The Paradox of Citizenship in American Politics Ideals and Reality
This book is an exploration of American citizenship, emphasizing the paradoxes that are contained, normalized, and strengthened by the gaps existing between proposed policies and real-life practices in multiple arenas of a citizen’s life. The book conside
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THE PARADOX OF CITIZENSHIP IN AMERICAN POLITICS
Ideals and Reality
The Paradox of Citizenship in American Politics
Mehnaaz Momen
The Paradox of Citizenship in American Politics Ideals and Reality
Mehnaaz Momen Social Sciences Texas A&M International University Laredo, Texas, USA
ISBN 978-3-319-61529-5 ISBN 978-3-319-61530-1 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-61530-1 Library of Congress Control Number: 2017946740 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2018 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Cover illustration: © Frederick Bass / Getty Images Printed on acid-free paper This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
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Foreword
Sometime between the American Revolution and the American Constitution, Immanuel Kant wrote that “out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made.” James Madison and Thomas Jefferson would have agreed, for as they crafted their new nation, they observed that “if men were angels, no government would be necessary,” and that “man is the only animal which devours his own kind.” Jefferson seemed resigned to the darker failures of all nations, revolutions, and political projects: “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.” Now, during this moment when the colonists were finally freeing themselves from British rule, many Americans were quite giddy and thrilled, like the patriot Samuel Adams, who voiced the possibility that the United States was going to be exceptional: “Our contest is not only whether we ourselves shall be free, but whether there shall be left to mankind an asylum on earth for civil and religious liberty.” Adam
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