Loyalty....where is yours?
Apr 27th 2010, 5:55 pm
#1
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Joined: Feb 2009
Location: North Charleston,SC. born in Stockport,UK.
Posts: 10,109
Loyalty....where is yours?
Ok, so I was having a conversation with my Son on Sunday, many of you know he is in the US Navy.
He was born on 'US soil' in Germany, but has always thought of himself as British first, American second. He is taking some classes right now, one of which is a US History class. He asked me a purely hypothetical question, about how I would feel if the US and Britain were involved in a war, but were on opposite sides. How would I feel about him protecting the US against the British?
I didn't know how to answer him, obviously I have never thought about it. As a USC now, would I be expected to be loyal to the US, or as a dual citizen, would I have to make a choice?..........hmmmmmmm??
How say you?
Not trying to cause any offense here, this is purely hypothetical
He was born on 'US soil' in Germany, but has always thought of himself as British first, American second. He is taking some classes right now, one of which is a US History class. He asked me a purely hypothetical question, about how I would feel if the US and Britain were involved in a war, but were on opposite sides. How would I feel about him protecting the US against the British?
I didn't know how to answer him, obviously I have never thought about it. As a USC now, would I be expected to be loyal to the US, or as a dual citizen, would I have to make a choice?..........hmmmmmmm??
How say you?
Not trying to cause any offense here, this is purely hypothetical
Apr 27th 2010, 6:09 pm
#2
Peace onion
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Denver
Posts: 5,686
Re: Loyalty....where is yours?
This came up in a slightly different manner for me.
There's a yank in the office who likes his football.
He asked me who I would be rooting for in the World Cup.
I said, oh, that's right - the USA is in the same group as us.
He said, "You've just told me".
But in a war, as a freshly made yank, my loyalty would be to the Constitution.
Englishtart - perhaps they might put the undecideds in internment camps, a la Japanese-Americans.
There's a yank in the office who likes his football.
He asked me who I would be rooting for in the World Cup.
I said, oh, that's right - the USA is in the same group as us.
He said, "You've just told me".
But in a war, as a freshly made yank, my loyalty would be to the Constitution.
Englishtart - perhaps they might put the undecideds in internment camps, a la Japanese-Americans.
Apr 27th 2010, 6:31 pm
#3
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Re: Loyalty....where is yours?
ET, I think it's interesting that your son thinks of himself as British first and American second. He's less British than you, and more than his dad. Hmm. I wonder how the crop of AmeriBrits born on here (well figuratively not literally) will see themselves. Btw, keep those babies coming 'cuz we loves 'em, 
Apr 27th 2010, 6:34 pm
#4
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Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Toasty in Texas
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Re: Loyalty....where is yours?
At the moment I consider myself to be more British than American, but that might change if and when I become a dual citizen.
I usually root for the UK in things like the olympics, football etc. but I'm very aware that my kids are more American than British and are likely to put down roots here.
and as an asied, it really annoys me when people come to visit (especially close rellies like my parents, and say "they" all the time about americans, when I wish they would be aware that my kids consider themselves to be american)
I usually root for the UK in things like the olympics, football etc. but I'm very aware that my kids are more American than British and are likely to put down roots here.
and as an asied, it really annoys me when people come to visit (especially close rellies like my parents, and say "they" all the time about americans, when I wish they would be aware that my kids consider themselves to be american)
Apr 27th 2010, 6:37 pm
#5
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Re: Loyalty....where is yours?
At the moment I consider myself to be more British than American, but that might change if and when I become a dual citizen.
I usually root for the UK in things like the olympics, football etc. but I'm very aware that my kids are more American than British and are likely to put down roots here.
and as an asied, it really annoys me when people come to visit (especially close rellies like my parents, and say "they" all the time about americans, when I wish they would be aware that my kids consider themselves to be american)
I usually root for the UK in things like the olympics, football etc. but I'm very aware that my kids are more American than British and are likely to put down roots here.
and as an asied, it really annoys me when people come to visit (especially close rellies like my parents, and say "they" all the time about americans, when I wish they would be aware that my kids consider themselves to be american)
Apr 27th 2010, 6:39 pm
#6
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,388
Re: Loyalty....where is yours?
Ok, so I was having a conversation with my Son on Sunday, many of you know he is in the US Navy.
He was born on 'US soil' in Germany, but has always thought of himself as British first, American second. He is taking some classes right now, one of which is a US History class. He asked me a purely hypothetical question, about how I would feel if the US and Britain were involved in a war, but were on opposite sides. How would I feel about him protecting the US against the British?
