The recent news of the death of a high-ranking Al-Qaeda “martyr” is not as rosy as it appeared at first glance.  Anwar al-Awlaki, an enemy of the United States, was actually an American citizen born in Las Cruces, New Mexico on April 22, 1971.

At the age of seven, al-Awlaki’s parents returned with their son to their native Yemen. There, the budding terrorist completed his high school education before returning to the U.S. with specific goals in mind. Entering the country with a foreign Visa and armed with a scholarship from Yemen, he attended Colorado University in 1991.  (Hint: his goals were not higher education.) Three years later, al-Awlaki graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.  During his academic career, he also became the President of the university’s Muslim Association.

During his formative years, al-Awlaki’s ideology was shaped by the violent propaganda of Sayyid Qutb, the originator of an anti-Western jihad group.  Later, al-Awlaki become an Imam cleric in a mosque based in California.

As the life of this scum plays out in the media, one has to wonder.  One wonders why an American traitor that may have been involved in the unprovoked destruction of the Twin Towers on September 11th, 2001 and the deaths of 3,000 innocent citizens is worthy of this posthumous glory.  Why not cast it off the bastard’s death as good riddance to bad rubbish?  Why all this coverage lionizing a man whose ideology was, “Death to America!”

al-Awlaki’s story begs the question, “By what criteria does a person truly become an American citizen?”  Is it the birthright of a newborn brought forth upon this soil?  Is it the Pledge of Allegiance when that child is old enough to understand the tenets of that pledge?  In al-Awlaki’s case, as in the case of all would-be criminals, parental guidance should prevail in child rearing, guidance that must include screening of the child’s associates.  No doubt the terrorist’s parents were terrorist sympathizers.

America is one of the few nations to allow its people to practice freedom of speech and religion.  Our children are the pride of our nation.  It a reasonable assumption that our children will uphold — and when the time comes, teach their own children to uphold — the canons of our founding fathers.

The United States of America began as English colonies.  The only true Americans were the Natives that inhabited and respected this vast land.  After the American Revolution, a new nation emerged for free men and women.  It would eventually become the world’s melting pot of immigrants seeking freedom from religious and social oppression, freedom from hunger, and in general, a better way of life for themselves and their descendants.

Two hundred fifty three years after the birth of the United States, the world has changed greatly, and not for the better.  Today, we struggle with a flailing economy and attempts to reform social programs.  This may be good time to consider reforming the ways in which people acquire U.S. citizenship.  The reformation would help to protect our society from murdering radicals who, by chance or intention, are born here, reap our country’s riches, but give no genuine allegiance to the land of their birth.

The murderers of thousands of 9/11 victims, the Fort Hood murderer of thirteen brave service men and a chaplain, the Underwear Bomber, and the Time Square Wanna-Be Bomber were all educated and employed here. Their pledges of allegiance to this country were lies.  They took full advantage of the freedoms offered here to commit their heinous, cowardly acts upon innocent Americans.

Unequivocally, U.S. citizenship should be prized, as it was by the millions of Europeans who escaped tyrannies and poverty abroad to flow legally through Ellis Island and the welcoming arms of America.  With citizenship comes the responsibility of preserving our freedoms at all costs.  If We the People do not demand reform in our citizenship laws, we will allow the perpetrators of hate and violence to undermine our society.  “United we stand, divided we fall.” 

How many times have we heard the words, “fiscal responsibility” uttered by our leaders in government when the need arises?  And how many times, when the need has arisen, did they act irresponsibly and continue to spend money they did not have?

This current Administration, which promised change, has failed miserably in delivering upon that promise.  The former Administration was no better; it created the debt as the year 2008 neared its end.  Angered by this, the people did not re-elect that political party to the White House. We’d wanted government to change direction and lift us out of an economic disaster.

The recession of 2008 produced a financial crisis the like of which this country has not seen since the 1930s. As a result, thousands became unemployed overnight.  This situation caused a severe drop in revenues needed to run State and Federal governments.

The new Administration that swept into power required leadership to resolve the crisis, but a resolution was not to be.  Instead of calling in leaders from the private sector to discuss methods of jumpstarting our failing economy, the Administration used its power to pass legislation that would not address the problems at hand.  Chief among these were jobs for the working class.

Three years later, we have a government in disarray.  The two-party system is at odds with itself, more concerned about laying blame than curing what ails the country.  Our political system has failed the test of time.  When party politics override the duty to run the government efficiently, a change in the attitudes of our elected leaders is necessary.  The old adage, “United we stand, divided we fall,” has come back to haunt America.

Words like honor, duty, and country are lost in the rhetoric of politicians seeking power.  America needs a united front to correct its problems, with country first and everything else trailing behind.  Jobs are the life’s blood of any nation.  Without jobs, we can anticipate more citizens depending upon the government to survive.

In war and peace, the American worker has been the best investment in any business in the world.  When it comes to country, he is ready to stop what he is doing and protect the land of the free and the home of the brave.  Our volunteer military is a perfect example of “country first,” the willingness to take the risks to keep our way of life secure.

It’s time to rally around the flag and step up to the challenge of restoring this great land to a unified country.  Rich or poor, we owe America, no matter the cost.

The answer is jobs and we need them badly.  To Corporate America and private business, it’s time to stop waiting for the government to act.  Put your money on the best investment you have ever made: the American workers, whose taxpayer money bailed you out in 2008.

Whether it comes from government or the private sector, America needs leadership.  Leadership is non-negotiable. The Good Book asks, “What good is it to gain wealth and lose one’s soul?”

In future elections, we must separate leaders from followers.  It’s easy to blame but difficult to lead.  When you choose a candidate, ask yourself if the candidate puts country first and party line last, and by their fruits you will know them.  Remember, “United we stand, divided we fall.”