Defining Citizenship

The endless Twitter wars about race, ethnicity, and going back to countries of origin all take us to the following question: Who is an American?

Let me begin by saying that I am not a Birther. It’s worse than that. I’m more of an un-Birther. Does simply being born here make us American? I think the answer must be no.

The notion of birthright citizenship is a romantic one, as is the Constitutional requirement that an individual be born here to qualify to be President. But let’s be honest. Those of us who were born here had absolutely nothing to do with that process and can take no credit for it. As I have often said, it doesn’t make us better than others. We were just lucky.

I’m probably not the first to suggest this, but suppose everyone who is here, by birth or not, who intends to stay here, had to pass the same civics test that foreigners seeking legal citizenship must, followed perhaps by taking an oath? Do you think that might level the playing field a little?

Clearly, there would have to be categories, maybe a point system of sorts. If you’re born here, maybe you get the first 25 years of citizenship for free, then you have to take the test. You might get a point advantage for military service or being a Dreamer or a descendant of those who were brought here against their will. There are questions of disability and other access issues and, of course,  what happens if you repeatedly fail. But just being born here wouldn’t be quite enough. 

As for the Presidential birth requirement,  why should a foreigner, who commits him- or herself to our national values, like the rule of law, for example, or a free press, be unqualified to serve? I don’t have a problem with the current age and residency rules. But what advantage has the birth requirement brought us? I frankly think the record is a little spotty. By the way, the current citizenship oath for a foreigner requires the individual to give up allegiance to a foreign power. How are we doing with that one?

America, as we call it, is not just a place. It’s an idea. The place has been here for millions of years, but this idea has only been alive for about 250. It should require some kind of buy-in, in the form of a demonstrated rudimentary knowledge of how it works.

Yes, I subscribe to “love it or leave it,” but first we have to clearly understand what “it” is about. It is not only about being white, Christian, straight, or owning a gun. And it’s a heck of a lot more than just being another carbon footprint, taking up space.