I Hereby Declare: Reasserting the Principles of United States Citizenship

Self | 6/3/2014 | Self

[Fester Chugabrew]

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure 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. – United States Oath of Allegiance

With these words those who were once subject to other powers and authorities declare their sole allegiance to the United States of America. They cannot be citizens of the United States unless they state this oath publicly. With these words, and with the actions following thereafter, these same people are now imbued with the privileges and responsibilities that belong to every single citizen of the United States.

But what happens if you were born in the United States? What happens if you never had opportunity to hear this oath, or speak it, or study it? Can a citizen of the United States be bound to an oath and its responsibilities when he is completely unaware of its words and their import? Most importantly, what precisely are the privileges and responsibilities that come with United States citizenship?

This is not a subject often raised or taught in our schools. While many were raised to recite the Pledge of Allegiance on almost a daily basis, the Pledge of Allegiance as we commonly recite it reiterates on a comprehensive scale what every citizen ought to know and cherish in more detail. Many today, if they were asked to renounce, or undertook to renounce, their United States citizenship would have little notion as to what, if anything, had changed.

But something does indeed change. The oath of allegiance, like citizenship itself, is legally binding. It really and truly confers legal status and privileges that otherwise may not be enjoyed. To the end that you might better appreciate this oath, that you might better understand your privileges and responsibilities as a United States citizen, we would like to enumerate some of them in simple fashion. At the same time, we would like to admonish any and all who live in this country to be mindful and vigilant in practicing citizenship, and in passing along what United States Citizenship is about.

Many, if not most, who read these words, were born in the United State of America. They have awakened every morning and gone to sleep each night with hardly a thought as to what it means to be governed by the universal principles enshrined in a Constitution that is practiced, not just theorized. The United States is a Constitutional Republic that practices self-government by law. While that may sound dry, or even trite, the benefits derived from this form of government have thus far proven to be better than those derived from any other form of government heretofore undertaken by men.

That is not to say a Constitutional Republic exists to usher in a world of no pain, no ill-will, no sickness, no work, or any set of ideals intent on making each individual life equal in experience with regard to spirit or substance. It is precisely because a Constitutional Republic recognizes both the intractable curiosity and zeal of the human spirit, and the immutable good in allowing Natural Law to govern that spirit – to keep order and limits on human passions – that it serves both to free and to fashion a civil society capable of widespread industry, charity, and spiritual fulfillment as each might understand it.

And yet, just because the principles enshrined in the Constitution are universal, even enumerating rights bestowed by the Creator, that does not mean these principles are universally accepted or practiced. It is precisely for this reason we establish oaths and borders, as well as aim to convince our neighbors that life is better when one can go about taking care of family and neighbor without fear of punishment for doing well. Many other countries also undertake to keep life civil, but none does as well at incorporating a wide range of ideas under legal protection in a land blessed with such natural resources as enjoyed by the United States of America.

Let us then take some time to elaborate, albeit briefly, on what it really means to be a citizen of the United States. Let us consider together what it means to live under these privileges and responsibilities, and what we would lose if we renounce them, or have them taken away. This is especially important today, when so much is taken for granted; when our schools and fathers and mothers have been either unwilling or unable to take us aside and teach us. Not only so, but we are bound to defend the principles under which we live. It is not a matter of fantasy that “enemies foreign and domestic” are specified in our responsibility to support and defend the Constitution under which we live together.

GENERAL PRIVILEGES – see INS
SPECIFIC PRIVILEGES – see Bill of Rights
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITES – see INS, biblical texts in regard to Natural Law.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITES – see Federal, State, and local Code
THE IMPORTANCE OF INCULCATING UNITED STATES STANDARDS OF CITIZENSHIP

[Scrambler Bob]

Quick look for BSA Merit Badges:

Cit in Comm, new Reqs —
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Scouting/BSA/Citizenship_in_the_Community_Merit_Badge

Cit in Nat, new Regs —
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Scouting/BSA/Citizenship_in_the_Nation_Merit_Badge

[Fester Chugabrew]

I would like to respond further that you have laid out some fine notions in your own right, especially as concerns politicians taking oaths.

Our age is not receptive to notions of truth, honor, integrity, and the like. There have been modifications and exceptions to the Oath of Citizenship so that a citizen who might object to the concept of “God” might still be able to vow allegiance in good conscience (!?).

The philosophical and theological implications of citizenship have been discussed in tomes. When dealing with liars and relativists, oaths are as meaningful as a Monet on display in a public sewer.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Only 1/6 of the population in our midst elected the Prevaricator in Chief. “Only” might be a bit mild and discouraging. These are tough and interesting times. All the more reason for us together to be reminded of what citizenship means. I have not reached the point of renouncing citizenship. If you cannot stomach an oath now, why not renounce?

[Lowell1775]

“Emperor Charles I of Austria and Karl Franz Joseph Ludwig Hubert Georg Otto Marie are the same person.”

I had never heard or read of him referred to in this way.

Thank you. Keeps me humble as well as off the game show Jeopardy.

I now also know that Karl in English is Charles as well as Carl. Another “duh” moment.

Trebeck! A few more years on Free Republic and I am coming for you.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Those are great starting points on which to elaborate further. Thank you. It should not be too difficult to draft a paragraph on each.

I like, “You have the right to go to school.” LOL. I bet that flies real good with the scouts. Well, there are *some* self-starting, ambitious students out there.

[Fester Chugabrew]

When I hear/read “Ethan Allen” it is furniture that comes to mind. . . . and “The Price is Right.” Well, MI has been known to produce the very best in that regard.

[alexander_busek]

[...] Polish Jew named Grabski who ended up in Austria [...]

"Polish" meaning of Polish ethnicity, rather than actual citizen of Poland, which was at that time a separate country? So... from perhaps Galicia? In the Austro-Hungarian Empire? Whereabouts exactly?

Regards,