You may have noticed a trend in, oh, say the last 43 Presidents of the United States -- they are all natural born citizens.

It isn't coincidence or dirty politics that have led to this, it is the Constitution. Our laws won't allow anyone who wasn't born a citizen to become president.

But recently, there has been talk of changing that, and Sen. Orin Hatch, R-Utah, has proposed legislation that would formally remove the road block to the White House for immigrants who have been citizens for at least 20 years.

Somewhere over in California, Governor Schwarzenegger has to have a pretty big smile on his face. After all, it is hard to believe that this legislation doesn't have something to do with Schwarzenegger's popularity as a politician. Republicans would love to give him the opportunity to stand in front of the U.N. Security Council and call the French "girly men."

But politics aside, this is a serious issue. It is undeniable that immigrants helped to build this country and had a huge part in making it what it is today.

My mom and her parents love to tell me about my hardworking great-grandparents, who came from Slovakia to toil in the coal mines and steel mills of western Pennsylvania, all so they could build a better world for themselves and their children. They succeeded.

That story isn't unique to my family or to western Pennsylvania, though we all know that some of the best people still reside in that part of the state. I am sure that nearly everyone has a similar story to tell about his or her great-grandparents, or grandparents, or parents or maybe even themselves.

So maybe it is time that we change the Constitution and allow some of the proudest and hardest working Americans to run for president.

These individuals could bring some fresh ideas and perspectives to the table and really motivate some positive change. This is the land of opportunity, so shouldn't we open that opportunity up to everyone?

Of course, it isn't that cut and dry.

The whole reason that only natural born citizens have been allowed to run for president is the risk that loyalties could be split. Could President Schwarzenegger make the decision to go to war with Austria, if for some completely hypothetical reason that was necessary? It doesn't even have to be something as serious as war. Could we trust a foreign-born president to set up the best trade deals or beneficial aide packages with the country they were born in?

Many people would say yes, that after 20 or more years, we could trust a foreign-born president.

Reason leads me to agree with that school of thought, but there is still something in the back of my mind that gives me doubts; some latent fear of a "What if...?" scenario.

Maybe I am just paranoid, but the upside to paranoia is that it avoids those one-in-a-million but really, really bad mistakes. The downside is that it could hurt this country by stopping some really wonderful people from having the power to create a better world.

I am in favor of giving every American the opportunity to lead and to serve. I trust the voters and the system to choose a loyal and proud president who won't intentionally sell out our country. Americans aren't as stupid as a lot of people think.

At any rate, this issue is just beginning to emerge, so we have time to learn more before we have to make a decision.

But eventually it is going to face us, and it is never too late to start informing yourself and developing an opinion.

Years from now, this legislation could directly affect someone you know, or maybe even you.

Going from a stranger in a strange land to President of the United States -- the American dream doesn't get any bigger than that.