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Steve Sinn of Manitou Springs writes:

While watching the Denver TV news on Tuesday, Aug.21, there was a woman that had just earned her U.S. citizenship, and it was heartwarming to see how happy she was and how excited she seemed to be to be a new U.S. citizen. I loved watching her.
But then, reading the Rocky the following morning, Aug.22nd, I noticed the photo that showed some of those same new citizens taking the oath of allegiance and wondered why there were several of those in the front row that did not place their hands over their hearts, as most did.
If those in the photo were silently protesting the oath of allegiance to their new country then their citizenship should be reviewed and perhaps annulled.
It is a privilege to become a U.S. citizen and pledging one’s allegiance to this great country should be a requirement, not something that can be just skipped over. My opinion.
Becoming a U.S. citizen out of some sort of circumstance or convenience (other than a desire to become a fully vested U.S. citizen) should not be a reason for granting citizenship. There are plenty of people around the world that want to come here for a better life and opportunity and out of a desire to contribute and be a part of history’s most successful nation.
Those coming here and silently protesting their allegiance should not become a part of our great society. If protesting is what they were doing.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

Originally, the pledge was said with the right hand in the so-called "Bellamy Salute," with the right hand resting first outward from the chest, then the arm extending out from the body.

After Hitler came to power in Europe, some Americans were concerned that this position of the arm and hand resembled the Nazi or Fascist salute. In 1942 Congress established the current practice of rendering the pledge with the right hand over the heart.

The point being: it doesn't matter how a person positions their freakin' hands. If the person came here legally, I applaud any effort they make to become a part of this country. (by the way: I don't raise my hand to my heart EVER for anything or anyone.)

Heads up: For those of you ready to attack: go ahead, I don't care. :-) Kisses!

Would it be ok if I took citizenship just so I don't need to pay lawyers to keep renewing the green-card, and so I can actually benefit from SS and other stuff that I now pay for?

Or are "financial interests" not a valid reason? ;)

Bango

I would be proud to sponsor your application for whatever reasons...you'd be an interesting addition to our DNA pool.

Hey Skank, I got a real good job for you setting up sanolet toilets for farm workers , Its was a good paying job at $25.00 per hour, you can have it for $5.00. Salazar's ranch may even give you free gov't health care.

The pledge has been turned into a prayer. A nation under god is a theocracy. Iran, Iraq, et al along with Utah is a theocracy. America is becoming a theocracy: The Supreme Court, The Executive Branch, The Legislative Branch provides abode for the bulk who believe that a Jew "from the loins of David" is a god planning holy genocide after being assisted in his suicide.

Those who accept this off-spring of David and Mary will levitate or float up to the clouds while he is descending down to the clouds. To me, such religious dogma is equal to that generated by Allah who creates virgins without menses, stools, or urine for his male slaves (ask .com).

Those seeking citizenship may not buy into such idiocy so why should they utter a prayer to a god whose flesh and blood has to be eaten in symbolism?

Steve Sinn seeks to force his god on the immigrants; maybe they don't want his god forced on themselves. All gods are spokes in the wheel of excrement except your own, right? Go forth and sin no more Sinn.

America is not a nation under god or Rev. Belamy would have included the words in his brain baby: "Under God," his pledge. Congress stole Belamy's pledge. Ends before it is too late to make my story short. [I despise the Pledge as a prayer.]

It was under the aministration of President Eisenhower that the words "Under God " were added to the pledge of allegiance, It did not exist before then and, it was not a devine inspiration that inpired it, but rather polictical expediency that cause it to be included.

And Risen Ape, it is the words that count not the actions after the fact they were spoken created by those with an agenda, for what ever reasons. Surley, it is hard to deny that much of every religion is created after the one who it is named or the one who first spoke of what he thought. Religion is a good thing when it is lived and only becomes absurd when people use it as a device to promote an agenda far removed from the words that created it.

Thanks Allen Campbell for not alluding as Ape Man as the defender of Illegal aliens who has disappeared from the form (Anderson) did.

I am Risen Ape; the Ape Man is he (those) who believe in the first god created by the Ape Man who has been recycled through history millions of times.

Today's Ape Man has a skull that still looks like the Ape man's a million or so years ago.

Yes. I suppose Ike thought to coalesce the troops against godless Communism by acquiescing to Congressional Christian sentiment, as with the change of motto to In God We Trust which would have been better said: In God Some Of Us Trust. Personally, I don't trust the bastard: the illegitimate off-spring of David and Mary evidenced six times in the Book of the Demon: Bible: "from the loins of David."

Trinity, thanks indeed, very kind of you to say so.

Since the popular sentiment is that "America is the most hated country in the world" It is beyond me why gazillions of people want to come here and become citizens. Hmmmm.

Shelia-

You care......You have to have a heart first!

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