Birthright Citizenship is a Misunderstanding

Birthright Citizenship is a Misunderstanding

Anyone who knows of “Doctor No” recalls that he introduced the idea of birthright citizenship for its original intent. After the civil war, decent American citizens realized that the now free former slaves did not enjoy full citizenship. They could not vote. Therefore, the 14th Amendment was written to establish full citizenship to former slaves. As slaves brought here by force, we and they were not privy to which African country from which they had been captured and brought to the USA and to which they owed allegiance.

In the South, the Democrats were opposed to this amendment and passed Jim Crow laws in the area which had been the Confederacy. Jim Crow established local laws promoting racial segregation of public schools, transportation, lunch counters and even drinking fountains. The South had many Jim Crow laws on the books until the 1950s.

Dr. Ron Paul (R-Texas) worked to abolish “birthright citizenship” back in the 20th century. People entering the US from Haiti, Guatemala, Mexico and so forth obviously owed allegiance to the countries where they were born.

It is obviously a misinterpretation of the 14th Amendment to grant citizenship to anyone owing allegiance elsewhere. It was directly aimed at children of former slaves.

Let us hope our new administration, (which seems to be on top of many things that have been proceeding in the wrong direction – squandering millions of taxpayer dollars, in health with additives in foods, dumbing down our schools even as we pay the world's top dollar) can begin with this amendment and continue to recticy the damage we've suffered of late.

In liberty,

Audrey Taggart

Hobe Sound

This is an editorial and not the official position of the Martin County Republican Executive Committee.