Friday, February 26, 2010

President Obama Holds Health Care Summit



VOAVideo: President Obama Holds Health Care Summit

U.S. President Barack Obama and his Republican Party rivals argued their cases Thursday about reforming health care at a summit broadcast live on television for millions of Americans to watch. Elizabeth Lee has this report.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Toyota's Head of US Operations Acknowledges Mistakes

USCIS 100:16. Who makes federal laws?


VOAVideo: Toyota's Head of US Operations Acknowledges Mistakes

The president of Toyota's U.S. operations acknowledged Wednesday his company cannot rule out electronic problems as the cause for the sudden acceleration in its cars. And he also told congressional lawmakers that his company took too long to address problems that led to a worldwide recall. VOA's Robert Raffaele has more.

More from VOANews about Toyota's testimony before the US Congress


USCIS 100:16. Who makes federal laws?

  • Congress
  • Senate and House (of Representatives)
  • (U.S. or national) legislature

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Community Group Continues King Legacy to Help Poor

USCIS 100:55. What are two ways
that Americans can participate in their democracy?


VOAVideo: Community Group Continues King Legacy to Help Poor

February is Black History Month in the United States. The national observance pays tribute to people and events that have helped to shape African American history. In April 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, the preeminent leader of the country's civil rights movement, was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee as he worked to eliminate poverty in the city. After his death, community leaders formed a group to address the lingering economic inequities in the city. VOA's Chris Simkins has more.

55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

  • vote
  • join a political party
  • help with a campaign
  • join a civic group
  • join a community group
  • give an elected official your opinion on an issue
  • call Senators and Representatives
  • publicly support or oppose an issue or policy run for office
  • write to a newspaper

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

In African American History Month, Martin Luther King's Final Campaign Remembered

85. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*


VOAVideo: In African American History Month, Martin Luther King's Final Campaign Remembered

February is Black History Month in the United States. It's a time when Americans pay tribute to people and events that shaped the history of African Americans. Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated almost 42 years ago in Memphis, Tennessee. He was there to support striking sanitation workers who wanted higher wages and union representation. Their strike lasted more than two months and ended soon after Dr. King's assassination. VOA's Chris Simkins reports that during Black History Month, Dr. King is being remembered for his efforts to help millions of poor people.


85. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*

  • fought for civil rights
  • worked for equality for all Americans

Monday, February 22, 2010

Washington's Birthday

"Speaking of Washington and cherry trees, maybe you have heard the story about America's first president. As a boy George Washington supposedly told his father: "I cannot tell a lie. I chopped down the cherry tree."

Is the story true? "Probably not," says the Web site for his home at Mount Vernon, Virginia.



Monday was George Washington's birthday. But not much is known about his childhood. So it seems that a biography written shortly after his death included several invented stories about his early life. These were meant to show where he got his heroic qualities. Children then learned the story of the cherry tree in a school book, and it became rooted in popular history.

--from VOANews: Winter Gives a Hard Chop to Washington's Cherry Trees

See more Patriotic Ephemera

Friday, February 19, 2010

U.S. President Barack Obama Meets with Dalai Lama Meets



VOAVideo: U.S. President Barack Obama Meets with Dalai Lama Meets

U.S. President Barack Obama met Thursday at the White House with the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, despite diplomatic protests from China. The meeting took place amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing. Elizabeth Lee has this report.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Feb. 15 is Susan B. Anthony Day

The Susan B. Anthony dollar is a United States coin minted from 1979 to 1981, and again in 1999. It depicts women's suffrage campaigner Susan B. Anthony. The reverse depicts an eagle flying above the moon (with the Earth in the background), a design adapted from the Apollo 11 mission insignia that was also present on the previously issued Eisenhower dollar (Source: Wikipedia: SBA).

77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?
  • fought for women’s rights
  • fought for civil rights
Susan B. Anthony was born in Massachusetts on February 15, 1820. She is known for campaigning for the right of women to vote. She spoke out publicly against slavery and for equal treatment of women in the workplace.
In 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution gave women the right to vote. Susan B. Anthony died 14 years before the adoption of the 19th Amendment, but it was still widely known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment.

In 1979, she became the first woman whose image appeared on a circulating U.S. coin. The coin is called the Susan B. Anthony dollar and is worth one dollar. (source: USCIS M-638)

See also:

The Presidents: a slide show from WH.gov

100. Name two national U.S. holidays.


WhiteHouse.gov has an outstanding slideshow entitled "The Presidents" complete with links to each president's biography.

