Soon to be "All-American" Citizen

Posted By Blackfive

Meet Specialist Pablo Mora, Company B, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.  Specialist Mora is one of many Soldiers who have applied for citizenship since President George W. Bush signed an executive order in 2004 to make the process easier. There are approximately 30,000 non-citizens serving in the military.  Photographer: Staff Sgt. Tony Spain of the 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

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Comments

[Tim]

Good Luck and God Bless!

Tim
1st Plt B Co. 1/508 PIR 82-86

[Old Tanker]

And when he serves his first enlistment honorably he should be made a citizen immediately! That's my idea of a path to citizenship.......

One of your brothers, eh Tim!!

[bthun]

I offer my welcome to Specialist Pablo Mora, from one US citizen to a young man who has invested himself in support of the US and has most assuredly earned the right to become a US citizen!

Salute.

[Cheryl]

What a remarkable young man. My thanks to him for his service. So far as I am concerned, he should be made a citizen TODAY. He's putting his life on the life for our nation and damn it to hell, he deserves all the benefits our country can give him.

[OldSoldier54]

Yep. Bought with risk to life and limb. Airborne, mijo!

[referman]

Specialist Pablo Mora US citizen!I'll stand beside him.Should be a no brainer!Airborne all the way!Thank You spc Pablo Mora for your service to your country! Semper Fi

[Steve]

I have a problem with non-citizens serving in our military.

Now obviously Specialist Pablo Mora is a remarkable man, someone who you would want to make an exception for, but how do we know that all non-citizens who join have such honor, integrity, and commitment to America?

Perhaps some who join might want to join to gain the military training they can later use to commit some terrorist attack against us. Perhaps they they think they can help the jihad by joining our military and then work from within to help his brothers in Allah in their war against us.

One of the things that led to the fall of Rome was the use of foreigners for their military.

Why, when we have the benefit of having Rome as an example, are we so determined to go the same way?

Again this is nothing against Specialist Pablo Mora who I would gladly welcome as a fellow American. But I do question the general policy that allows foreigners to serve in our military.

[Cincinnati_Bob]

"There are approximately 30,000 non-citizens serving in the military."

WOW! I second these emotions. I also remember theorizing something about how non-citizens wouldn't be interested in serving. I'd like a little ketchup for my crow please?

Damn. Brings tears to the eyes what these folks are doing.

[SteveG]

Bob

No need to eat crow.
People who live in recent immigrant rich areas see it more often.

To the other issue, it is true that there is a risk of jihadis etc, but historically the branches of the US military have done well with immigrants.
Japanese immigrants did pretty good in Europe during WWII and German immigrants did well in the Pacific.
My Dad was Canadian but enlisted in the Navy for WWII... they shipped him to Adak. What that says about dad and Canadians I dunno, but he learned to appreciate fog that doesn't freeze on your face.

[mindy abraham]

Welcome to the us and thanks for serving.

[Tom]

This is exactly the kind of stuff that led to the Fall of Rome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decline_of_the_Roman_Empire#J._B._Bury

Can the death of the American Empire be too far away?

We need to change direction and change it quick if this once great nation is to survive.

[Old Tanker]

Steve,

You are correct, we do need to be careful however, I will give the benefit of the doubt to the military to properly vet these folks......I hope I'm not misplacing my trust.....

[Concerned Citizen of Indiana]

-and you know he is Mexican how???

I'm with Steve and Old Tanker on this. -But can't be too general about Hispanics in this country if you don't know their history or where they really come from.

[rgrmom82]

All American...all the Way!
If I am not mistaken, one must have a certain amount of documentation prior to and during the enlistment process.

Great job, soldier!

[hk]

Hats off to people like Pablo Mora. While Morea and the other 30,000 non-citizens in uniform certainly have not only earned their stripes, but the right to call themselves Americans, I wonder if the vast majority of "real" Americans -- excluding those of us who have served -- can as well.

I think every American -- whether they be a native born or naturalized citizen -- should have to do a few years of national service of some sort -- whether it be in the U.S. military, Peace Corps., AmeriCorps, Nat'l Forest Service, Volunteer Firefighting, etc. -- in order to become formal U.S. citizens, accorded with all the rights, responsibilities and protections.

