Natively Speaking

Once more I am drawn into a challenge and this one is somewhat dear to my heart as I have written many pieces on the Native American Indian.

I don't know about the "constitutional definition" but from my perspective the definition would be more like belonging to or associated with a particular place (such as a country) because of being born in that place.

History tells us the Native American Indian was here in the United States before the colonials first arrived. Hence, the Native American is from here. The colonials were from another place (indigenous) but no less a native of both their culture and heritage they brought with them.

Native born. If I were born in India, I would be a native of the country as I would have been born there. Same applies to Poland, China, Australia and so forth. We then are born into specific beliefs taught to us at an early age. These same beliefs are passed on from generation to generation. As to the electing someone as President of the United States, the

Constitution is clear on this: to run, one must be born and reside in the United States at least fourteen years, and be at the very least, thirty-five years of age.

Now, in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, we have native born Americans born from another class of people. About a quarter of voting members (23%) of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate are racial or ethnic minorities, making Congress the most racially and ethnically diverse in history. According to my research, 124 lawmakers today identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander or Native American.

For decades, the president has been predominantly white, but that all change when Obama was elected. This should tell you that to be president, neither race nor color takes precedence. Just the basic requirements.

In closing, to answer the one question: the constitutional rights of Alaska Egg-people are every bit as important as midget ice-cream bars are to Lilliputians. The rights of the individual in a sense are the rights of the collective. If no harm befalls those who are not into Alaskan eggs or midget ice cream bars, then all is right with the world.