"We Are All Immigrants"

[Fandango 1,439]

Native Americans are people born in America. The Cherokee prefer the term Indian, while I prefer First Nations People.

PC BS

I Lucky........

[DeadPoolX 9]

Native Americans are people born in America. The Cherokee prefer the term Indian, while I prefer First Nations People.

PC BS

That's what they should rename "PBS."

[Heracles 417]

As far as taking pride in the country I live in: that is not a given nor it should be. I am here because my husband wanted to come back to HIS country, that's that. Free allegiance for me is just not happening. I abide by American laws and do my legwork every day -- but national pride in my opinion stems from a long standing relationship with a homeland; not a "well, now I live here so I am proud of it". My mind does not work that way.

Nessa said it: people will always be offended by this or that, it's human nature. Sometimes we need to just get over ourselves and grow a thicker skin - I do it everyday when reading racism on VJ. It's a public forum, after all, and we are all entitled to our opinions.

All good and well if you remain a permanent resident. If you are to go down the citizenship route then it isn't right to use the well I came here because my husband is from here. Like you did America some sort of favor.

Now, I am not disagreeing with you. I myself don't feel an allegiance to the United States therefore I would be lying on a citizenship application when answering some of the questions. So I will remain a permanent resident.

Edited April 22, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[Heracles 417]

I disagree with the statement "we are all immigrants." It's nice in theory and I can see what it's aiming for, but it's not entirely accurate.

Anyone who was born in a certain country (the U.S., for instance) is a citizen of that country and therefore, not an immigrant. It doesn't matter what the previous generations did. Everyone came from somewhere else. So what? Maybe some of your ancestors claim they came from some place like Germany or France or England or wherever, right?

Well, did they really start out there? Think about this for a moment. Civilization didn't begin in Europe and the first democracies, republics and empires belonged to ancient cultures, such as the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and many others. So if traced back far enough, what are we? American? Maybe from somewhere in Europe, like England or France or Germany? Or maybe, if we go further back, the Roman Empire.

Essentially what I'm getting at is: where does it end? How far back do we need to go before the line of immigration ends?

I say it stops with you. I'm not responsible for anything my parents did, let alone any ancestors, therefore why would I be called an immigrant? I was born and raised in the United States of America. That makes me, by default, a United States citizen (or informally, an American). If my wife and I moved to another country and had children there, those kids would then be citizens of that country -- they wouldn't considered immigrants; my wife and I would.

So where's this confusion?

Well said. Anyone born in a nation is not a migrant.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

As far as taking pride in the country I live in: that is not a given nor it should be. I am here because my husband wanted to come back to HIS country, that's that. Free allegiance for me is just not happening. I abide by American laws and do my legwork every day -- but national pride in my opinion stems from a long standing relationship with a homeland; not a "well, now I live here so I am proud of it". My mind does not work that way.

Nessa said it: people will always be offended by this or that, it's human nature. Sometimes we need to just get over ourselves and grow a thicker skin - I do it everyday when reading racism on VJ. It's a public forum, after all, and we are all entitled to our opinions.

All good and well if you remain a permanent resident. If you are to go down the citizenship route then it isn't right to use the well I came here because my husband is from here. Like you did America some sort of favor.

Now, I am not disagreeing with you. I myself don't feel an allegiance to the United States therefore I would be lying on a citizenship application when answering some of the questions. So I will remain a permanent resident.

As long as I make my decisions and pay my bills, your opinion is of no consequence. I can to either apply for citizenship or remain a LPR: which in no way negates my love for Mexico and my customs and traditions (including my language, my family dynamics, my ideas on child rearing, etc.), neither it negates my respect for the laws of the United States. And please show me where did I mention applying for citizenship or lying in such hypothetical application.

And I say it again: free allegiance is, in my opinion, bogus at best. Love and respect for a country -any country- is developed over time. And yes, I came here because my husband wanted to.

Peace, L.

[Heracles 417]

As long as I make my decisions and pay my bills, your opinion is of no consequence. I can to either apply for citizenship or remain a LPR: which in no way negates my love for Mexico and my customs and traditions (including my language, my family dynamics, my ideas on child rearing, etc.), neither it negates my respect for the laws of the United States. And please show me where did I mention applying for citizenship or lying in such hypothetical application.

And I say it again: free allegiance is, in my opinion, bogus at best. Love and respect for a country -any country- is developed over time. And yes, I came here because my husband wanted to.

Peace, L.

Living in another country is a privilege, regardless of the reason. I did not say you applied for citizenship but I did say that if someone did they should feel an allegiance to that nation. Which is the main reason for becoming a citizen. Obeying the laws has nothing to do with this. The PR status was created for this very reason. Where you are permitted to live in a nation but basically have no allegiance to that nation.

[mawilson 2,133]

As long as I make my decisions and pay my bills, your opinion is of no consequence.

Show some respect or go back to Mexico.

[Amby 490]

so what if I'm native american? I'm a real american not an immigrant?

[Heracles 417]

so what if I'm native american? I'm a real american not an immigrant?

They came from somewhere else as well. Then again this applies to nearly every country / civilization in the world. Not just America; as many would like us to believe..

[Teacher Mark 53]

Even the so-called "Native Americans" are believed to have migrated to this continent from elsewhere.

The only "American blood" is in our squirrels.

I know a possum that would be offended by that statement.

[Nessa 23]

im not an immigrant. I was born on this planet. i swear.

[Empress of Groovy 373]

I'd like to start my own country. Every resident would get free pizza and beer on Saturday, and time off for mating season.

[Nessa 23]

lol @ mating season

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Well if you go back far enough either in history or religion we all immigrated from either Africa or the Garden of eden.... does that make us all immigrants???? NO

Kez

[Heracles 417]

I'd like to start my own country. Every resident would get free pizza and beer on Saturday, and time off for mating season.

Country is called Russia..