Could Bush Pass the New Citizenship Test?
Posted: September 28th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Averel Wilson
The Bush Administration has just revamped the citizenship test to promote “assimilation and patriotism”, creating, in fact, a higher hurdle for those who want to become citizens. Starting on October 1, 2008, immigrants taking the test will be asked what the “rule of law” is and to outline one constitutional amendment concerning the right to vote. (You try that.) And take a look at Question # 67: “The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.” Although I might have guessed at one of the “usual suspects” tinkering with our Constitution in the 1880’s, I had to look this up. (The authors were Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. I would never have gotten John Jay.)
Here’s what I’d really like to know: Could most American citizens answer these and similar questions about our history, government and civics? Could our fearless (read: feckless) leader do so? Let’s not kid ourselves. It takes a certain arrogance to set a higher bar for those who long to become citizens than for those of us who complacently enjoy the rights of citizenship, without recognizing how fortunate we are to live in a country of such great freedom. Many of us don’t even bother to exercise the right to vote (which makes me livid).
Perhaps we should focus more energy on educating our own children in matters of government and civics, so that we can become a more engaged, aware, and active electorate - one that votes, and that actually understands what is at issue on each election day. I’m quite sure that a better informed electorate would not have subjected the world to two terms of George W. Bush.
