Chris-Alaska
Oath of Allegiance - In the News
Sat Oct 11 19:16:00 2003
64.140.158.151

Chris-Alaska, - grizcty@alaska.net


ISSUE: Leave it to bureaucrats to try and mess up another
important American institution. This time, it's the Oath
of Allegiance to the United States.

Parts of the current Oath of Allegiance, which is taken
by immigrants at citizenship ceremonies, date back to
1790. The Oath of Allegiance was adopted into federal
regulation in 1929 and took its present form in the 1950s.
The contents of the Oath are not specified by law, so it
can currently be changed without the approval of Congress.

The Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS)
proposed changes to the Oath of Allegiance that were to
take effect on September 17, 2003, which is citizenship
day and the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution.
Fortunately, as a result of much public backlash, the
BCIS postponed the enactment of these changes.

The proposed changes to the Oath substantially weaken the
charge to uphold and be faithful to the Constitution and
the laws of the United States. As we continue to welcome
legal immigrants to our country and fight the war on
terror, we need a forceful and uncompromising Oath of
Allegiance.

In response, Congressman Jim Ryun (R-KS) and Senator Lamar
Alexander (R-TN) recently introduced legislation (HR 3191
and S 1628) that would establish the current Oath of
Allegiance as federal law, and give it the same protection
as the American Flag, Pledge of Allegiance, and the
National Anthem. We need to urge action on those bills
right away.

ACTION ITEM: In the first five months of this fiscal
year, close to 167,000 immigrants took the oath and were
naturalized as citizens of this country. "It is quite an
oath," Sen. Alexander said. "It has strength. It has clarity.
Sounds like it might have been written by some rowdy
patriots in Philadelphia or Williamsburg."

Surprisingly, Congress has never voted on the content of
this oath. We have left it to federal regulators. It's TIME
to protect it! Go to our site below to send a FREE editable,
pre-written message to your Representative and Senators,
urging them to support HR 3191 and S 1628, "To prescribe
the oath of renunciation and allegiance for purposes of
the Immigration and Nationality Act":

Be sure to forward this e-mail to everyone you know who wants to
give the Oath of Allegiance the same respect and protection
as our other national symbols like the American Flag,
National Anthem, and the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you!

The current language of the Oath of Allegiance

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 a 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 law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.
The proposed language of the Oath of Allegiance

Solemnly, freely, and without any mental reservation, I hereby renounce under oath all allegiance to any foreign state. My fidelity and allegiance from this day forward is to the United States of America. I pledge to support, honor, and be loyal to the United States, its Constitution and laws. Where and if lawfully required, I further commit myself to defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, either by military, noncombatant, or civilian service. This I do solemnly swear, so help me God.
===========================
Plan to revise Oath of Allegiance falters
Washington Times, DC - Sep 16, 2003
Federal officials have backed away from rewriting the Oath of Allegiance taken
by new citizens, after criticism from Congress and veterans who say the new ...
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20030916-103633-3702r.htm

Searched news for Oath of Allegiance. Results 1 - 10 of about 208

Searched the web for Oath of Allegiance. Results 1 - 10 of about 151,000