SHOW ME YOUR PAPERS

Everything I know about the Constitution I learned from studying the Federalist Papers.  But it is my life experiences that prove to me that the Founding Fathers understood human behavior.  The hysteria over the new law in Arizona reminded me of one of those experiences.

 

In 1989 or 1990, I was hired by the University of Iowa as a sign language interpreter.  The University is in my hometown, Iowa City.  It was a part time job; I only worked a few hours a month when they called me in for a meeting or training session.

 

I was working with a deaf University employee when the woman from human resources brought me the employee paperwork I had to fill out.  She introduced herself then told me that as a child, her home was just down the street from my family's home.  She had been a friend of my older brothers.

 

"In fact," she said, "I remember when you were born." She smiled, nodding.  "Yes, I do."

 

I was only five when we moved away from that house, but I vaguely remembered hearing her name.  Her next statement left me speechless.

 

"You have to bring in you birth certificate to prove you are a citizen."

 

I'm not kidding.  I had to find my birth certificate and bring it in so she could look at it and affirm I was a citizen of the US.

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