More on Citizenship

I got this quote the morning after writing about immigration. It brings up some related points I did not discuss

The Federalist Patriot
Founders' Quote Daily
"The bosom of America is open to receive not only the Opulent and respectable Stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations and Religions; whom we shall welcome to a participation of all our rights and privileges, if by decency and propriety of conduct they appear to merit the enjoyment."
-- George Washington

(Address to the Members of the VolunteerAssociation of Ireland, 2 December 1783)
Reference: George Washington, Address to the Members of theVolunteer Association of Ireland, December 2, 1783.


We welcome others to America. The land has always been open to the poor and tired, the huddled masses yearning to be free. But do we need to monitor or control immigration in order to preserve liberty?

There is something odd about America and citizenship. Maybe other countries also, I don’t know. I don’t understand citizenship. I witnessed a citizenship ceremony conducted by Justice O’Conner at Constitution Week and I still don’t get it. They swore allegiance to US and foreswore all connections to former country. There was a strange phrase about obeying civil authority and requirements of supporting civil service in time of need. It sounded wrong, I don’t think I could take that oath. I’d be interested to hear how it works in other countries.

How do we accept people into our country? How should you control the borders and police the population? I don’t want to get into discussion on terrorism, I think that is a separate problem. In a war, of course, you would defend your borders against the enemy. But the issue of citizenship is different. Why do shut people out from liberty? How do you become a citizen? When did you become an American?

My point in the previous post was to say that we can welcome everyone if we get rid of socialism. The more the merrier.

The Constitution says that if you are born here then you become a citizen. (14th Amendment. Meant for slave's children, not anchor babies) Is that all it takes? Why have an oath for immigrants? Why not an oath for all citizens when they turn 16? Of course, that brings up the problem of what do with someone born here but won’t promise