Sally Redux

I think that's the bit I don't get - calling yourself 'Italian' for instance, as one of my neighbours does, although he was born here and has never visited Italy.

Jerseygirl

I could say I'm Scottish...but you'd all make fun of me.

kimilseung

One of the times when I feel I have a genuine right to complain, is when a "I drank a pint of Guiness" Irishman has a go at me, as a Brit, for the colinization of Ireland, when my links to Ireland are more than theres (or am I starting to fall in to the trap here)

Sally Redux

Maybe we should have a 'heritage day' on here - you sweaty.

SultanOfSwing

Does he spend a lot of time rolling around on the ground when a referee is nearby? If so, he probably is Italian

Sally Redux

It wouldn't be so bad if he had the smouldering good looks.

Lorna at Vicenza

I don't really get it either but I know the Italians have a different way of working out and granting citizenship to the USA. It's all about the blood line.

Many Americans have been able to get Italian citizenship through a grandparent.

A child born here to two foreign parents does not automatically get citizenship though.

Jerseygirl

Once when I was standing in a check out queue the woman in front of me heard my accent...she turned round and started ranting about how she supported the IRA...and that the big bad Brits should get out of Ireland and leave them alone. I asked her if she'd ever been to Ireland....she said no.

SultanOfSwing

I've had more than a few people say that to me too, to the point where I have taken to pretending I'm Scottish to avoid that line of inquiry alotogether

Sally Redux

Really? That's interesting.

Sally Redux

People in this area think Ireland is just one happy land full of leprechauns so I'm OK.

SultanOfSwing

I actually had one guy at a gig who claimed to have dealt with the IRA and said 'they're basically just good people'. I nearly glassed him

This was the same bloke though who came up to me after I got done singing 'Learning to Fly' and asked me if I knew any Pink Floyd

Lorna at Vicenza

and slightly unfair in some circumstances.

If I my kids had been born here to any person other than an Italian, my kids would not be Italian citizens.

My neighbours are from Tunisia. They have 4 kids. 3 of them were born here but are not citizens.
Their father applied for and obtained citizenship after many years of proven residency here, but his kids have to apply for their own when they turn 18.

It's makes an 18 year old lad born and raised and schooled here feel slightly put out if an American comes waltzing in proclaiming to be Italian.

Jerseygirl

It's the same now in the UK isn't it? Just because you happen to be born in some countries doesn't give you the right to citizenship...which is correct IMO.

Sally Redux

He probably meant he had seen that film with Richard Gere.