100. Name two national U.S. holidays.
  • New Year’s Day
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • Presidents’ Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Columbus Day
  • Veterans Day
  • Thanksgiving
  • Christmas

Sunday, February 14, 2010

President Obama Extends Best Wishes for Lunar New Year



VOAVideo: President Obama Extends Best Wishes for Lunar New Year

The President wishes peace, prosperity and good health to Americans and people across the world who are celebrating the Lunar New Year and welcoming the Chinese Year of the Tiger. February 12, 2010.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

USPS Celebrates Lunar New Year with Year of the Tiger Stamp


USPS: On January 14, 2010, in Los Angeles, California, at the El Pueblo Historical Monument, the Postal Service™ issued a 44–cent, Celebrating Lunar New Year: Year of the Tiger commemorative stamp in a souvenir sheet of 12 stamps, designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Maryland. The $5.28 Celebrating Lunar New Year: Year of the Tiger souvenir sheet may not be split, and the stamps may not be sold individually.

Art Director Ethel Kessler and artist Kam Mak, who grew up in New York City’s Chinatown and now lives in Brooklyn, worked on the new series and decided to focus on some of the common ways the Lunar New Year Holiday is celebrated. To commemorate the Year of the Tiger, which begins February 14, 2010, they chose narcissus flowers, considered auspicious at any time of the year and, thus, especially appropriate at this time of renewed hope for the future. The illustration was originally created using oil paints on a fiberboard panel. Kessler’s design also incorporates elements from the previous series of Lunar New Year stamps, using Clarence Lee’s intricate paper–cut design of a tiger and the Chinese character — drawn in grass–style calligraphy by Lau Bun — for “Tiger.”

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Illegal Haitian Immigrants in US Benefit from Temporary Protected Status (TPS)



VOAVideo: Illegal Haitian Immigrants in US Benefit from Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

The US government has granted special immigration status to Haitians now living illegally in the United States, protecting them from deportation for 18 months and allowing them to work. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says the US considers the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) measure a form of economic assistance for Haiti. Roxana Romero has more for VOA from Miami, Florida.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Chúc Mừng Năm Mới!!!


Chúc Mừng Năm Mới (Happy New Year)
from the Milpitas Adult School Citizenship class!!!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Black History Month Has Its Own History, Future

Americans commemorate the heritage of African Americans every February in what is known as Black History Month, yet little is known about the association that started the tradition and what it is doing now. VOA's Nico Colombant reports from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

The Making of Presidential Football Helmet

USCIS 100:28. What is the name of the
President of the United States now?*


WH.gov: The Making of Presidential Football Helmet

The good folks at Riddell All American in Elyria, Ohio make a special helmet for their soon-to-arrive guest. (more photos)

28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?*

  • Barack Obama
  • Obama

Thursday, February 4, 2010

President Obama Answers Internet Questions about State of the Union Address



VOAVideo: President Obama Answers Internet Questions about State of the Union Address

President Barack Obama is again demonstrating his embrace of new technology. Last week, the White House announced its own IPhone application. On Monday, Mr. Obama answered questions on multiple Internet platforms in response to his State of the Union address. VOA's Brian Allen has more.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Sarah's Citizenship Interview

USCitizenPod: Sarah's Citizenship Interview

Sarah's inteviewer was very concerned about the current or legal name of Sarah and her children. Sarah was also questioned about her financial support. Although Sarah got angry during the interview, she kept her cool and answered carefully. She and her husband passed! Congratulations!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

New Year, New Citizens!


New Citizens from Milpitas Adult School, January 2010!

*Do Thi Hue really has 9 children: 3 sons & 6 daughters!

You can download these photos from Flickr.

Monday, February 1, 2010

50th Anniversary of Historic Civil Rights Sit-In

USCIS 100: 84. What movement
tried to end racial discrimination?

VOAVideo: 50th Anniversary of Historic Civil Rights Sit-In

February is Black History Month in the US. It pays tribute to people and events that shaped the history of African Americans. A pivotal moment happened 50 years ago when four black university students in North Carolina sat down at a whites-only lunch counter to get something to eat. They were denied service, but their actions re-ignited the U.S. civil rights movement and the struggle by millions of African Americans to achieve racial equality and justice. VOA's Chris Simkins reports from Greensboro, North Carolina on the anniversary of America's most celebrated sit-in and three of the four men who came back to commemorate it. Read more...

USCIS 100: 84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

  • civil rights (movement)