I read and was deeply troubled by the article recently published in the Addison Independent headlined “Schools consider ‘Pledge.’ More specifically, I take offense at any citizen who likens the “…Pledge to a blind oath of loyalty.”

Unless you are not a citizen, you are honor bound to give allegiance to your country, the one that you live freely in, the one that grants and protects freedoms that are not available in many other countries, one that protects you and your freedoms.

Here is the first section of the XIV Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

“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.”

Anyone who doubts this should be required to meet the same standards and finally pass the same final test that any foreigner must take to gain citizenship in this great and free country. Then and only then they should also stand up before God and country and recite the following, required of all naturalized citizens of the United States of America.

Oath of Allegiance for Naturalized Citizens:

“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.”

In some cases, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services allows the oath to be taken without the clauses: “. . .that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by law.”

Maybe what we should really do is consider revoking citizenship for those who cannot now meet the same standards we require of those who wish to be granted naturalized citizenship.

Art Remick
Shoreham