-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger
Margaret Doughty, a 64-year old woman originally from the UK, and living in the US for 30+ years applied for US citizenship. She was asked, like all candidates, if they’d be willing to take up arms in defense of the United States of America. She responded that her “duty of conscience not to contribute to warfare by taking up arms … my beliefs are as strong and deeply held as those who possess traditional religious beliefs and who believe in God.” The USCIS in Houston, Texas, informed Doughty that conscientious objection must be based on religious grounds and she was to “submit a letter on official church stationery, attesting to the fact that you are a member in good standing and the church’s official position on the bearing of arms.”
The Oath of renunciation and allegiance, 8 U.S.C. 1448(a)(5), requires applicants for naturalization to “(A) to bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law, or (B) to perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law, or (C) to perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law.” An exception to this oath is:
a person who shows by clear and convincing evidence to the satisfaction of the Attorney General that he is opposed to the bearing of arms in the Armed Forces of the United States by reason of religious training and belief shall be [exempt]. The term “religious training and belief” as used in this section shall mean an individual’s belief in a relation to a Supreme Being involving duties superior to those arising from any human relation, but does not include essentially political, sociological, or philosophical views or a merely personal moral code.
However, in United States v. Seeger (1965), a 9-0 Supreme Court case involving claims of conscientious objectors under the Universal Military Training and Service Act, provided a test to language identical to that found above. In the opinion of the Court, granting Seeger the exception, J. Clark wrote:
We recognize the difficulties that have always faced the trier of fact in these cases. We hope that the test that we lay down proves less onerous. The examiner is furnished a standard that permits consideration of criteria with which he has had considerable experience. While the applicant’s words may differ, the test is simple of application. It is essentially an objective one, namely, does the claimed belief occupy the same place in the life of the objector as an orthodox belief in God holds in the life of one clearly qualified for exemption?
Doughty’s situation is also similar to that of Elliot Ashton Welsh II in the Supreme Court case: Welsh v. United States (1969). Welsh applied for conscientious objector status when the Selective Service found him fit to serve. Welsh’s objection was also not rooted in any religious beliefs. A 5-3 Court (J. Blackmun not participating) held that Welsh could claim conscientious objector status even though he professes no religious-based objection. J. Black wrote in the majority opinion:
In view of the broad scope of the word “religious,” a registrant’s characterization of his beliefs as “nonreligious” is not a reliable guide to those administering the exemption.
After intervention by Andrew L. Seidel (pdf) of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the American Humanist Association, and Doughty’s local Congressman, Blake Farenthold (R-TX), Doughty’s application for naturalization has been approved.
H/T: Hemant Mehta, Kevin Davis, Nick Wing, Eric W. Dolan.
Ours is a young country, fraught with juvenile aberrations such as these.
There are bars that are older than our jangly nation (5 Bars Founded Before the United States).
OS, There has been a movement by right thinking people like us to put civics back into the curriculum. I read some time ago more than 80% of schools do not have civics class. When I taught high school history they had no civics class. However, I taught a current events class and infused civics into the lesson plans. A guerilla tactic!
OS,
Yep. Not only was Civics required when I was in school, my Civics teacher was also my homeroom teacher in 7th grade. One of my favorite teachers ever.
Dave says:
“1) In the same way that there shall be no religious test for public office, there shall be no religious test for entrance into citizenship: at least if one is looking for consistency in that whole “We the People” thing;”
Perfectly in line with the spirit of the law. And the letter for that matter. According to the USCIS, the requirements for naturalized citizenship are (for green card holders):
Be 18 or older at the time of filing
Be a green card holder for at least 5 years immediately preceding the date of filing the Form N-400, Application for Naturalization
Have lived within the state, or USCIS district with jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of residence, for at least 3 months prior to the date of filing the application
Have continuous residence in the United States as a green card holder for at least 5 years immediately preceding the date of filing the application
Be physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the 5 years immediately preceding the date of filing the application
Reside continuously within the United States from the date of application for naturalization up to the time of naturalization
Be able to read, write, and speak English and have knowledge and an understanding of U.S. history and government (civics).
Be a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States during all relevant periods under the law
Seems to me that exercising both her right to Free Exercise and our history of recognizing conscientious objectors from pacifist religious traditions other than atheism – which is a valid and protected personal choice under the 1st Amendment – makes her a ” person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States during all relevant periods under the law”.
“2) While I fervently disagree with her (and others’) view regarding not fighting for the country, I defend her (pending, relative to the US) right to have that view.”
See the above statement about conscientious objectors.
Way to cut to the heart of things, Dave.
Gene,
I checked, and Civics is not part of the curriculum in our local school districts. At least the ones I checked. There may be some I missed, but none I found so far. When I was in school, Civics was required!
What my youngest kid knows about civics, I taught her, because she certainly did not get it in school.
Here’s the morality of this Christian president: “Increasingly brutal tactics are being used in an attempt to break the hunger strike by detainees at Guantánamo Bay, according to fresh testimony from the last British resident still held in the camp.
Shaker Aamer claims that the US authorities are systematically making the regime more hardline to try to defuse the strike, which now involves almost two-thirds of the detainees. Techniques include making cells “freezing cold” to accentuate the discomfort of those on hunger strike and the introduction of “metal-tipped” feeding tubes, which Aamer said were forced into inmates’ stomachs twice a day and caused detainees to vomit over themselves.
The 46-year-old from London tells of one detainee who was admitted to hospital 10 days ago after a nurse had pushed the tube into his lungs rather than his stomach, causing him later to cough up blood. Aamer also alleges that some nurses at Guantánamo Bay are refusing to wear their name tags in order to prevent detainees registering abuse complaints against staff.
