Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
My copy of “Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary” defines allegiance as, “the fidelity owed by a subject or citizen to his sovereign or government.”
This week as we celebrate Independence Day we should take a moment to contemplate that the founding of the United States of America made that definition obsolete for us.
We are the first country whose constitution makes clear that we are not subjects owing loyalty to any sovereign or king but are rather free citizens who choose those who govern us.
We should remember there are many countries governed by despots and autocrats with subjects who are not so fortunate.
I’ve written before about sworn oaths and do so again today.
The Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America reads, in part, “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.”
The oath of enlistment reads, in part, “I solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.”
Blogger Sarah Hoyt was born in Portugal. She is a naturalized citizen and published this on becoming American:
“It is our solemn duty, no matter how many of our compatriots fail at it, to live up to our amazing luck in being citizens of the greatest nation on Earth, one founded on the belief that individuals can be self-governing and are the bosses of their own government. Thank you for admitting me to the privilege. Never forget your luck. Learn to live up to it.”
Hoyt understands Independence Day perfectly.
Rube Render is the Curry County Republican chairman. Contact him at:
