Bah, Humbug!

The Fourteenth Amendment found itself standing in the middle of the town square, with everyone's eyes fixed upon it. It certainly seems that way with Trump v. Barbara. I am no political scholar, and I will not impose my views upon you. I simply hope to keep the peace in this column—provided peace is willing to stay.

Now, a contractor doesn’t build a house without first laying a foundation. The same ought to be true when discussing the Constitution. Before we can understand the Court’s decision, we should first understand what it was built upon. The question before the Court was whether President Trump’s executive order, declaring that children born in the United States to immigrant parents who are here unlawfully or temporarily are not entitled to birthright citizenship, is consistent with the Fourteenth Amendment. Section One of the Fourteenth Amendment states:

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

One side stands firmly behind the executive order, believing it supports stronger immigration enforcement. The other stands just as firmly behind what they believe the Constitution plainly says. That is the heart of the disagreement.

The Fourteenth Amendment wasn’t an easy law to scribble down on paper. It came after the bitter years of the Civil War. It wasn’t written for a lightweight matter, either. It settled the citizenship and liberties of formerly enslaved African Americans and has since become one of the strongest champions of equal rights in our nation’s history.

I reckon this case will be tossed around like a ball for years to come. The Court ultimately reached a 6–3 decision, ruling in favor of protecting birthright citizenship. Whether one agrees with the decision or not, I imagine the debate over what the Fourteenth Amendment truly means is far from over.

I think it’s important to be logical. At the same time, logic alone can sometimes lead us straight into a patch of thorn-filled rose bushes if we forget the people affected by our decisions. So ask yourself where you stand, and more importantly, why you stand there.

For my part, I try to judge people not by their beliefs, appearance, or nationality, but by the way they treat others. I enjoy meeting people from all walks of life. What disappoints me—rather like a cat after an unsuccessful hunt—is seeing needless rudeness and selfishness. Kindness costs little, and respect is something every one of us can afford to give.

So, thank you for reading—or perhaps for falling asleep somewhere along the way. Either way, I’m grateful you stopped by.

Until next time,

Logan