Speaking last week from the camp in Cuba, exactly four months after he joined the hunger strike, Aamer said: “The administration is getting ever more angry and doing everything they can to break our hunger strike. Honestly, I wish I was dead.” (The Guardian)
rgcomega,
I am with Mike Spindell on the questions. What exactly is “skin in the game?” I mean, I have no problem at all with her CO status, and totally disagree with the USCIS administrative law judge who made the idiotic order. As for “skin in the game,” How about the lede photo in my Memorial Day story? Is that enough skin in the game for you?
http://jonathanturley.org/?s=memorial+day
OS,
Not only do people not take civics anymore, in most school districts, it’s not even taught anymore.
I wonder why (he said scratching his chin in mock puzzlement)?
As Ms. Doughty pointed out, at the age of 64, she is not likely to be called upon to pick up arms against an enemy of the country. I guess from the USCIS standpoint, that is irrelevant, in view of the fact she is not religious. I see the real enemy of our Republic these days as the War on the Constitution.
“but I’ve gotta say that considering what’s going on in the country today there is a growing part of me that wants to say don’t we have enough people sucking up free air and not willing to put any skin in the game.”
Rgcomega,
Who exactly are you referring to and how much “skin” do you have in the game?
“Margaret Doughty, a 64-year old woman originally from the UK, and living in the US for 30+ years applied for US citizenship. She was asked, like all candidates, if they’d be willing to take up arms in defense of the United States of America.”
Wait a minute, doesn’t anyone see the irony of asking a 64 year old whether they would be willing to fight to defend the country? Where would she enlist if need be. Is the question eliciting whether she would fire upon invaders of the U.S. if called upon, or are we contemplating a geriatric branch of our armed forces. Generic, one size fits all questions lead to absurdities such as this. Ms
Doughty’s “error” was that she simply didn’t answer “yes” knowing that the question really didn’t apply to her. Rather than being deceptive she answered with her conscience, which in today’s America is becoming an act that might get a person punished. While I understand that the “take up arms” question is really to elicit ones commitment to this country, I think it should be couched in different, less militant terms, or not at all. The whole citizenship question is a morass. Rupert Murdoch miraculously became a U.S. citizen when he was trying to start a TV network and therefore required it, even though his prime residences are in London, Sydney and Beijing. At the same time the immigration service will scrupulously investigate each married couple to see if their marriage is real, before granting citizenship to the foreign spouse.
Interesting case, some interesting comments, but I’ve gotta say that considering what’s going on in the country today there is a growing part of me that wants to say don’t we have enough people sucking up free air and not willing to put any skin in the game.
Two branches to this story:
1) In the same way that there shall be no religious test for public office, there shall be no religious test for entrance into citizenship: at least if one is looking for consistency in that whole “We the People” thing;
2) While I fervently disagree with her (and others’) view regarding not fighting for the country, I defend her (pending, relative to the US) right to have that view.
Such disagreement and capacity to criticize freely is exactly the reason why our country is so strong: and it reinforces why anyone wishes to become a US citizen.
That being said, we live in a continuation of time when such freedom needs defending. War isn’t going away. Threats aren’t going away. And though it’s true that if everyone were a pacifist, war would be eradicated, that is not the case. And in the meantime, many groups and countries — particularly those with theocratic regimes — seek world domination, presently manifested in the form of regional conflict.
The West therefore must fight back. We must fight those who threaten us and those who actually harm us. Communistic and religious and totalitarian ideologies and systems of government are at odds with secularism and democracy and individual liberty. And if we wish to enjoy the fruits of freedom, fought for throughout US history, then each of us may have to continue that fight.
Admittedly I’m not selfless enough to enter the military and go to war (most of us fall into this category) — but if the country called for it, or a draft imposed, I’d take up arms at any age to preserve the most remarkable country in history.
I saw this story earlier in the week and was appalled. When I was in the 8th grade Civics was required. Don’t people take Civics any more? If they did, they obviously are not learning anything. Since they are now “teaching to the test,” meaning the Gateway Testing which is required for graduating from high school, the Bill of Rights should be on the test. There really are no words.
A couple of years ago, magician/illusionist Randi was being interviewed on NPRs All Things Considered one afternoon. They were taking calls, and some caller informed Randi that since he is an atheist, he could not possibly have morals or ethics, that one must be religious to have morals. How do you respond to something like that. Randi was gracious in his response, but the stupid, it burns!
I would like to ask the judge in a case like that if it would be OK to get a letter from such morally upright religious figures like Jimmy Swaggart, Fred Phelps, Creflo Dollar or Jeffery Dale Williams. (you can Google little Jeffy if his name does not ring a bell).
“After intervention by Andrew L. Seidel (pdf) of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the American Humanist Association, and Doughty’s local Congressman, Blake Farenthold (R-TX), Doughty’s application for naturalization has been approved.”
The bottom line.
Protest is required when luddites are “doin’ a heckuva job.”
Citizenship denied….. because all of these ‘Moral’ religious, people are all way too busy starting new wars, in foreign lands, to grant a ‘Humanist’ citizenship….. What a hateful bunch….
As a Texan I am apalled that she was told to find a church! The separation of church and state is a thin line in my state. I am an atheist but I keep it to myself. Bad enough being a Democrat in a red state!
For some reason I’m feeling very non pc today.
Anne Laurie Gaylor to the rescue. This is one crusade where I agree w/ FFR. I would have thought the new citizen refusing to fight would have been from France.
Come on people… This nation was founded by foreigners…. What’s the real issue here….