I didn't know how to answer him, obviously I have never thought about it. As a USC now, would I be expected to be loyal to the US, or as a dual citizen, would I have to make a choice?..........hmmmmmmm??
How say you?
Not trying to cause any offense here, this is purely hypothetical
He was born on 'US soil' in Germany, but has always thought of himself as British first, American second. He is taking some classes right now, one of which is a US History class. He asked me a purely hypothetical question, about how I would feel if the US and Britain were involved in a war, but were on opposite sides. How would I feel about him protecting the US against the British?
I didn't know how to answer him, obviously I have never thought about it. As a USC now, would I be expected to be loyal to the US, or as a dual citizen, would I have to make a choice?..........hmmmmmmm??
How say you?
Not trying to cause any offense here, this is purely hypothetical
Love you,
Apr 27th 2010, 6:45 pm
#7
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 436
Re: Loyalty....where is yours?
Ok, so I was having a conversation with my Son on Sunday, many of you know he is in the US Navy.
He was born on 'US soil' in Germany, but has always thought of himself as British first, American second. He is taking some classes right now, one of which is a US History class. He asked me a purely hypothetical question, about how I would feel if the US and Britain were involved in a war, but were on opposite sides. How would I feel about him protecting the US against the British?
I didn't know how to answer him, obviously I have never thought about it. As a USC now, would I be expected to be loyal to the US, or as a dual citizen, would I have to make a choice?..........hmmmmmmm??
How say you?
Not trying to cause any offense here, this is purely hypothetical
He was born on 'US soil' in Germany, but has always thought of himself as British first, American second. He is taking some classes right now, one of which is a US History class. He asked me a purely hypothetical question, about how I would feel if the US and Britain were involved in a war, but were on opposite sides. How would I feel about him protecting the US against the British?
I didn't know how to answer him, obviously I have never thought about it. As a USC now, would I be expected to be loyal to the US, or as a dual citizen, would I have to make a choice?..........hmmmmmmm??
How say you?
Not trying to cause any offense here, this is purely hypothetical
Apr 27th 2010, 6:47 pm
#8
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Vermont
Posts: 3,264
Re: Loyalty....where is yours?
At the moment I consider myself to be more British than American, but that might change if and when I become a dual citizen.
I usually root for the UK in things like the olympics, football etc. but I'm very aware that my kids are more American than British and are likely to put down roots here.
and as an asied, it really annoys me when people come to visit (especially close rellies like my parents, and say "they" all the time about americans, when I wish they would be aware that my kids consider themselves to be american)
I usually root for the UK in things like the olympics, football etc. but I'm very aware that my kids are more American than British and are likely to put down roots here.
and as an asied, it really annoys me when people come to visit (especially close rellies like my parents, and say "they" all the time about americans, when I wish they would be aware that my kids consider themselves to be american)
My kids are half American as their Dad is a USC. The eldest 2 would still say they are English/British if asked, even though they were only 9 and 3 when we moved here 5 years ago. And both say they will move back to the UK when they are adults.
My relatives do that too Lisa, the whole 'us' and 'them' thing it's really irritating.
Apr 27th 2010, 6:51 pm
#9
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Joined: Feb 2009
Location: North Charleston,SC. born in Stockport,UK.
Posts: 10,109
Re: Loyalty....where is yours?
Good point....but really, I am just curious (ok, maybe nosey)Cyndy, yeah, it is funny that my Son feels that way, I don't think that he would have any doubts about protecting the US against any foreign aggressors, he just wanted to know how I would feel about him doing that.
I'm really not sure how I would feel tbh, I call the US home, to my friends/family in the UK, but then I call the UK home, when I am talking to Americans
Apr 27th 2010, 6:54 pm
#10
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Joined: Feb 2009
Location: North Charleston,SC. born in Stockport,UK.
Posts: 10,109
Apr 27th 2010, 6:57 pm
#12
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Apr 27th 2010, 7:00 pm
#13
In the pink
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 3,324
Re: Loyalty....where is yours?
I'm guessing your son was born in 1987/1988. It's interesting he thinks of himself as British. My daughter was born on "US soil" in Germany too, but she was born before 1983. She was not offered British citizenship.
Apr 27th 2010, 7:10 pm
#14
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Re: Loyalty....where is yours?
Wasn't there a thing if you were male and born in Germany, even if to non German parents you had to make sure that they didn't get called up for obligatory national service or whatever they call it. This was some years ago btw.
Apr 27th 2010, 7:12 pm
#15
In the pink
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 3,324
Re: Loyalty....where is yours?
Not if you were born on "US soil," i.e. US military base.