Why an executive order clarifying the 14th Amendment isn’t out of the question
“Trump is bloviating. He can’t just cancel the 14th Amendment” (Nov. 5), is a useful example of the sort of commentary that appears all too often in the liberal news media — absolute in conclusion, insulting language and an irrelevant example to illustrate his one-sided conclusion. President Trump is not trying to cancel the 14th Amendment — a point you would be hard pressed to learn from Edwin Yoder’s piece.
Trump wants to cancel the interpretation thereof that is thought to confer birthright citizenship to a child born to a mother illegally or temporarily in the U.S. While the language of the 14th Amendment would seem clear to the layperson, the language in the amendment (“subject to the jurisdiction thereof”) when it was originally proposed in 1866 was understood to refer to persons not owing allegiance to another country.
The Supreme Court has never ruled on the point, so an executive order clarifying the matter is hardly out of bounds. Hopefully, Congress will clarify the point as part of comprehensive immigration reform. Until then, Yoder should acknowledge that the matter is nowhere near as clear as he would have his readers conclude.
William Conner
Cary
What “caravan”?
The word caravan has been taken captive. Its roots are Persian, and it means a sort of covered wagon. The people in this group are not riding. They are walking for more than 1,000 miles to reach their destination. Who would do this? We’re told rapists, murderers and terrorists.
I see folks walking here for the same reasons others before them took a small boat called the Mayflower. These people are walking for the chance to find all sorts of freedoms, a chance to succeed. That’s why my great-grandparents sent their son, and, unless you are a native person, you got here similarly.
This is America, full of independent folks who saw the possibilities — just like those in the caravan. We are a big country, with a big heart that welcomes big dreamers.
Cathrine Evans
Raleigh
Different times
I am a 68-year-old retiree. My dad fought in WWII and married when he came home. It was a time that people believed in God and our country. People worked for what they had.
This election has been unbelievable. I have never seen lies broadcast on TV by candidates. Never seen the media being as biased as they have been against our president. I have never seen politicians as crooked and unethical as I have seen these past 12 years. No regard as to what is best for our country. I fear this and a demise in morals will be the downfall of our country.
Hylton Lawrence
Dunn
Voter check-in
Regarding the concerns expressed by Richard and Carolyn Duregger of Kitty Hawk in their letter of Nov. 4 (“Untrustworthy results”), I want to inform all N.C. voters that when you check in to your polling place you are asked under oath to verify that: Your name and current address are correct; you are a U.S. citizen; you are 18 or older; you have not committed a felony, or you have served your probation and parole and are eligible to have your right to vote restored.
All voters are asked to sign this statement, and your signature is witnessed by an election worker. Knowingly giving a false statement is subject to prosecution under state law. This check-in procedure has been in place since I first voted in NC in 1977 and has been administered by me hundreds of times since I became an election worker in 2007.
Mark G Rodin
Durham
Almost funny
Donald Trump is sending upwards of 15,000 fully armed troops to confront immigrants who are still 700 miles from our border. The cost of this operation will run into the millions of dollars, but Trump has no problem spending taxpayer money.
Now, thanks to Trump’s rhetoric, vigilantes are arming themselves to take the law into their own hands. He will stop at nothing to deflect attention from the investigations he is facing. If it weren’t so ridiculous, it would almost be funny.
Georgie F. Brizendine
Raleigh
Correction
A headline Monday implied that the 14th Amendment is part of the Bill of Rights, which is the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.