PICK A COUNTRY - PROS & CONS OF DUALITY

[mfish]

SO, how do y'all feel about "Dual Citizenship?" Is this something we should re-visit?
What are the benefits?
What are the detractors?
Should we allow it or not?

Go...

[Daisy]

Someone else will have to 'go' on this one - I don't know anything about dual citizenship or what the reasons for it would be....

[Jim]

Costa Rica is a good choice. Bahamas. Lots of gringos live in Mexico. Canada.
Quite a few Americans with dual citizenships.

[NeightGT]

Some good info on the subject:
http://www.richw.org/dualcit/law.html

[pdc]

I was born with dual citizenship - My father was a naturalized US citizen, my mother was a British subject.

My mother did not seek US citizenship until after my 21st birthday so that I could retain the choice - she had a provocative streak like yours truly....

Frankly, growing up in America, the choice was purely academic, but I did exercise the option during the Vietnam war, so I guess there was a viable option there, is a sense.

But, I can actually say that I "chose" to be an American, for whatever that's worth....

[jsatterfield]

Do I smell a Draft dodger? :yucky: I BETTER STOP,:shoot: SO PDC what do you have against America? It sound like you only live in the U.S.A for the benefits it has to offer, and that you would prefer to live some were Else ,To me that’s not a true American.

To stay on topic, I chose AMERICA

[oladcock]

After being in a few dozen, only 2 that I'd even consider, Israel or Australia. Canada is out, too many socialist Brits! :)...O.L.

[Neil]

I had the opportunity to have dual citizenship. I declined. I came here in 96 and by simple hard work I achieved the American dream. House, car etc. So when I was eligible to become a citizen I jumped at the chance. To maintain dual citizenship, as far as I'm concerned, would be an insult to my new home Country.
I'm an American, not British American.

On a side note a friend of mine lives in California and he applied for some program, can't remember what for, that was for African Americans. Thing is my friend is like me, 6'3" blond hair, blue eyes and white skin. When he applied they informed him in no uncertain terms thet the program was for African Americans only.
He showed them his US passport which listed his place of birth as Johannesburg, South Africa. He then informed them he was probably more African American than anyone in the room because he was actually born in Africa.**laugh**

[Daisy]

I'm an American, not British American.

Good for you, Neil! That's the attitude that I think ALL immigrants should have. :smk3:

I really enjoyed hearing your British accent when I met you - very nice...:)

[jsatterfield]

Right on Neil,

some others that might be :shoot:######## **laugh**on this form could learn a lot from you. And Welcome to America,

[oladcock]

Good on you Neil, I've told you before it's a shame we have to import good American's now days. Was at a function last weekend where patiotism was being discussed and an older lady was listening intently. The speaker said "I suspect you were not born in this country, would you like to say something?" She stated she was originally from Thailand and loved this country and hated seeing the direction it was going for her grand childrens sake and was willing to do anything to stop the slide. I guess there is hope! :)...O.L.

[pdc]

To clarify for the benefit of the literacy-challenged:

I suppose had I chosen the British option, I would have been in better stead with regards to dodging the draft - obviously, there was no benefit, in that regard, to choosing US citizenship....

I described the choice as "academic", because, even though British citizenship was a theoretical (yet, real) option, I never seriously considered it as compatible with my own experience, values or self-identity....

FYI, I self-identify as "Irish-American", - all four of my grandparents were born in Ireland, and I was raised in a strong Irish heritage from my birth until I left the family home - and, as such, ironically, harbor some of the same historical colonial resentment, if you will, towards Britain as both an American and an Irish descendant....

[pdc]

Right on Neil,

some others that might be :shoot: ######## **laugh**on this form could learn a lot from you. And Welcome to America,

I suppose this puerile form of crude insult is acceptable around here, eh? (It's not the first time....)

[Daisy]

No, it's not acceptable - I had just edited the original and you apparently quoted it before I could finish, so I edited the quote as well.............my apologies.

[mfish]

As a third-generation German Jew, I self-identify as an AMERICAN. Not many really know about my heritage, unless the topic comes up in conversation. Because, my grandparents all came to the USA to become AMERICANS.

[pdc]

As a third-generation German Jew, I self-identify as an AMERICAN. Not many really know about my heritage, unless the topic comes up in conversation. Because, my grandparents all came to the USA to become AMERICANS.

