Posted on 11/21/2006 8:51:18 AM PST by theothercheek
Typical questions on the US citizenship test include: “How many states are there in the United States?”; “Where is the White House located?”; and “What are the 49th and 50th states of the Union?”
The US government is scrapping this test, which requires nothing more than rote memorization of facts, in favor of a new 10-question oral exam conducted in English that tests an immigrant’s grasp of the principles of American democracy, including the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. The change is meant to counteract a 20-30 year retreat from emphasizing Americanization in favor of multiculturalism – a reaction, in part, to the worsening cultural and societal problems caused by large populations of unassimilated immigrants in Europe.
Chris Bentley, spokesman for the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency tells The Washington Times that the proposed test for naturalized citizenship has its roots in a report by a Clinton administration commission headed by former Rep. Barbara Jordan that emphasized "effective Americanization of new immigrants, that is the cultivation of a shared commitment to the American values of liberty, democracy and equal opportunity," including policies to "help newcomers learn to speak, read and write English effectively."
Some immigrants "come from a culture, a government, a society that is completely removed from our concept of government," Shawn Saucier, another USCIS spokesman tells The Christian Science Monitor.
The new test makes sense to The Stiletto, but more than 220 immigrant organizations signed a letter to USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez that charges the new test is an insurmountable barrier for "poorer legal immigrants with less English and less education" to getting US citizenship, The Washington Times reports.
The new test will be administered on a trial basis in 10 cities beginning this winter, and will be phased in nationwide by January 2008. Immigrants who fail – that is, answer fewer than six questions correctly - can take the standard test, which almost no one fails.
NOTE: This is the second article in a feature called "The Daily Blade," and follows an article titled "Dems Beset By Indecision, Infighting And Intrigue." The original source includes links to relevant articles and Web sites.
A lot of college educated Americans would fail that new test.
Too bad none of the Democrats taking office are of Rep. Jordan's caliber.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
WTF?
Are they going to judge the appropriateness of the test by how many pass / fail?
It's about time!
No need to point to Europe; we have our own problems with unassimilated masses right here in the U.S.
If you don't know the basic tenets of democracy, then maybe you shouldn't be here.
A lot of college educated Americans would fail that new test.
How about...
Would you die for freedom?
That would be a good question.
By global test.
If the immigrants want to be naturalized citizens, the test is appropriate.
Why bother with the new test?
The new test makes sense to The Stiletto, but more than 220 immigrant organizations signed a letter to USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez that charges the new test is an insurmountable barrier for "poorer legal immigrants with less English and less education" to getting US citizenship,
Well then..........consider that idea scrapped. Afterall, we want to make sure that just anyone and everyone gets in.
Remember when citizenship was a coveted "prize"?
Yeah, but look at what they're teaching them in college: 9/11 was a US government conspiracy, women's studies, etc., etc., etc.
It will be like the DMV tests. Now people just stand around sharing answers and the gubment employees do nothing.
Probably. Or maybe it's the government functionaries who are administering the test needing the trial. ;)
We should administer this test to every person that is eligible to vote.
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