116th Edition
Citizenship
Section I of the 14th Amendment states – All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.
The purpose, as well as the spirit of the 14th Amendment, was to prepare the way for the next generation to benefit from the rights enjoyed by all citizens, including the rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Implied in this amendment is that this next generation will embrace the true meaning of citizenship. What that means exactly, then and now, is the subject of today’s blog.
The Founding Fathers viewed citizenship in terms of both rights and responsibilities. The list of rights was clearly enumerated. The responsibilities were less so but nonetheless as important to the health and sustainability of the republic. Civic responsibilities are diverse and widespread. Moreover, they are dynamic, reflecting changing customs, values, and circumstances. For example, civic responsibility during WWII was naturally very different than during extended periods of peace. Civic responsibility after natural disasters or catastrophes like 9/11, also change and do so quickly. But underneath it all, in any environment, there are a few common threads or foundation posts, more accurately. The first foundation post of citizenship is the concept of service before self. To give back more than one takes. To contribute to the greater whole. To leave the world better than it was before you lived. Most people learn the benefit of a service-oriented mindset at an early age by watching their parents interact with neighbors. Neighborhoods are created and sustained by a mutual willingness to lend a hand. As a child, I remember when we were going out of town my dad would let one of our neighbors know. “Keep an eye on the place,” my dad would say, confident that our neighbor would do just that. This trusting relationship between neighbors was one of the reasons we never locked our doors even when going out of town. Imagine that today…
The second foundation post is the commitment to self-sacrifice. In healthy communities, this happens naturally, routinely, and in multiple ways. It is an awareness that our lifestyle decisions can impact others and that we should strive to be considerate and respectful of others. Again, most people learn these lessons at a young age. One time, when I was a young boy, our dog stole a steak off the backyard grill of one of our neighbors. My dad spotted our dog eating it and immediately drove to the grocery store and purchased a replacement. He dropped it off at the neighbor’s house, along with a few cold beers and all was forgiven.
The third pillar of citizenship is the realization of our common humanity. To our Founders, and even today within a large percentage of the population, that common thread was faith in an almighty God. A God who loves all, forgives all, and is sovereign overall all.
How have these foundation posts changed since our republic was founded? In my view, all three foundation posts have eroded. The first, service before self, still exists but it tends to be the exception rather than the rule. In its place are the social ills of chronic dependency, generational poverty, a sense of entitlement, and the culture killing attitude within corporations that it isn’t my job. These problems have all been made worse by the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the administrative state as well as the decline of traditional faith and family values. Meanwhile, self-sacrifice, has largely given way to self-indulgence and self-absorption. Lastly, we tend to minimize our common humanity and focus instead on our differences. We aren’t united today as much as we are tribal. The mainstream media deserves a good bit of the blame for perpetuating this civic-destroying trend. Also, I think we are slowly realizing the negative side of social media.
What might we do in the future to strengthen the foundations of citizenship? Most solutions are rather simple. It just takes a commitment to a different mindset. There are countless ways to live out our calling to love your neighbor as yourself…
One last question – Do children whose parents are not yet U. S. citizens deserve the same protection and opportunities afforded to children whose parents are U.S. citizens? That question is at the center of the debate about reinterpreting the 14th Amendment. It would seem rather cold-hearted to answer no they do not. At the same time, we should make sure they understand the foundation posts of citizenship. We should educate them about both the rights and responsibilities involved. To welcome them as citizens only to add them to the roles of dependency does them a disservice while it increases the financial burden on a government that is already spending way beyond its means. As always, when it involves public policy, how we do things matters.
One final thought… America is a land of abundance. All over this extraordinary country there are people and communities overflowing with hospitality, kindness, and grace. Rooting for underdogs is one of our noblest traditions. Let’s welcome these children wherever they come from and whatever challenges they overcame to get here. Raised in a loving and nurturing environment, these young citizens are destined to accomplish amazing things and over the long run, their overall benefit to our country might just astonish all of us.
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Michael Kayes
*These views are my personal opinions and are not the viewpoints of any company or organization.