I've thought a lot about this myself and this article is a good read.

I wanted to comment on this because my nine year old son and I have had this discussion. This is how it went, During the elections he told me he wanted to be president some day. I told him he could not. He aske why not, a black man is running! I told him it was because he was born in Guatemala. So he continuted to tell me that when we gets older he is going to change that law. Well all the power to him! And just maybe it well!
Polly

Check out EACH, "Equality for All Adopted Children" at www.equalityforadoptedchildren.org/legislation/child_citizenship_of_2000.html

How silly to concern ourselves about our children not being able to run for President of the US. In 220+ years only 44 MEN have held that position. Most people will not be able to attain that dream, whether they were born here or not.

When I was a little girl I wanted to be Queen. My mother told me that would be impossible. I was not born into royalty and I was not a citizen of a monarchy. Sure, I was disappointed. I really wanted that tiara of diamonds and the fancy dresses.

Let's focus on the strengths of our children and what greatness they can attain using their skills, intellect and ingenuity.

Big deal that they will not be able to run for President. My guess is my son will not be a professional basketball player either, because his Guatemalan genes will probably not allow him to grow past 6 feet tall.

We can all leave our mark on the world in a myriad of ways. It's our job to help guide them in finding their passions and encourage their greatness.

I think you missed the point on this one Kim. There are many people throughout history that should not have accomplished things. I, for one, will NEVER tell my child that they can't become whatever they want. What would have happened if MLK's parents would have discouraged him from his fight for equality? What if Obama parents would have told him that a black man will never be president, don't bother. And, What if your child's passion is to become president, simply because you told them not to? There were also many professional basketball players under 6 feet tall, there's one right now who won the slam dunk competition. I just don't get your point of view and I hope your kids won't either. I'm not saying that to pick on you, I just think that limitations are dangerous.

The same reasoning that allowed John McCain (born outside the US on a military base) and Barry Goldwater (Arizona was not a state when he was born)to run for President should apply to our children as well.

I completely disagree that the same reasoning should apply to our children. Our children are immigrants. If we want to change the law for them then that only makes sense if we also change the law for ALL immigrants who become US citizens. Our children are not "natural born" US citizens. When we chose to adopt internationally we knew that we were choosing for our children to be immigrants and that we would have to comply with all immigration laws and other immigration-related regulations. Just like in some situations our children have to show their certificate of citizenship and those of us who are natural born citizens do not, our children cannot run for president even though those of us who are natural born citizens can. If parents aren't ready to deal with the realities their children face of being an immigrant in the US (including the more serious issues of anti-immigrant bias and racism), then there are far more important issues they need to be learning about than this one.

So, You think it's OK Stephanie? There are many LAWS in our country that are not just. In my opinion, This is one of them. Our country was founded and built by immigrants. I don't think the fact that they were born in another country, should hinder their political aspirations.

I think that the " ratio " of this law is outdated. I think that the law wanted to make sure that the person elected to the Presidency would have been enough " american "; it wanted to make sure that no one with different values and a different " vision " of the society could have come to the US and could have stepped into the White House. The law was approved in a time when the world was very different. In a time when if you came to the US, you would have spent here your entire life and therefore you would have shared the american life style. What the legislators didn't think about was the case of an american born citizen that left the US when still an infant and spent most of his/her life in another Country. This person, can come back to the States at anytime and run for the Presidency, althought he/her isn't a "true american " as the "ratio" of the law would like. On the other side, you can have someone that wasn't born in the US but immigrated to the US when still an infant ( even only a day old ) and has been spending here all his/her life since then and that will never have a chance to run for the Presidency. Who's more "american " the person that left the Country when still an infant or the person that immigrated to the US when was a day old and has been spending his/her entire life here? I think the law needs to be changed. Vince.P.S. I was born US citezen abroad, I spent my first 34 years out of the US, and still, theorically I can run for the Presidency, while most of the children adopted ( immigrated to the US )when only a few months old would never have the same chance; it's simply non sense.

I'm more concerned about the children who immigrate to the US as children, only know this to be their county and can not become citizens because their parents entered illegally. There are many more of these children, than the one or two who may actually want to run for president for real--not fantasy. Talk about an unfair law! I can be inspired to change the immigration laws so that hardworking families can become US citizens, but the law about being a natural born citizen to be president doesn't really grab me as one of the laws I want to fight to change. There a many more things about this country that I'd want changed: access to low cost contraceptives, universal health care, effective sex education, end the two crazy wars that never should have been started in the first place, affordable college....oh the list goes on of what I'd put ahead of taking up the mantel to change the law to be US president.

Kim- I also would like to see changed the law that gives new born the US citizenship only because they were born on the US soil, regardeless of the immigration status of the parents. This law was created for the sons of the slaves, and at this time is also outdated. Two crazy wars? One only is crazy, the one in IRAQ. Universal health care? Have you ever been in a European hospital? And do you know how much it costs to the europeans? Every workers is taxed anywhere between 600 to 800 euros in order to receive " free " health care. I think your "
vision " of the US society is very lose to the one in place in the Scandinavian Countries. Please take a look at what kind of problems they have. You think that we are in bad shape in the US? You should see how the life is in other Countries where the social-democratic ideology has been fully applied!!! Vince.

Vince,
Good point, maybe it would make more sense to have a length of time residency requirement instead of the "natrual born" clause. This requirement is outdated in our shrunken world.
Kim,
I don't believe this was given as an either/or scenario. If you are that worked up about other political concerns and have no time left for this, then that is your personal prioritization. That's OK. But I suspect our kids when they are grown may see it differently. This may not be our issue to take up, but our children's. I believe when the thousands of children adopted from foreign countries in the last decade grow up they will drive this change themselves.

Not all immigrants to the US are illegal. Throughout history and still to this day, many many people have come to America legally, with that said, if a child comes to America legally because their parents immigrated here legally and become US Naturalized citizens, even though that child has only known this country all their life, they cannot become President because they were not born here.

This is just one of the many issues and biases that immigrants, including ICA kids as well, will encounter.

Parents of ICA children should become aware of the inequities that immigrants and minorities face in this country.
Marie

Erik,

My point was that our children shouldn't be treated any differently than other immigrants. Usually when I hear "our kids should be able to be president, too" the argument is that they should be an EXCEPTION to the rule. As I said, if people want to change this law then they should be trying to change it for ALL naturalized citizens, not just those who are naturalized citizens as part of the adoption process.

Whether I think the constitution should be changed in this regard is a different question.