America's Citizenship Crisis - with Vanessa Faura

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America stands at a crossroads of civic understanding. As Senator Tim Kaine recently proclaimed that believing our rights come from God rather than government is "dangerous," we witness the troubling disconnect between many leaders and America's founding principles.

The chasm between immigrant and native-born civic knowledge tells a sobering story. While 91% of immigrants seeking citizenship pass their civics test on first attempt, a mere 3-4% of American high school students can pass that same test. This isn't merely a statistical curiosity—it's a warning sign about our ability to sustain self-governance when so few understand its foundations.

The founders recognized that unity requires common knowledge. E Pluribus Unum—"out of many, one"—only functions when diverse people share fundamental understandings about rights, governance, and purpose. Today's fragmentation stems largely from the erosion of this shared civic foundation. When two people can't "walk together unless they agree," as scripture teaches, how can 350 million Americans maintain cohesion without common civic understanding?

Vanessa Faura from the Foundation for the Restoration of America offers a beacon of hope through their work preparing legal immigrants for citizenship. Their approach goes beyond memorizing test answers to instilling genuine appreciation for America's exceptional system. Ironically, those newest to our shores often demonstrate the deepest gratitude for freedoms many native-born citizens take for granted.

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, we face a critical opportunity to revitalize civic education across all segments of society. The citizenship test represents a baseline of knowledge that should be universal among Americans—whether born here or legally immigrated. This revival of civic understanding isn't partisan; it's essential to preserving the American experiment for generations to come.

Join us in recommitting to the principles that made America exceptional. Listen, learn, and share the timeless truths that unite us as Americans—that all are created equal, endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights, and worthy of a government that secures rather than bestows those sacred freedoms.

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