Candidate’s allegiance shouldn’t be questioned
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Editor,
The challenge to my allegiance to the United States, in a letter to the editors right before the elections, was an attack against me as a candidate for a Polson City Commission seat.
The letter aimed to exploit the unfortunate fact that among most people there is probably a very limited knowledge and narrow understanding of "allegiance."
On Dec. 18, 1989, I chose to become an American citizen by proudly taking the Oath of Allegiance:
“I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion.”
This Oath of Allegiance is an official, dignified and strong commitment, one that I have been honored to uphold ever since and will be honored to uphold forever in the future.
I am a candidate for the city commission for no other purpose than to fulfill my civic duty in a more effective capacity, by putting my intellect, experience and knowledge to work for my district and the City of Polson.
Murat Kalinyaprak
Polson