The thinking that only illegal aliens should have to serve in the military to become U.S. citizens -- while us "red-blooded" Americans don't -- is a canard. Also, by making citizenship something that has be worked for, the country could benefit as well from the industry, productivity and contributions of young people. In fact, I am leaning towards what was proposed by Heinlein in "Starship Troopers", where the ideal society is one where "Service guarantees citizenship".

[hk]

posted by pb: "Just what our country needs another f&*king Mexican"

My family has run a few restaurants in the past, and the fact is that the spoiled, white trash that worked for us couldn't hold a candle to our Mexican workers. In terms of honesty, integrity, conscienciousness and work ethic, our white employees, by and large, left much to be desired while our Mexican compadres exceeded all expectations. In fact, we had to fire a few of our whites, but we never had to fire any of the Mexicans. I have a Mexican-American brother-in-law, so you better watch your mouth pb and cut out that racist crap -- it makes you look like a fool.

[bthun]

"In fact, I am leaning towards what was proposed by Heinlein in "Starship Troopers", where the ideal society is one where "Service guarantees citizenship".

Hot dog! I don't feel quite so alone anymore. =8^}

[Geo(AeroEng)]

bthun, you are most decidedly not alone in that concept. There are many that support it, even when it would make them a non-citizen.

As for the fall of Rome, the bigger issue was appeasement of the barbarians and the stop of outward expansion for wealth.

[Annette]

"but how do we know that all non-citizens who join have such honor, integrity, and commitment to America?

Perhaps some who join might want to join to gain the military training they can later use to commit some terrorist attack against us. Perhaps they they think they can help the jihad by joining our military and then work from within to help his brothers in Allah in their war against us."

The same could be said about American citizens.

[Jumbo Rider]

Salute and welcome fellow citizen.

[bthun]

Thanks Geo...

"As for the fall of Rome, the bigger issue was appeasement of the barbarians and the stop of outward expansion for wealth."

If I recall my history correctly in order to summarize Rome's decline, it was due primarily to rot and decay from within. IOW the corruption of their Senate and the decadence of the Roman people, or vice versa depending upon your perspective and/or priorities. All of the rest of the events were the effects of, not the causes.

This is nothing more than a generalization based on synaptic eruptions of an aging mind's memory because I'm too busy today with my Walkin’ Boss® approved ToDo list which prevents me from doing the necessary refresh/research to say the above while stomping my feet.

Scholars can correct me as needed and I'll stand for corrections because I'm too aged to care about or be invested in always being right. And I’m certain that many other arguments can be made for the particulars of the fall of Rome, but... IMO empires (and nations) are lost because of a lack of effort, faith, will, and honor among the governed/governing. Scary ain’t it?

[Ymarsakar]

Rome's trade network broke down, and there is actually archaeological evidence based upon pottery that certain Syrian and European areas like Briton took a sharp decline in economic prosperity when the Roman Legion moved out of the area. Moved out of the protection business, and were replaced by German lords, aka bandits.

Rome had problems, but they could have survived and healed up, if their final pillar, their military, was effective. They weren't, whether because of internal corruption, Praetorian Guard obsessions, or just because they weren't getting paid.

Hollywood is about as decadent as you can get, but so long as there is a military to safeguard the community that props Holly up, Hollywood will be around forever under those conditions. Rome just ran out of money to pay for the parties.

[Geo(AeroEng)]

Both of you hit the nail on the head. Both the senate and the emperors found that bribing the barbarian tribes with either money or land was a "cheaper" means than trying to combat them. The lack of will of citizens to defend Romana hurt as well.

I wouldn't worry about tryign to pin down an exact cause for the fall of Rome, many factors brought it down.

Back on topic, Spec. Mora is more of a citizen than I am. Makes me feel pride that this country attracts such individuals into the fold. Some shame to, for not being enough to earn my rights as a citizen.

[Smitty-ROK]

Hooray buddy, Bragg misses you as we all do, get your ass back here soldier, doubletime soldier, left right with all your might... Keep up the good fight, safe ride home!

[CopTheTruth]

I'll man a position next to him at stand-to, anytime. All the way!

[MegaTroopX]

Bravo Zulu SPC! I give you welcome.

I'll take one of him over a thousand parasites, who consider America as nothing more than a source of money to send to the country that really holds their loyalty.