I respect your choice, as I believe each individual should be comfortable to self-identify consistent with their own experiences & values...

... I consider that to be one of the wonderful and exemplary benefits of American liberty. (As I hope you do, .and expect you should....)

[Jim]

Honduras has some beutiful islands off their coast. The Philippines hs 7,200 islnds. Parts of Thailand are nice. Brazil.

Take a freighter trip around the world.

[samsara]

My family is from everywhere. But I was born in America.

[Jim]

There's some nice places in the US. It depends what you want. Baja California is popular with gringos now. Panama. Easter Europe is supposed to be cheap. Spain has always sounded good. I spent more time in Asia. If you want to go native you can live cheaply in many places. If you want to be a tourist they'll rip you off.

[mfish]

There's too much to see and do in the USA for me to spend my money overseas. I haven't visited every National Park and Monument yet, for instance ...

[Daisy]

I totally agree - I've been to quite a few places in this country, but still have a lot to see!! Plenty enough wonders in this country for me to want to go to another...

[kralspaces]

As a third-generation German Jew, I self-identify as an AMERICAN. Not many really know about my heritage, unless the topic comes up in conversation. Because, my grandparents all came to the USA to become AMERICANS.

OMG, I can't believe we might be related under 6 degrees. I am an American with German linage. I have our Family Tree documented back into Eastern Europe (Czechoslovakia) and when we crossed the possibly of being Jewish, many in the family wanted to deny that. I’m proud of my German heritage and if there is a Jewish connection, that also. It is who I am. ’Who do you think you are’ has been a fun show to watch on TV. I used Ancestry.com years ago in my personal quest and then found a cousin who had already done a ton of research. While my American linage stated in the 1800’s, my wife’s linage is dated back to the Revolutionary War time. She is officially a daughter of the American Revolution.

Years ago, while working in the software industry, I met a man you almost convinced me that New Zealand was more golden than California. However, I just could not convince myself to leave even though I had a good job lined up. I am sure it is a better place today though.

My son’s have both lived in other countries by choice. My older boy chose to move to the Philippines after his Marine Duty there (and Japan). After a few years (schooling), he is now living back in America and loves country music and is on the conservative path. My younger boy is moving to China at this moment. He currently lives in Hawaii. He speaks Mandarin and will be staying with friends he met at University of California, Modesto. He also speaks French, Spanish and German and he is a self proclaimed Marist. He met President Obama while in DC for internship. Well, he blew my theory about DNA as a reason for our political views. He learned it all in the school systems. He originally applied for a scholarship at the University of California, Santa Cruz (can’t get more left then that), but was too white. They, UCSC, recommended him for the Modesto campus with scholarship.

The best part about the United States is that there are 50 opportunities (not 57) to find the right environment to settle down in, all with a single citizenship.

[Rainbow]

Our neighbors are dual citizens and I applaud them for taking the extra steps to become dual. I think it shows an extra degree of loyalty and respect for America. (They are Canadians.)

If I were so inclined to have a home in another country, and spend a lot of time living, working and supporting that country, I would consider duality. But at my age I am just happy to have been born here, reside here and love it here so I am content to stay here and only here.

People gasp when I say I hate to travel but that is the truth. I traveled a bit in my younger days, but I agree with Dorothy 100%: "There's no place like home. There's no place like home."

I understand there is a DNA test you can take that can actually narrow down your origins to a specific region. On the most excellent TV series produced by Lisa Kudrow that recently completed, "Who Do You Think You Are", Emmett Smith was able to trace his origins to a specific African tribal village. This same test linked the famous cellist/composer Yo Yo Ma to Olympic skater Kristi Yamagucchi and they had absolutely no idea they were connected.

Makes ya look at some people a little differently!!!

[oladcock]

Kral, "While my American linage stated in the 1800’s, my wife’s linage is dated back to the Revolutionary War time. She is officially a daughter of the American Revolution."

That is just too cool...We're tracking ours down as well and my wife has tracked hers back to William Bradford on the Mayflower, and Oliver Winchster of Winchester rifle fame. No wonder she likes guns! :)

We've got mine back to 1730's in Tennesee so there is no doubt up to their ears in Indians.

I hear you, got one daughter who's very conservative and the other a flaming liberal. I suspect she'll grow up eventually...O.L.