What is a citizen?

[skjpm]

Rather than argue when life begins, it might seem more fruitful to talk about what makes a citizen. At what point do our laws begin to protect a person? Many people are citizens without necessarily having their full capacity--you can't kill someone in a coma, say. So, at what point in our existance do our laws apply? One could make the case that since a fetus is a "potential citizen" it deserves full protection under our laws, the same way a legal alien has protection as he awaits full status. I am not personally making this case, but it could be made. And it has nothing to do with when life begins, which is too philosophical, but when laws take effect. So no flames! This is just a theoretical question. Not, is a fetus a person, but is a fetus a citizen?

[Cleita]

1. Not every human is a citizen.

Youse either gotta be born here or go take out papers after certain conditions are met and an oath sworn to. So if a person is conceived in one country and born in another, which country is he citizen of while in mom's belly?

[skjpm]

4. Do you want all the rights available to you under the law?

The Florida decision on adoption suggests that not all people have the same rights. Their Supreme Court denies rights based on what they see as a defect. Those of us who don't see it as a defect would give you those rights. Is not being born yet a defect?

[Solomon]

2. As a lawyer who knows how ignorant people are of their rights, I've

always felt that unless you go to law school, you can't really be a citizen. (Of course unless you're filthy rich, then you can as stupid as you want)

[1a2b3c]

3. it might be better to ask

what a citizen will be in 10 or 20 years.