- One cannot be a consumer of virtually anything without participating in shared global commerce. Even the most resolute “Buy Americans” cannot avoid foreign-made components and products. Even the microphone that captured Gingrich’s denial was undoubtedly engineered and manufactured outside of the U.S. Trade imbalances notwithstanding, we purchase the products and services of the world, and they purchase ours.

- Like more than 95% of American citizens, I doubt that Mr. Gingrich has much of an indigenous American genetic heritage. Despite the efforts of many like Mr. Gingrich to slam the borders shut on newcomers, we are a nation of immigrants. American geneology and culture are irreversibly products of global citizenship.

- The religious faiths of nearly all Americans, including those professed by Mr. Gingrich, have their origins exclusively outside of the United States and are shared throughout the globe.

Mr. Gingerich and his ilk can deny being members of the global human community ad infinitum, and while many of us might be glad to revoke his global passport, reality prevails.