Barack Obama welcomes an Iraq refugee as new US citizen

United States President Barack Obama reiterated that America is at the risk of repeating past mistakes if its turns away the victims of war, especially those from Syria and welcomed an Iraq refugee as a US citizen.

Obama made his statement at a naturalization ceremony in Washington where 31 new citizens, including the Iraqi refugee, swore the Oath of Allegiance to the United States.

“There’s no respite from our ideals. All of us are called to live up to our expectations for ourselves, not just when it’s convenient, but when it’s inconvenient. When it’s tough. When we’re afraid.

The tension throughout our history between welcoming or rejecting the stranger: it’s about more than just immigration, it’s about the meaning of America. What kind of country do we want to be?,” Obama said.

He called on the nation to speak out against hatred and bigotry in all of its form and asserted that Americans stand up for each other, especially when it’s inconvenient.

“Whether taunts against the child of an immigrant farm-worker or threats against a Muslim shopkeeper. We are Americans. Standing up for each other is what the values enshrined in the documents in this room compels us to do.

Especially when it’s hard, especially when it’s not convenient. That’s when it counts. That’s when it matters,” the President said.