Is America Ready for Democracy?: Independence Is Not Sovereignty - Hardcover

Twomey, Sean P

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1477269487 ISBN 13: 9781477269480

Publisher: Authorhouse, 2013

Synopsis

The principle part of this book is the broad application of democratic principles.

"You have the American system!" exclaimed my Oxford educated professor, uncharacteristically grabbing me by the shoulders. That was his reaction sixty years ago to my theory of government. Imagine my shock when I received the application papers for citizenship only to discover that the Oath of Allegiance denied the American Democratic System by removing the individual's responsibility for what he does under orders. The individual conscience is paramount in democratic philosophy. The individual is fully responsible for what he does under orders. I don't believe that obeying orders justifies man's inhumanity to man.

I have great difficulty with items which have been added to the Oath to the U.S. Constitution. I could have answered certain questions, but they were questions, which in my judgment, a democratic government had no right to ask. To answer such questions would, it seemed to me, concede the right to ask the questions. But the way I read it, I have to be prepared to give up both body and soul to become a U.S. citizen. "...if the law requires it," without qualification or limitation implies no limitation although limitation is explicit in democratic philosophy and in the constitution which outlines the way to adhere to those principles.

The Oath of Allegiance lists substantially the same contents without those additions I find objectionable and unconstitutional. Eventually I applied with the request that I be permitted to take the Oath just to the Constitution and not to the additions. I explained that for me the additions removed the safeguards of the Constitution, in effect contradicted the Constitution. And that to take an oath to what I perceived compromised my principles and conscience, could be done only with a mental reservation. To become an American Citizen I would have to deny the American system. What a catch 22!

Although I have not the slightest hesitation in defending the U.S., my country, my children's and grandchildren's country I cannot give carte blanche to the government, allow any openings for laws that deny the restraints set by the constitution.

About this title

About the Author:

Seán P. Twomey was born in Ireland where, as well as in England and Scotland, he received a formal education before emigrating to the United States in 1958, where he earned a masters degree in philosophy at Fordham University in New York. He has worked at many different jobs in his lifetime, including fourteen years spent introducing students to philosophy. Religion and politics are the warp and woof of his existence. In his book The Right to Birth? he separates one from the other. Society imposing its morality on the individual, deeply affected his life at an early age when his stepmother, having been denied an abortion, died. Later his sister's and wife's experiences with miscarriages spurred him to deepen further his thinking. An active participant in Irish affairs Seán returned to Ireland in the early seventies where he was nominated by Aontacht Éireann, the Irish Unity party, to contest the Dáil Éireann, (Irish government) for a seat in Cork City. Adamantly he maintains that were real democracy embraced in Ireland, the island of Ireland would be recognized and governed as an economic unit. Government, accepting its democratically limited jurisdiction, would eschew all involvement with cultural and religious values, thereby removing those fears of state imposition in matters of conscience and traditional identities that have spawned so much violence. Seán currently resides in New Jersey with his wife, of 51 years, Ellen. They have four children and eight grandchildren.

About this edition

• Publisher: Authorhouse
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1477269487
• ISBN 13: 9781477269480
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 200