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what makes you an American/Candian/[insert country here]-ian?

Posted Tuesday, November 03, 2009 2:34 PM

I was reading an article on MSNBC talking about how people think the first American NY marathon winner in a while isn't really American - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33603511/ns/us_news-the_new_york_times/

he immigrated when he was 12 and went to school/college/etc. here in the US and he's a citizen.

 it made me wonder what makes someone an American?  I am the child of immigrants.  They lived in the US for 10+ years before I was born and they have now spent more of their lives here than they did in India.  But, they consider themselves Indian even though they are American citizens. 

I consider myself an American of Indian heritage.  I was born/raised in Texas and consider this my country altho I am proud of my heritage.  When people ask me "where are you from" - i know they expect to hear India but I go "Texas" I only say india if they ask where my parents are from  because i AM from Texas...altho now i can say PA...

WDYT?

Posted by NithyaV

Comments

re: what makes you an American/Candian/[insert country here]-ian?

Part of me thinks it's where you were born, part thinks it's where you live now, part thinks it's where your heritage originates.  Like I consider myself American even though technically my heritage is Hungarian.  If I decided to move to France, say, and become a citizen there, if people asked I'd still say I was American.  So I guess I have no answer to that question.

Posted by edmo    Tuesday, November 03, 2009 2:07 PM


re: what makes you an American/Candian/[insert country here]-ian?

Generally I think it's the country you were born in or grew up in - the one you knew as 'home' since you were little.  But sometimes people move countries when they're older and totally adopt the new country as their home, so that has to count too.  It's a personal thing, and I think as long as the person is a citizen (not a visitor) no one has any right to say they're not truly an American (or from whatever country) if that is where they call home.

Posted by KiwiJ    Tuesday, November 03, 2009 2:09 PM


re: what makes you an American/Candian/[insert country here]-ian?

I see a difference between "American" and "American Citizen" - if you live here and you are a citizen, you are an "American Citizen" no matter what.  However, I'm not sure I would ever say I was an "American" (even with citizenship) unless I was born or raised here.

Posted by edmo    Tuesday, November 03, 2009 2:32 PM


re: what makes you an American/Candian/[insert country here]-ian?

I think 'American' is a feeling.  If you were born here, it's probably something you have innately.  If you were born elsewhere, but have completed adopted the US culture, and truly feel like this is home now, than you can be American without technically being a legal citizen.  If you were not born here, but passed a test, and now refer to yourself as an 'American Citizen' you're probably not 'American' either!

Posted by Kennedy07    Tuesday, November 03, 2009 2:45 PM


re: what makes you an American/Candian/[insert country here]-ian?

That's an interesting topic...I was born in Seattle (as were my parents and grandparents) so I consider myself American. Here in Seattle we have so many transplant people from other places, there is a slight "Washingtonian" pride to having been born and raised here.

My DH is from Canada, and has only lived in the US for 6 1/2 years. He considers himself Canadian and American (although he is not a US citizen, he pays taxes here and follows the politics of this country). His parents are from Holland and immigrated to Canada. I'm not sure whether they consider themselves Canadian or Dutch or both, I'll have to ask them at Christmas when I see them because I would be curious to know.

Posted by phinneygirl79    Tuesday, November 03, 2009 3:34 PM


re: what makes you an American/Candian/[insert country here]-ian?

I'm Irish, through and through.  Born and bred here, generations go way back.  Even if I live in another country, I'm Irish and proud of it.  My DH's parents lived in London for around 10 years when they met and got married and my DH and his older sister were born there.  But he considers himself Irish and not a chance in hell would he consider himself English, and quite rightly!

Posted by The Irish Gal    Wednesday, November 04, 2009 4:54 AM


re: what makes you an American/Candian/[insert country here]-ian?

I am Canadian and proud to be Canadian.  If I moved to the US (or any other country for that matter) and lived there for 20 years, I know I would still identify as Canadian.  For me, its a pride thing.  I am proud to be from Canada.  I think it's wherever you consider 'home' to be.  You can be a citizen of a coutry, but if you consider home to be where you were born, where you lived for the majority of your life, or your new country then that is your identity.  

For example, I have a friend who was born in Canada, to a mother who immigrated from the Phillipines and a father who immigrated from Hong Kong to Boston and then to Canada.  Her parents now live in Atlanta, her sister in Las Vegas, my friend in Canada.  They consider themselves a Canadian family with roots in other countries.  

Posted by lindsayandjamie    Wednesday, November 04, 2009 10:11 AM


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About NithyaV

Law student enjoying newlywed life with my husband and puppy!


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