People have been denied citizenship in America for many reasons. Would
it surprise you to learn that four of those people were denied because
they were conscientious objectors to war? The government believed that
because they were not willing to bear arms in defense of the country,
they were not attached to the principles of the Constitution, as
required by naturalization law. Ironically, none of these people were
eligible for military service because of their age, and two of them were
women. Furthermore, when both women were denied citizenship it was
during a period when women could not serve in the military. Following
overviews of the history of immigration and pacifism in America,
chapters are devoted to the four different forms of conscientious
objection: philosophical absolute pacifism, religiously informed
absolute pacifism, selective conscientious objection, and conscientious
cooperator. Each chapter discusses the individual, the arguments for
their claim to citizenship, the government's arguments against them, and
an analysis of the Supreme Court Opinion in their case. In short, each
chapter gives a comprehensive treatment of the personalities and the
issues involved. A fascinating and informative read for theology and law
students, scholars and for those intrigued in immigration and/or
pacifism.