Testing your right to be an American...

This story from BBC News popped up about a revamp to the United States citizenship test. The current old exam involves questions focusing on historical facts that really only requires rote memorization. In hopes of installing a bit more civic-minded immigrant populace, though, the new test apparently will focus on more conceptual ideas about democracy and the reasons behind our specific system of government.

Some of the sample questions proposed for the new test include:

• Why does the United States have three branches of government?
• Name two rights that are only for US citizens.
• Name two cabinet-level positions.
• Name one important idea found in the Declaration of Independence.
• What does the Constitution do?
  

For comparison, I found some of the questions on the current test:

• What are the colors of our flag?
• How many stars are on our flag?
• Who is the President of the United States today?
• What is the name of the President's official home.
• Name one right guaranteed by the First Amendment.

My first reaction to this revamp of the citizenship test was that it was a good idea. Seems like we should be trying to filter the immigrant pool to those that really understand the core ideas of American democracy. After all, we're giving these people the most powerful tool of the United States called the right to vote.

But then, I started thinking about all the natural citizens who are Americans solely on the basis that they were lucky enough to be born on U.S. soil (me included). I read through a sample of 100 questions from the current test, and even I got a couple wrong. Really, who knew Form N-400 is the application for naturalized citizenship? The fact is that quite a large number of your Average Joe or Jane Americans might be at risk of failure were they subjected to this test on the street, whether it be the old test or the new. Frankly, a lot of Americans are no more deserving of their citizenship than many of the immigrants trying to get into this country on the basis of these tests alone. Instead, there seems to be this perpetuation of entitlement, sort of like a spoiled rich kid from old money, and these rights as Americans they were born with are often taken for granted.

I wonder if some people would be more tolerant to the plight of foreigners coming here to try and live the American dream if they were really aware of the challenges they have to overcome just to prove they're "worthy" of citizenship. Maybe we could make this citizenship test a requirement for all Americans, aspiring and current, with consequences of being booted out if they fail. Now wouldn't that shake things up?