Months ago I came up with a thought. Either I expressed that thought to the right people OR someone else had the same thought. Either way I love to see it when My ideas happen in the real world.
“What is he talking about?” you ask.
Simple, I noticed that there were a LOT of kids AND adults these days who are totally clueless about how or society works.
They could not name the Vice President, (Joe Biden) their Congressman, or even the three branches of Government, which are, The Executive/President, the Legislative/Congress and the Judicial/Supreme Court.
Sadly that LAST example was a CONGRESSMAN (Democrat) who thought the three branches were the President, the House, and the Senate.
All of these were (are) CURRENT event issues they could not come up with correct answers for.
Unfortunately, it is worse when we are talking about historical events, their significance and what the legal documents are that govern our nation.
Well one day I was listening to someone talk about their frustration on the subject. During the conversation they offhandedly commented that Legal Immigrants who apply for citizenship have to pass an exam. Therefore many of THEM have a MUCH better understanding of the Constitution, our Government and how it works and the history of our country.
Tell you what, for fun, Here are a few sample questions that might appear on a citizenship test, let’s see how many YOU get right.
( )
Before you start in about Hypocrisy, Yes I took these tests, and more, just for kicks and giggles at the time, and yes I passed them… Easily.
In any case, that is when MY idea hit me.
If you want to be a FULL citizen of our country maybe you ought to have to pass an exam like that. You should at least show that you KNOW why our nation exists, and the responsibilities, rights and privileges you have as a citizen.
Last night, I was listening to the news on the radio and I heard that Arizona, MY home state I am proud to say, has now just passed a law that states, before any student can get their High school Diploma they have to pass a civics test. Basically what I was saying to begin with.
I want to detail MY thoughts/plan on the subject though since I took it further than they do.
First of all If you are born in the U.S.A. You get a partial citizenship. A sort of, “you are recognized as part of, and protected by the laws of, this nation,” thing.
You are recognized as being a ward, or in the care of someone else (your parents/guardians probably someone who IS a full citizen.) until you are “of age” to participate as a full member of the citizenry.
That age, By the way, is dependent on your own abilities! If you can pass the test and be personally responsible then you qualify no matter the actual, physical age you might be.
In order to gain full citizenship, you would need to,
(1) Take a test/show knowledge of the history of our nation, the values we hold and the way our government works to include the current leaders of the nation who represent you. (President, Federal congressman/senator of your state/district, local authorities like the Sheriff, Governor, Mayor, State assemblyman etc…) OR,
(2) Join the military or other Government programs, which put an emphasis on what it is to be an American and to be of service to your community (Local, County, State, or Federal) for a year.
Why should anyone want to become a full citizen?
In order to vote you have to have full citizenship.
In order to file taxes/get refunds, and receive certain Government benefits, you have to have full citizenship. (Remember, if you do NOT have full citizenship you are considered to be someone’s ward / in the care of another person. That would mean THEY could claim you on their taxes as a dependent).
In order to have any government job, run for political offices or certain other full time employment, you have to be a full citizen.
Anyway that is my thought on the matter. I know there would be people who would disagree with me, I can even hear their arguments already. But, really, I am not asking for the moon here. We need to find SOME way to cultivate an understanding of our homeland and it’s place in the world. Why we are who we are. Where we ought to go from here.
In short, I am tired of all the low information voters who are clueless about the way our nation is supposed to work and who vote based on popularity or selfishness, instead of what the NATION needs as a whole.
In closing I would like to ask you a few more questions, a few more things to think on. Do you know these?
1. Did you know that we are NOT a Democracy but rather a Democratic Republic? Every one always says this is just a Democracy. WRONG.
2. Do you know what document limits what our government can do to us? (The Constitution)
3. Can you name what person was one of the most influential in our nation’s founding he signed the Declaration of independence, but he never served in an elected position? (Benjamin Franklin)
4. Can you tell me which document this quote belongs in, “we hold these truths to be self-evident, that 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”. (Declaration of Independence)
5. Who made that “famous ride” warning that the British were coming BESIDES Paul Revere? (William Dawes)
6. Who actually wrote the Declaration of Independence? (Thomas Jefferson)
7. How many men signed the Declaration of Independence? (56)
8. Can you name just any FIVE of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
(Button Gwinnett.
Lyman Hall.
George Walton.
William Hooper.
Joseph Hewes.
John Penn.
Edward Rutledge.
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Thomas Lunch, Jr.
Arthur Middleton.
John Hancock.
Samuel Chase.
William Paca.
Thomas Stone.
Charles Carroll.
George Wythe.
Richard Henry Lee.
Thomas Jefferson.
Benjamin Harrison.
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee.
Carter Braxton.
Robert Morris.
Benjamin Franklin.
Benjamin Rush.
John Morton.
George Clymer.
James Smith.
George Taylor.
James Wilson.
George Ross.
Caeser Rodney.
George Read.
Thomas McKean.
William Floyd.
Philip Livingston.
Francis Lewis.
Lewis Morris.
Richard Stockton.
John Witherspoon.
Francis Hopkinson.
John Hart.
Abraham Clark.
Josiah Bartlett.
William Whipple.
Samuel Adams.
John Adams.
Robert Treat Paine.
Elbridge Gerry.
Stephen Hopkins.
William Ellery.
Roger Sherman.
Samuel Huntington.
William Williams.
Oliver Woolcott.
And Matthew Thornton.)
9. How many Amendments are there in the Constitution? (27)
10. When was the last Amendment added? (May 7th 1992) and What was it? (Limiting Congressional pay increases)
11. Which Amendment cancels out another Amendment and what are the two Amendments about? (21st and 18th. The 18th Abolished liquor in the U.S. passed on January 16 1919,enacted one year later, the 21st repealed the abolition on December 5th 1933).
12. How many articles are there in the original Constitution? (7)
13. What President served more than two terms? (Franklin Delano Roosevelt).
14. What caused us to become involved in World War 2? (the Attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii)
15. Who said “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”? (John Fitzgerald Kennedy)
16. Which was the 50th state admitted to the Union? (Hawaii?)
Just for the record I had the answers to ALL of these questions sitting in my head with the ONE exception that I could not have named all 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence cold. (I read the Declaration again to find the names. If I can do it then I think it ought to be possible for ALL Americans to do it.
No comments:
Post a Comment