The following is a Counterpoint column:
By Melanie Wilcox
On Dec. 4, Charles Davenport's column, "Media routinely beat up on right," suggested that the Fourteenth Amendment should be repealed because it bestows citizenship on the children of illegal immigrants.
The Fourteenth Amendment is one of three amendments passed immediately after the Civil War. It provides equal protection and due process to all persons, regardless of citizenship. This was deemed necessary because the newly freed African Americans were frequently unable to obtain their rights as citizens. Protection of all "persons," as opposed to only "citizens," was necessary to make progress toward equality in our nation.
This amendment has allowed integration to occur, offering educational opportunities to minorities who previously were sent to so-called "separate but equal" facilities. It has also been used to protect women and aliens from oppressive actions by federal, state and local governments. Moreover, the Fourteenth Amendment has been used by the Supreme Court to protect all of us from unreasonable searches and from cruel and unusual punishment. It incorporates from other amendments the protection of free speech and freedom of religion.
Loss of this amendment would legitimize many intrusions into our personal lives. Our homes would be subject to arbitrary invasion without warrants. Our freedom to worship or speak out against tyranny without fear of reprisals would be jeopardized. Those in this country legally, but without citizenship, would have no legal rights. Those from other nations held prisoner here would have no legal protection.
Those born in this country are citizens according to this amendment. Their parents are not, unless they, too, were born here or choose to become citizens. Many second-generation immigrants from Europe, the British Isles, Africa and Asia are citizens by virtue of birth in the United States.
Davenport seems to dislike both progress and diversity because they involve change. He disparages progress and enlightenment and speaks of diversity as a scourge.
That the United States has a serious problem with illegal immigration is undeniable. Denying fundamental protection of human rights to those immigrants will not solve the problem. Encouraging racism, creating a new class of people without rights, is unacceptable. Solutions must include holding employers of illegal immigrants responsible, providing those immigrants with options to become citizens or leave our country, and creating realistic solutions to stop those who cross our borders illegally.
The writer lives in Greensboro.
