What makes a Citizen?

In honor of the b-day of America, I think I'll tackle the concept of who is, and isn't a citizen. Of course, it may seem clear-cut, however, citizenship throughout history has always been pretty abstract.

So, what makes a citizen? Even more then that, what makes a GOOD citizen? Most imporantly, given the immigration debate, who SHOULD be a citizen?

I think too many people have a Prussian-type of attitude toward citizenship. One had to serve in the military to be counted as a citizen in Prussia. Ancient Rome had this as well. Some conservatives, have even posited a required military-service. Some have an economic outlook, that taxpayers are citizens. And while voluntary military service is excellent, and paying taxes (even with government waste) is generally a service to the public good, both of these come from a view that one has to sacrifice something in order to be counted.

Should an immigrant that serves in the military be granted full-citizenship? Yes, and no. While military service shows commitment, not every new arrival should be expected to serve; much less required service for all able-bodied persons. The reason? Not all can serve in the military. Plus, I'm positive I wouldn't want to be apart of a nation that would fight for freedom, yet doesn't have the vaguest idea of what the word means. Not that american soliders fall into this mindset at all, however Roman, and Prussian soliders did - fighting for the prestige and guaranteed rights that came with citizenship; not because of an understanding of what they were protecting.

As for taxes, even visitors to the US pay into the tax system vis-a-vis sales tax, but no one would consider them "American" for doing so. Both legal and non-legal immigrants have a portion of their checks given to the government vis-a-vis income tax (unless of course they're paid "under the table"). But a tax-payer does not a citizen-make. This is because a) not everyone can contribute lump-sums equally, and b) everyone recieves the benefits of taxes whether they are a citizen or not, think transporation systems, etc.

So...sacrifice doesn't make a citizen, per-se, but it does show a commitment. Perhaps a citizen is someone who doesn't just sacrifice, but creates as well. One who has an understanding of government, a respect for law, and, for americans, a geuine love of freedom. These are concepts, and actions, that can only grow from an understanding of civics and histroy education. This is why felons don't get a vote, as they've demonstrated they don't care - and why people who choose to become citizens are first tested on american history.

This is partially the reason why, at least on some level, immigrants (legal and non-legal), throughout American history are viewed with a bit of suspicion - their level of "American-ness" is in question. Until they're assimilated into American culture, it will probably remain that way.

Darfur

This blogging session will be a little different, as I won't cite sources - mostly just my own personal mussings over a situation that no one seems to care about.

It should be clear by now that Darfur has become the first incident of genocide in the 21st century; with a death toll past half a million. So why is it happening? More importantly, why isn't the world reacting?

The causes of the conflict aren't really as clear as some crazy dictator wanting a "pure" (homogenous) populace. They're partly rooted in colonialism, partly in climatic changes, partly in racial politics. The arab portion of the populace lives in the Nile-valley region, which, due the presence of the river is a bit more resistant to climatic change, and has received much more development during and after colonial times; and ultimately a larger propotion of persons can (or at least claim) to trace their ancestory back to arabs. Arab ancestory, or claiming it, isn't uncommon in east Africa; as many slaves in the past (both pre-colonial, and during the colonial period) were pre-dominately of african origin; as tends to be the pattern all over east Africa (though with sooo much African history, this pattern isn't always true everywhere).

In any case, Darfur lies in the marginal lands not bordering on the Nile, and is largely populated by non-Arab africans. When rains didn't come to this Sahel-region, starvation and a certain amount of internal anarchy ensued. Of course, it wasn't completely internal. Lybian President Muammar Gaddafi was obsessed with creating an Arab-dominated Sahel (believing in the racial superiority of Arabs).

To say the least, my brief explanation isn't the end-all be-all. But it shines some light on the situation.

So why isn't the world reacting?

Perhaps its the cynic in me, but most people, even if they know of the situation, figure they won't get anything out of it if they do offer assistence. Plus, in terms of governments; the Sudan is home to large oil reserves; which quite a few nations are willing to overlook a few hundered-thousand deaths for a few hundered-thousand barrels (that's you China).
Perhaps its an isolationist ideal? "It's not our problem, let them work it out."

Given that's it's almost the fourth of July; lets take a look at the awe-inspiring Declaration of Independence, and one of my favorite lines from the document: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.."
Indeed, it's a western-value: equality, and basic human-rights. Just because these aren't American's dieing, much less 'westerners', shouldn't matter to an honorable person, indeed, any person that holds american values close to their heart. How can we proclaim such rights, and never stand behind them with action?
I'm not calling for american forces to jump into the fray; I would like to see some major UN involvement in the area; akin to the Bosinia situation. I would also like to see America declare sanctions against any nation that deals with the Sudanese government (that includes China, as well as Saudi Arab, both of which are the poorest excuses for American allies I've ever seen). Just to bring the point home; close the holocaust museums, and the war-memorial momuments in protest. How much history will view us as the supreme hypocrites if we didn't.