Peshtaz family preps for citizenship

Peshtaz family preps for citizenship

Who was the president of the United States during World War I? Who is the Chief Justice of the United States?
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Yunus Peshtaz uses flash cards given to him by U.S. Rep. Adam Smith’s office to help his relatives prepare for their U.S. naturalization test.

DEBBIE CAFAZZO; Staff writer
Published: 03/20/12 12:05 am
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Who was the president of the United States during World War I? Who is the Chief Justice of the United States?

This immigrant family knows the answers: Woodrow Wilson, John Roberts.

A total of 37 members of the extended family of Yunus and Nahid Peshtaz of Puyallup – all from Afghanistan – came to Pierce County from nations around the globe where they had sought refuge from war and Taliban rule.

Now, after five years as legal immigrants, adult family members are studying to pass a test that will make them naturalized U.S. citizens.

Many of the adults gather weekly in each other’s homes for a traditional Afghan meal and a citizenship study session, led by Yunus Peshtaz. He is the family patriarch. And he, like the others, keeps up on current events in their homeland.

Yunus Peshtaz worries about the political ramifications of an American soldier killing 16 civilians. Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier Robert Bales has been detained, but not yet charged, in the crimes.

“This is a very fragile time in Afghanistan for the government and for the United States and other coalition countries trying to rebuild Afghanistan,” Yunus Peshtaz said. “This could jeopardize some of the hard work America has been doing to try to bring peace, stability and, especially, democracy to Afghanistan.”

The loss of life, especially among innocent children, is tragic, he said. But he notes that Afghan civilians have also died at the hands of fellow Afghans.

He came to Puyallup as a high school exchange student in 1974. Five years later, he and his wife and young son left Afghanistan just before their country was invaded by the Soviet Union. They settled in Puyallup, raised three children and became U.S. citizens in 1984.

Now they are doing what they can to help other family members become citizens. In upcoming months, 16 members of the family hope to swear an oath of allegiance to the U.S. Younger family members who came from abroad but who have not yet turned 18 will gain citizenship through their parents.

Over the weekend, they sat down together in the Puyallup apartment of Fawad and Ferzana Aslami. (They are Nahid Peshtaz’ brother and sister-in-law.)

First there was talk, mostly in their native Farsi language, then Afghan food incorporating elements from India, China and the Middle East.

Over the centuries, Afghanistan’s location has repeatedly thrust it onto the world stage and into war.

Many of the Peshtaz relatives have been eyewitnesses to the current conflict. They keep up on events from home through satellite TV broadcasts from Kabul. Family members have heard Afghan reports on the March 11 massacre of 16 civilians.

The family knows firsthand the trials of life in Afghanistan. Several of them were threatened by the Taliban before they escaped their country.

“As my sister said, if you put a dog in that situation, even a dog would go crazy,” Yunus Peshtaz said.

He likens American success in finally hunting down al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden to killing squirrels in the back yard.

“You get rid of one squirrel – that doesn’t mean you get rid of all the other squirrels,” he said. “By killing him, the problem is not solved.”

The News Tribune began reporting on the Peshtaz family after Sept. 11, 2001, when family members helped organize a vigil for victims of the terrorist attacks.

Previous News Tribune stories have focused on their hopes and fears immediately following 9/11, efforts to reunite the family in the South Sound, the first day of elementary school for two sisters, and medical treatment for one of the children, a burn victim.

The schoolgirl sisters, Ferkhunda and Sophia Aslami, are now in junior high school in Puyallup. They dream of careers in teaching or singing. They speak fluent English, love drama class, and their musical tastes now include Justin Bieber and hip-hop.

Beshta Aslami has recovered from her burns and is now in fourth grade.

“She never misses school,” said her Aunt Nahid, a former teacher. “She is so smart, and she is always busy reading.”

Three new children have been born into the family since their arrival here. One of the women, Sara Aslami, suffered a stroke and now navigates with a walker. Like their neighbors, family members have gained and lost jobs in the economic downturn.

As leader of the family, Yunus Peshtaz is also the family teacher.

In the Puyallup living room of his in-laws, he shuffled a deck of flashcards with answers to 100 questions from the citizenship test.

He pointed to each potential new American, asking a few questions of each. The answers came quickly, in English.

What did Susan B. Anthony do? Fought for women’s rights.

Name two rights of American citizens: freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

What major event happened on Sept. 11, 2001?

Terrorist attacks, someone answered.

And then the family moved on, as they always have.

Debbie Cafazzo: 253-597-8635 debbie.cafazzo@thenews tribune.com

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