John F. Kennedy once exclaimed, “Every American who ever lived, with the exception of one group, was either an immigrant himself or a descendant of immigrants(A Nation Of Immigrants page 3). ” John was known for his irish-catholic heritage, and he served as one of our most beloved presidents. lohn A. Treutlen was the first naturalized citizen governor. Treutlen’s parents were raised with British ideals. When Treutlen went off to America to make something of himself, his parents called him worthless (D).
However, he rose above his heritage to bring great ideas to American policies. Treutlen wasn’t the only citizen considered worthless. In fact many immigrants feel like this when they come to America. They want to prove to their families (and themselves) that they can do well in their new home. Yet, under current law, they are limited in the ways they can prove their patriotism and courage. Allowing naturalized citizens to become president allows the United States the opportunity to have more leaders like John A Treutlen. It also makes an important statement to all citizens.
Denying naturalized citizens the position of president is unconstitutional and serves no useful purpose in today’s political arena. 1st Argument Amendment 14, section 1 of the constitution very clearly states, “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 (E). ” Then we must ask why can’t a naturalized citizen be president just like any other native born? Political leaders overlook this part of the constitution as if it is unimportant.
However, some people want to know the true facts. Such as Justin C. Danilewitz, a foreign culture concentrator and editor to the crimson, who said “By denying foreign-born citizens the opportunity to run for president, the Constitution sends the implicit message that naturalized immigrants are second-class citizens…. how can they be considered equals in the eye of the law in any other(F)? ” If this discrimination of naturalized citizens continues they won’t be second class citizens anymore, just third or fourth.
Though it might be wrong or unfair, the constitution still states in Article 2, Section 1, Clause 5 that there can’t be a naturalized presidency. It states “No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President(C). ” Showing that the constitution also proves that a naturalized president can’t become president in the first place. the constitution stating this it means that it refutes itself.
By this article being before the 14th amendment, it shows superiority over the topic. Being before as well, it brings about the idea of how there was the discussion of having the 14th amendment at all. By this counter it means that the constitution refutes itself. How can it say “…. Or a citizen of the United States,” if already in the Declaration of Independence it states”… all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness(G). If all men are created equal, citizens are created equal and we all have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, then why can naturalized ones can’t be?
Richard J. Durbin, an illinois senator with a foreign background, once said, “We did not view African Americans as real, whole Americans… The Founding Fathers got most of it right, but not everything (H). Denying the right to be president to a naturalized citizen who was given the right to be free and to have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is unconstitutional. As well as stating that “No person except a natural born citizen… is refuting the constitution itself. Political leaders should not overlook the constitution for the constitution is what makes up America as a whole. Naturalized citizens should not be treated as third class citizens or 2nd class citizens, but all citizens should be treated and valued to the same level.
African Americans were treated as pieces of property, but now naturalized citizens are treated just the same to America. 2nd Argument Arnold Schwarzenegger, an Austrian born governor stated once, “If I’d been born in America, I would have run. Arnold always had the dream to become president and battle out his foes in candidacy, but he soon became an actor where he actually battled his foes. This raises the question of how naturalized citizens have participated in important government and military positions in the past. Utah senator Orrin Hatch, the man who introduced the bill of a naturalized citizen president, once noted “That more than 60. 000 immigrants currently serve in the U. S. armed forces and cited the 700 Medal of Honor winners who were born in other countries.
Yet, no matter how great their sacrifice they remain ineligible to be a candidate for president. (K)” If that many people risk their lives everyday just for America, then they should at least, out of any naturalized citizen, deserve to be president. Perhaps there have been leaders in those areas, but there has also been tragedies. Omar Mateen, a naturalized citizen from Iraq, walked into the Pulse night club and killed 50 people and injured 50 others (H). As well as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a pakistani in Al Qaeda, a naturalized citizen who helped plan out 9/11 (1).
These terrorists prove the fact of the horrible tragedies that were caused by naturalized citizens. Though there are terrorists there are naturalized citizens who don’t want to be president in the first place. Jennifer Granholm, a canadian born governor for michigan, once proclaimed “I’m not going to run for president, I can tell you that (1). ” If naturalized citizens don’t want to be president in the first place then why go through all of the trouble to let them be president in the first place? Though this is true for some naturalized citizens, most still want the right even though some don’t care.
Jennifer Granholm stated that she would not run for president, but she might have stated because she knew she couldn’t have been president in the first place so why even try bothering. Many people have not stated that they would be president based on heritage or debation if they should. Ted Cruz serves as a senator for Texas and was born outside of the U. S. He wasn’t stated foreign born like most naturalized citizens because he has a mother who is natively born. (L) Obama as well has been debated over for whether or not he is from Hawaii or Kenya (M).
As well as Barry Goldwater, the 1964 presidential nominee, was born in the territory of Arizona before it was even a state. Naturalized citizens have served our country in many capacities. They have been our politicians, our military leaders, or even our own friends and we still haven’t opened up the presiden ned up the presidency to them. They have been debated over for decades and they haven’t got any rest. They should have the right to have what they want and do what they want like any other normal native born citizen.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jennifer Granholm were two great candidates for the United States presidency, but because the native born politicians are afraid of what might come because of a naturalized presidency, they won’t do what’s right. The right thing to do is to allow naturalized citizens to be equal. 3rd Argument Hundreds of our most astounded scientists and entrepreneurs were naturalized citizens. Henry Kissinger was a secretary of state from Germany. Albert Einstein, a German scientist who advised the government and came up with the theory of relativity. As well as Jerry Yang, from Taiwan, co-founded Yahoo.
As well as naturalized citizens have been founders, co-founders and secretaries to amazing companies that have shaped our country. Such as Google, AT&T, Dawn, GAP, Firefox, Starbucks and many more (K). This brings up the discussion of how the U. S. government needs to become more globally connected and how naturalized citizens can help with that. By naturalized citizens our companies can reach out to the outer corners of our earth. Such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel, India or Iraq. According to the Washington Post, 40% of the fortune 500 founders are immigrants or children of immigrants (K).
Naturalized citizens work hard to not only work but to start up their own hard working businesses that they made from their own sweat and tears. If a hardworking citizen that cares about our country and wants to make peace with others as well even though it might not say they can, then they are fit to become the president of the United States. By having positions such as governor or secretary of state, they can be a difficult situation to the U. S. as well. They could infiltrate all levels of our schools, businesses and or government.
They could get certain officials of the districts and make the schools/ businesses harder to leave or get into. All they would need to do is get the trust of a superior such as a boss or the president and they could take over. Our own president Donald Trump is afraid of propaganda from other countries such as Russia, North Korea or even refugees from areas that ISIS is located around. Those refugees and other countries could start a coup. Although we have checks and balances, if leaders from other countries got enough people in our branches, there could be an overthrow of power.