On the fourth of July the local television station, and likely local stations everywhere, often presents a segment on immigrants who are taking the oath that makes them citizens of the United States. Today, they actually included a complete recitation of the oath, which I confess to never having heard before.

Here is the text of the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance:

“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; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”

After listening to the oath and then double checking what I thought I heard by looking up the text given above, I had to ask myself if, given some of the laws that the government has enacted, I would actually take such an oath if it was required of native born citizens.

Vote below and feel free to discuss this question in the comments.