude!!!
fenwaydav read my blog view my photos
Jun 12, 2008 | 1:07 PM

Give it time!!!
Xantun read my blog view my photos
Jun 12, 2008 | 6:00 PM

Dave and Chip are agreeing on more things? Um, does this mean the world is coming to an end?

And, just to be on topic, even though I'm not a sports fan (Yes, that's right, I don't really care), I'm still glad that David Ortiz became one of "us". He may have originally come here based on his talent with a bat, but he's shown he has so much more to offer. He, Manny and June should all be "poster children" for the American Dream, since a lot of folks born here seem to have forgotten just what that is.
goofy4722 read my blog
Jun 17, 2008 | 2:28 PM

Hats off to you Papi. I know a guy who has been here for almost 40 years and keeps saying that he doesn't have the time to do it. Yeh right!!! he just won't take the time to do it.
marksiwel read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 5:17 PM

It's so easy to become a citizen a millionaire who plays baseball can do it!
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jun 18, 2008 | 2:32 AM

He was one of 50 that day, Dufus. Folks, I'd like you to meet a 24 year old dog groomer from Texas..marksiwel. He is equally immature on the message boards, where he posts frequently.
heatherfont read my blog view my photos
Jun 24, 2008 | 8:08 PM

I have such a great respect for David Ortiz. He always give credit to God first, and has said several times that he has been given a gift so that he can do good in the world. He was presented with an award after raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to build a children's hospital. He wasn't expecting it, and was so sincerely humbled that he was brought to tears.

The fact that he made the effort to become an official American speaks volumes about his appreciation for what our country is all about. I was so proud when my son chose him as the subject for a school project this year, and based just as much of it on his charitable contributions as his batting contributions.
Zigulis101803 read my blog view my photos
Jul 26, 2008 | 5:04 PM

Hi Chip,

it is good to see David Ortiz back in the lineup yesterday and he has been trying to get back in the swing of things and it will take him some time to regroup as a Designer Hitter, What Do you think Chip? Thanks, Casimir Zigulis
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jul 28, 2008 | 4:53 AM

Yep
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Chip

Just your average guy, married to a woman who is incredibly smart and possibly more conservative than I am. Father of three and grandfather of one soon to be two. Devoted Patriots fan and season ticket holder, snowmobile enthusiast and lifelong public servant.

Member Since: 9/26/2006


 

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