As an American citizen born in the United States, there are some questions that I realize I've never had to answer in order to be afforded my Constitutionally-guaranteed rights and my citizenship as an American.
The first parts of an Application for Naturalization (N-400 rev. 7.23.2002).
I highly doubt I would be allowed in the country. Parts 1-6 asks for typical vital information. Part 7 asks you to document your whereabouts outside the United States. I've never had to report to my government a day trip to Canada in such a manner. Part 8 is marital history; part 9 is about your children. Here we go. Part 10, including my responses, should I ever be asked these questions officially:
• . . . have you ever failed to file a required Federal, state, or local tax return? (Yes; at least three times.)
• Do you owe any overdue taxes? (Yes; but it'll cost you more than it's worth to get it from me before I have the money.)
• Have you ever been a member of or associated with any organization, association, fund, foundation . . . in the U.S. or any other place? (Yes, too many to list for the purposes of this topic.)
• Have you ever been a member of or in any way associated (either directly or indirectly) with: The Communist party? (Yes - subscribed to a newspaper) Any other totalitarian party? (No - I'm a Democrat by habit.) A terrorist organization? (Depends on who's making the list.)
• Have you ever advocated (either directly or indirectly) the overthrow of any government by force or violence? (Yes - expulsion of British from Northern Ireland; expulsion of Hussein regime in Iraq ca. 1984 or so; general advocacy of Communist, Socialist, or Anarchist revolution)
• Have you ever persecuted (either directly or indirectly) any person because of race, religion, national origin, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion? (Yes - Christians, Republicans, Christian Republicans, Neo-Nazis ... and hey ... you said indirectly as well. Sorry, I can't remember all the people I called dirty names when I was a kid and didn't know better.)
• Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested? (Yes - more than I can document.)
• Have you ever been arrested, cited, or detained by any law enforcement officer (including INS and military) for any reason? (Yes - cited for DUI, 1996; received written warning for burnt-out taillight in 1992.)
• Have you ever been charged with committing any crime or offense? (Yes - DUI, contempt of court)
• Have you ever:
- been a habitual drunkard? (Yes - 1994-97)
- been a prostitute, or procured anyone for prostitution? (Ummm ... no. Barely.)
- sold or smuggled controlled substances, illegal drugs or narcotics? (Yes - too many times to list.)
- gambled illegally or received income from illegal gambling? (Yes - I would actually have to remember what year it was, and that could take a while.)
Part 14 is the oath of allegiance: I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abujre all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen;
that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law;
that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law'
that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and
that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.
I mean, seriously ... all of that and you have to believe in God, too?
But where's the equal protection? I'm comfortable with the oath renouncing foreign allegiances; that's easy enough to ask. But ... it would appear that a naturalized immigrant to the United States must necessarily be of higher character and standing than his or her neighbors.
Seriously ... I don't think I'd be let into my own country if I wasn't born here.
What about you?
The first parts of an Application for Naturalization (N-400 rev. 7.23.2002).
I highly doubt I would be allowed in the country. Parts 1-6 asks for typical vital information. Part 7 asks you to document your whereabouts outside the United States. I've never had to report to my government a day trip to Canada in such a manner. Part 8 is marital history; part 9 is about your children. Here we go. Part 10, including my responses, should I ever be asked these questions officially:
• . . . have you ever failed to file a required Federal, state, or local tax return? (Yes; at least three times.)
• Do you owe any overdue taxes? (Yes; but it'll cost you more than it's worth to get it from me before I have the money.)
• Have you ever been a member of or associated with any organization, association, fund, foundation . . . in the U.S. or any other place? (Yes, too many to list for the purposes of this topic.)
• Have you ever been a member of or in any way associated (either directly or indirectly) with: The Communist party? (Yes - subscribed to a newspaper) Any other totalitarian party? (No - I'm a Democrat by habit.) A terrorist organization? (Depends on who's making the list.)
• Have you ever advocated (either directly or indirectly) the overthrow of any government by force or violence? (Yes - expulsion of British from Northern Ireland; expulsion of Hussein regime in Iraq ca. 1984 or so; general advocacy of Communist, Socialist, or Anarchist revolution)
• Have you ever persecuted (either directly or indirectly) any person because of race, religion, national origin, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion? (Yes - Christians, Republicans, Christian Republicans, Neo-Nazis ... and hey ... you said indirectly as well. Sorry, I can't remember all the people I called dirty names when I was a kid and didn't know better.)
• Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested? (Yes - more than I can document.)
• Have you ever been arrested, cited, or detained by any law enforcement officer (including INS and military) for any reason? (Yes - cited for DUI, 1996; received written warning for burnt-out taillight in 1992.)
• Have you ever been charged with committing any crime or offense? (Yes - DUI, contempt of court)
• Have you ever:
- been a habitual drunkard? (Yes - 1994-97)
- been a prostitute, or procured anyone for prostitution? (Ummm ... no. Barely.)
- sold or smuggled controlled substances, illegal drugs or narcotics? (Yes - too many times to list.)
- gambled illegally or received income from illegal gambling? (Yes - I would actually have to remember what year it was, and that could take a while.)
Part 14 is the oath of allegiance: I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abujre all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen;
that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law;
that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law'
that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and
that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.
I mean, seriously ... all of that and you have to believe in God, too?
But where's the equal protection? I'm comfortable with the oath renouncing foreign allegiances; that's easy enough to ask. But ... it would appear that a naturalized immigrant to the United States must necessarily be of higher character and standing than his or her neighbors.
Seriously ... I don't think I'd be let into my own country if I wasn't born here.
What about you?
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i always do this - over think things i.e. someone asks me what time it is and I respond by explaining how a watch is built..