Being Born Here Is the Easy Part

 

While the Constitution says we are American citizens if we were born here, a concept which the Supreme Court majority has now confirmed, that doesn’t make us better than other human beings. Luckier, yes, but we can’t take a single bit of credit for it.

I am fine with birthright citizenship, though. I am even fine with prospective parents from outside coming to this country to have children to make them legal citizens. Admittedly, we cannot take everyone in, there do have to be immigration rules – but we can take that parental desire as a compliment, at the very least.

All of that said, many of us grow up without knowing how this country works. It’s this lack of knowledge about checks and balances, knowing what government can legally do, how, and why, that contributes to spotty election results.

I’ve said it before: I think all who were born here and are legal citizens should still have to pass the same test that immigrants seeking citizenship face. It would be good if a civics test like that were made a condition of getting a high school diploma. I originally wanted to exempt Native Americans and the descendants of slaves – but now I think it should apply to everyone.

A somewhat related issue troubles me a bit, and it may sound a little contradictory for me to say it. But I think our Presidents should not necessarily have to have been born here. On the surface, that birth requirement sounds good, but in fact, there are many foreign-born people, including some who can legally occupy lower elected offices, who might make good candidates for President. They of course would have to be naturalized American citizens, and I would have no problem with a lengthy residency requirement, along with the current age rules. How many people of quality could be serving us but are disqualified because of this birthplace thing? If they can convince voters of their love of this country and their adherence to its values, that should be the prime qualification.

We may have been born here ourselves, but most of us can point to ancestors who were immigrants – yes, some brought here against their will, but still coming from someplace else.

The United States would not be here if it weren’t for immigrants, and it is more than just a place on a map, It’s an idea that draws many people here. Let’s be sure we can maintain that idea, hopefully for another 250 years.