First they were soldiers — now they're citizens

Army Sgt. Rosa Weston, left, was among 47 soldiers and sailors representing 26 nations who participated in a naturalization ceremony Friday at the George Bush Presidential Library in College Station. Weston was joined at the citizenship ceremony by former President Bush, who showed his patriotic blazer to Weston's sons, Edward, 9, and Alex, 12

COLLEGE STATION - Like almost everyone who becomes a U.S. citizen, the immigrants gathered here Friday had to raise their right hands and take an oath pledging to "bear arms" if called upon to defend their newly adopted country.

It wasn't an idle promise for this group. Most of them went to war for America even before becoming citizens.

Forty-seven soldiers and sailors participated in the naturalization ceremony Friday, where they were welcomed by former President Bush. The immigrants, representing 26 nations on all continents of the world, are active members in the U.S. armed forces based in Texas.

More than half have served in Iraq or Afghanistan, and others expect to see combat soon.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/page1/3080935

is that a stack of bills in his inner coat pocket?

http://www.usflag.org/flagetiquette.html

excerpt:

The Flag Code, which formalizes and unifies the traditional ways in which we give respect to the flag, also contains specific instructions on how the flag is not to be used. They are:
The flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. It is flown upside down only as a distress signal.
The flag should not be used as a drapery, or for covering a speakers desk, draping a platform, or for any decoration in general. Bunting of blue, white and red stripes is available for these purposes. The blue stripe of the bunting should be on the top.

The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose. It should not be embroidered, printed or otherwise impressed on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, boxes, or anything intended to be discarded after temporary use. Advertising signs should not be attached to the staff or halyard

The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations.

The flag should never have placed on it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, number, figure, or drawing of any kind.
The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

...more...

"The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything"

except an x-CIC's pens and perspiration?

that he wasn't wearing one of these on his head



or one of these on his hand

I went looking for a Flag,
because us liberals are patriots too and all that,
but since all the Republicans have wrapped themselves in the Flag
there are't enough to go around
and I'd hate to leave some Republican naked.

since the children of the privileged see no need to join up in the military to "spread democracy and freedom around the world."

Like almost everyone who becomes a U.S. citizen, the immigrants gathered here Friday had to raise their right hands and take an oath pledging to "bear arms" if called upon to defend their newly adopted country.

For some reason, I never knew this was a requirement for becoming a U.S. citizen. Is it that way in most countries?

-wildflower

"bearing arms" is part of that...

and forgive my ignorance here...

The Constitution doesn't require all citizens to bear arms, does it?

Has this always been a requirement of becoming a U.S. citizen?

-wildflower

read the Militia Act sometime...

IIRC, everybody in the US between the ages of 17 and 45 is automatically a member of the unorganized militia unless they're legally disqualified (like if they're a felon or insane).

It used to be that only men in that age category and women in the National Guard qualified, but with the end of legal sex discrimination, it now theoretically applies to all women. Given the illegality of age discrimination in the eyes of the law, the 45 year old limit may also not apply, but that hasn't been tested in court yet either.

This doesn't mean that everybody MUST buy their own guns, but if the Government wants you to bear arms, they can have you. This is how the Draft works, and why they can disallow somebody's application for Contientious Objector status if they want to.

I don't know why I was never edumacated about this one!

http://federalistpatriot.us/histdocs/militia_act_of_1792.asp

Militia Act of 1792

May 2, 1792

Second Congress, Session I. Chapter XXVIII
Passed May 2, 1792,
providing for the authority of the President to call out the Militia

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That whenever the United States shall be invaded, or be in imminent danger of invasion from any foreign nation or Indian tribe, it shall be lawful for the President of the United States, to call forth such number of the militia of the state or states most convenient to the place of danger or scene of action as he may judge necessary to repel such invasion, and to issue his orders for that purpose, to such officer or officers of the militia as he shall think proper; and in case of an insurrection in any state, against the government thereof, it shall be lawful for the President of the United States, on application of the legislature of such state, or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened) to call forth such number of the militia of any other state or states, as may be applied for, or as he may judge sufficient to suppress such insurrection.

<...>

The Militia Act of 1792, Passed May 8, 1792, providing federal standards for the organization of the Militia.

An ACT more effectually to provide for the National Defence, by establishing an Uniform Militia throughout the United States.

I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That each and every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years (except as is herein after excepted) shall severally and respectively be enrolled in the militia, by the Captain or Commanding Officer of the company, within whose bounds such citizen shall reside, and that within twelve months after the passing of this Act. And it shall at all time hereafter be the duty of every such Captain or Commanding Officer of a company, to enroll every such citizen as aforesaid, and also those who shall, from time to time, arrive at the age of 18 years, or being at the age of 18 years, and under the age of 45 years (except as before excepted) shall come to reside within his bounds; and shall without delay notify such citizen of the said enrollment, by the proper non-commissioned Officer of the company, by whom such notice may be proved. That every citizen, so enrolled and notified, shall, within six months thereafter, provide himself with a good musket or firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, and a knapsack, a pouch, with a box therein, to contain not less than twenty four cartridges, suited to the bore of his musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of power and ball; or with a good rifle, knapsack, shot-pouch, and power-horn, twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a power of power; and shall appear so armed, accoutred and provided, when called out to exercise or into service, except, that when called out on company days to exercise only, he may appear without a knapsack. That the commissioned Officers shall severally be armed with a sword or hanger, and espontoon; and that from and after five years from the passing of this Act, all muskets from arming the militia as is herein required, shall be of bores sufficient for balls of the eighteenth part of a pound; and every citizen so enrolled, and providing himself with the arms, ammunition and accoutrements, required as aforesaid, shall hold the same exempted from all suits, distresses, executions or sales, for debt or for the payment of taxes.

http://federalistpatriot.us/histdocs/militia_act_of_1792.asp

-wildflower

which is still valid.

Title 10, Chapter 13, §311 reads:

"(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied
males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section
313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a
declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States
and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the
National Guard.
(b) The classes of the militia are -
(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard
and the Naval Militia; and
(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of
the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the
Naval Militia."

§312 reads:

"(a) The following persons are exempt from militia duty:
(1) The Vice President.
(2) The judicial and executive officers of the United States,
the several States and Territories, and Puerto Rico.
(3) Members of the armed forces, except members who are not on
active duty.
(4) Customhouse clerks.
(5) Persons employed by the United States in the transmission
of mail.
(6) Workmen employed in armories, arsenals, and naval shipyards
of the United States.
(7) Pilots on navigable waters.
(8) Mariners in the sea service of a citizen of, or a merchant
in, the United States.
(b) A person who claims exemption because of religious belief is
exempt from militia duty in a combatant capacity, if the
conscientious holding of that belief is established under such
regulations as the President may prescribe. However, such a person
is not exempt from militia duty that the President determines to be
noncombatant."

I guess that makes him a big patriot.

:puke: