The Fourteenth Amendment

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. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

In a nutshell here we have the fact that all persons belonging to our country whether born here or naturalized through the immigration process are considered to be citizens of the United States and that no governmental agency can take that away.  This however made citizens those of the country and not of the states in which they resided.  This was a crucial amendment after the Civil War as this was the amendment which had to be incorporated into the Southern states to allow for readmission into the Union.  This however in short speak is looked upon as giving the freed slaves the status of citizens of the United States, and the rights there unto reposed.

Citizenship - Then / Now 

When we originally look at the intent of the 14th amendment we can see that it was designed to protect the interest of all Americans, including those of the newly freed slaves.  Today we can see how it is that this amendment provides the same protection of the laws and rights of this country to those of any sexuality.  Personally a persons sexual choice is their own and regardless of such they are a citizen of this country, just as how the color of ones skin does not discount citizenship in our country.  This cartoon illustrates how although over 140 years old this amendment is viewed as being part of the gay rights agenda where as it is clearly just another form of hatred to people which the country was formed to avoid.

Should We Have to Serve the Government to be Citizens? 

 

Ah, the movie Starship Troopers, based on the book by the same name, part of the Commandant of the Marine Corps reading list.  This book gives way not only to the battle in space itself between humanity and the "bugs", but also leads us into the realm of future political science.  We see that the civilian in the book and movie exercises very little authority in society, being merely a pawn if you will, where as the citizen has the authority to vote, and has governmental affluence.  Some may call this similar to communism, but it is not, it is a method of creating a more loyal governmental body not only in the political sector, but in the civilian as well as those who are able to vote choose to go through the process which allows them to.  The question is should we as a country, move to some sort of system such as this, allowing only those who put forth an effort to forward the country the right to vote on the future of the country?  Personally I believe that this should be a resounding yes.  Military service right now allows persons who are not citizens to become one, so why should it not also be a concluding factor on the ability to vote as well.  I am not saying that it should be the sole factor but one to take into consideration.