Girl Without a Country, livre ebook

Should willingness to kill be a requirement for U.S. citizenship? Girl Without a Country tells the compelling, confounding story of Martha Graber—a Mennonite, registered nurse, and conscientious objector who in 1929 was twice denied citizenship because she refused to say she would take up arms to defend the United States. The unexpected denials, which came despite Martha's pledge to give her life for her adopted country, caught the attention of a diverse group of peace advocates, religious leaders, lawyers, and politicians, setting up a climactic third court appearance.

Martha’s nineteen-month fight for citizenship made national news, featuring dramatic testimony, historical insights, and interesting backstories that stretched from Alsace-Lorraine in western Europe to America’s heartland. Elegantly written by Martha’s maternal grandson with never-before-published details and closely connected with a controversial Supreme Court decision, Girl Without a Country surfaces an array of topical issues, ranging from immigration and naturalization to conscientious objection and patriotism. Perhaps most importantly, Martha’s story considers what it truly means to be an American.

A Few Words About Style
Dramatis Personae
Preface
Introduction
The Box in the Basement
PART 1. THE FIRST TRY
1 “Is There Any Possibility of Hurrying This Through?”
2 The Girl from Alsace-Lorraine
3 Seeds of Peace
4 Carl
5 The First No
PART 2. A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE
6 Peace Train
7 Joining the Fight
8 Supreme Dissent
9 Fred and Ed
10 “Such Is War, Miss Graber”
11 Home to Heal
12 Exceptions and Inconsistencies
PART 3. AN OATH OF ALLEGIANCE
13 Red Flags
14 “Heckling” and “Interrogation”
15 “This Woman Says She Loves This Country”
16 “Matrimonial Monkey Wrench”
17 Citizenship Certificate No. 3116964
18 The Toll
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Naturalization Timeline
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index
About the Author