Posted on 09/14/2003 2:03:53 PM PDT by ppaul
WASHINGTON — Government officials who had planned to unveil a more modern citizenship oath next week are going back to the drawing board. The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services has canceled plans to use the oath for the first time at a swearing-in ceremony in Washington on Wednesday, a spokesman for the agency, Russ Knocke, said on Friday.Eduardo Aguirre Jr., director of bureau said last week that his agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, wanted the language of the oath to be less arcane so it would be more meaningful to immigrants.
In the current oath, immigrants swear to "renounce and abjure" allegiance to princes and potentates. The new oath would have had them say, "Solemnly, freely and without any mental reservation, I hereby renounce all allegiance to any foreign state."
Domestic security and immigration officials decided to rewrite the oath again after receiving numerous letters and calls about the replacement, Mr. Knocke said. Though Mr. Knocke called it "positive feedback," some criticized the new oath and others insisted on more public comment.
The proposed changes led Senator Lamar Alexander, Republican of Tennessee, to announce on Thursday that he would introduce legislation to put the current oath into law. Although Congress dictates what should be contained in the oath, the actual words are not in the law.
"The oath of allegiance is a fundamental statement on the commitment of becoming a United States citizen," Mr. Alexander said. "It should not be altered by a government agency, no matter how well intentioned."
The American Legion also weighed in. Language in the new oath appeared to make defending the country an option for naturalized citizens, said Marty Justis, the legion's Americanism division director. It drops the words "I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law."
"We are emphatic they be in there," Mr. Justis said.
Edwin A. Meese III, the attorney general in the Reagan administration, said in a letter that simplifying the oath would "weaken the powerful language and change the substantive meaning."
Some groups supported the simpler language, saying it would encourage citizenship. But several were unhappy that the public had not been given more opportunity to comment.
Mr. Knocke, the immigration spokesman, said the agency was pleased with the responses to changing the oath and wants to have a more formal comment period.
He said a timetable and details on the process would be released later.
Link to article HERE.
Some groups supported the simpler language, saying it would encourage citizenship.Sure. That's just what we need - more wimpy "citizens" unwilling to stand up for America, unwilling to defend the United States.
"Solemnly, freely and without any mental reservation, I hereby renounce all allegiance to any foreign state."
could mean just what it says ... a state.
And most immigrants come from a country.
Now, if the hitlerybwitch gets a governership of NY or something like that,
Naaaahhhh ... she'd never let any one out to swear against her.
_____________________________________________
Oath of Allegiance
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.
____________________________________________
Anyone know where the full version of the proposed new oath is?
I concur.
I never was able to substantiate the rumors but would not be surprised if they were true.
--Boris
"And I will keep my word as well as any politician."
Having read it downthread, I'm thinking it's not a bad idea to change that one line with "princes and potentates" into modern English. But it should clearly state that the person swearing in as a new citizen should give all his allegiance to the United States of America, and none to any other country (I'd stick the word "country" in there).
Let's see. Here's the original:
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;
Yeah, I like the language too, but I can see where someone who has mastered English only to a minimal point might need something a bit less obscure. How about:
"I hereby declare, on oath and on my honor, that I completely renounce and reject all allegiance or obligation to any other country or state. I also renounce and reject any allegiance or obligation to any leader of any country, any state, or any other group. I swear that I will give my full and only allegiance to the United States of America."
Followed by the rest of the oath as written.
I think they backed out, got too hot for them when word got out.
Punish 'em exactly the same way pols are punished! ;^)
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