« Posse Comitatus Act and response to Katrina | Main | 1st anniversary of AW expiration »
Thought for the day
An author (I forget who) remarked that European countries define themselves in terms of ethnicity or culture, whereas Americans define themselves by a Constitution. I asked myself -- how would be define "Americanicity"? Presumably the best indicator would be the naturalization oath taken by naturalized citizens.
Sure enough... a naturalized citizen swears his loyalty, not to the United States as such, but to its Constitution and laws: "...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..."
Comments
Ha, I being a naturalized myself know that more than anybody else. True indeed, too bad our generation (native born or naturalized) know/care little about the Constitution these days.
Posted by: Josh at September 18, 2005 02:06 AM
My jurisprudence prof taught us that every state has a "group norm" everyone follows. In Britain, its that the Queen is sovereign. In the U.S., its that "the Constitution must be obeyed." We have a pretty unique group norm, not too many countries are so "Constitution oriented." One of our biggest problems, IMO, is the fact that since American Legal Realism took hold in the this country (early 20th cent.) the Constitution has gradualy become more and more negotiable.
C.A.G.
Posted by: C.A.G. at September 18, 2005 03:39 PM
We may be a nation of Americans but this country
has never been homogenous we are made whole
as well as not made whole by our ethnicity
and familial belief systems.
Posted by: Marc at September 19, 2005 03:11 AM