Why do people get so exited about having US citizenship and feel proud of their new..

[MartinAub]

How about a tiny one for starters?
San Marino. Founded about 360 AD.

 

[aguacate1]

Brand-New citizen, and proud to be!

Interesting thread! I just became a US citizen yesterday and am still glowing from the excitement. I love the US and have loved it since I became exposed to it 15 years ago. My main reasons are:

1. The culture here is open, friendly, fair, and transparent (compared with my old country).

2.. In my old country, my religious belief is being persecuted and people are beaten to death for practicing it. I feel very fortunate to be able to live in the US and free from fear and danger.

3. There is always some discrimination, but it doesn't bother me. There are many forms of discrimination: age, gender, race, weight, etc., and race/origin is just one of them. I frankly think weight, class, and age discrimination are much worse. Plus, in this decade, it actually makes it easier to find a job if you are a minority (granted you have permission to work).

4. There is the rule of law. In my old country, the executive branch of the government and the judicial branch are just one thing, and the law is mostly ignored. My path to US citizenship was not easy, as I was stuck in the FBI name check process for more than 4 years. I ended up suing the US government and the FBI to speed it up. I did not have the money to hire a lawyer, so I just filed myself. This would have been unthinkable in my old country. Here ordinary citizens can use the law as a weapon against the government's inefficiency.

Overall I am extremely pleased to become a US citizen. I love this country and admire its short but courageous history. I will always have my old country and culture with me, but I embrace my new adopted country warmly.

 

[Jackolantern]

Hmm,

I always wonder why much older democracies (still in existance) never get credit for that. Gotta rule out the Swiss since there it was litrally mostly only for man to vote.

It was less than 100 years ago that all women in the US got the right to vote. A few states allowed women to vote before that, but it took a Constitutional amendment in 1920 to make all states allow them to vote. And less than 50 years ago, black citizens had to endure intimidation when going to register to vote, in addition to having to pass elaborate "literacy tests" which required them to read complicated passages of legalese and they would be marked as having failed if they mispronounced anything (but whites registering would be given a simple sentence to read), and the likelihood of being fired from their job for registering.

 

[Carlart]

How about a tiny one for starters?
San Marino. Founded about 360 AD.

Was John McCain one of that country's founding fathers?


back to the OP's old question, I have to say that I am not only proud to be a new American.... I'm even more proud of the fact that I am now a new dual national! (but I guess this depends on a lot of factors, one of which is that both countries have long-standing friendly relationships?)

 

[warlord]

The following fact will remain true regardless of whether you acquired a new citizenship or not.

You will always be looked at as an outsider.

You still gone have your foreign accent and because of your hard accent, Americans will always ask you where do you originally come from? unless of course you come to the state at a young age and don’t have different accent …in that case the question will be about your parents not you.

You will always look for your background culture to associate with (Indian, Morocco, turkey, Iranian , African, chines etc), this is due to that fact that you can’t intermingle with people who were born in the USA ..ahhh that strong accent again!!

I can see that acquiring a us citizenship can have some benefit as describe above, but what I can’t understand is some people uttering a word such as “proud American” really? Do Americans see it that way too!!

1. I never have been looked at as an outsider even when I was on a Green Card. Everyone still assumed I was already an American

2. Never had a foreign accent, but I know people from Alaska or Minnessota or Hawaii or New Jersey seem to get picked on from time to time, oh wait they're Americans.

3. People ask everyone where they originally come from regardless if they are native born US citizens or foreigners who moved here. I got the same in my home country.

4. I never look to mingle with people from my home country. I mixed in perfectly fine, in fact in my homeland people always classified me as an American even there.

I'm now a proud American because I finally have a nationality I am proud of. I hated mentioning to people before what my nationality was, now I can without any embarassment say I am an American...

 

[schandrag]

I want to be a citizen to be able to participate in the political process vote, run for school board, etc.
Also for the ease of visa free travel to many countries
Employment with US govt is not coveted in my field
As for discrimination. I cannot generalize but in my personal experience I have never really felt discriminated for sporting a non majority concentration of melanin in my skin, or speaking english with a non american accent. I really love the country and obtaining citizenship allows me to fully contibute to and beneift from this great nation.

 

[Bobsmyth]

[/COLOR]
Why would you shun people from your own country? Would you not do so again if suppose you immigrate to another country? I have noticed this kind of complexes mainly amongst people of south asian orgins in which they do not want to associate at all with people of their own culture/faith/race etc.
I think that tells a lot about a person. Even though every one may have a different reasons for doing so. I have also noticed that people from South Asian origins tend to pick up on their own people negatively.

That reminds me of a story of a work colleague from India who for this first time in the US (landed in Chicago) noticed that other Indians(already living in US) were rude and not helpful to her. Her impression was that they saw themselves as higher or better than Indians from the home country.

 

[Vorpal]

Correct. very much so. I personally came as a student and stayed with an Indian professor where my relatives dropped me off. To get of their back. That is what established ones did - not all do it though. But I have noticed that newcomers are frowned and laughed upon. I also met several established Indians in parties where they would boss on me, letting me know how superior and established they were. They really do look down upon newcomers.
If had a recorder and video at all times - that Professor would not work in the University if he had any sense of shame at all. He basically would not let me out of his house, bully me, had me drink hard liquor, and I basically went hungry in his house. I remember walking 3-4 miles in that rural landsacpe in winter to get to dairy queen to get something to eat. And I had to make the excuse to this professor that I was going jogging in the neighborhood! It was a small town and I had never been outside in India on my own. I was scared and numb minded. Then this professor would watch porn movies and "invite" me to watch it - it was so surreal - his 2 young daughters aged 6 or more - not more then 10 for sure and his wife were sleeping 2 doors next and he went on explaining acts in the porn movies. I still carry the mental scars from those 10 days or so.
Then he would come out in the University and and he would act totally different - he put on his nice face, a nice social - sociology professor!
Since he was a professor- my relatives "needed him."
I remember various incidences even though passing of time has diminished their memories. For example - this professor would say in 1971 India an dpakistan went to war over bangladesh and then he said "indian soldiers raped bangladeshi women." (the professor was driving the van and I was sitting in the back seat.)Then as he uttered those words he looked in the driving mirror, smiled and looked at me happily, making eye contact!! There was his wife and his daughters in the van besides my female cousin! This man was a creep.
I was his victim, the man was smart, he would act totally nice when in front of others. Even one of his own relative lived with him and was "invited to stay in his house" but would not do so as he came to know the "real professor." He also tried to tell this man's real nature to his uncle but they didn't believe him either! So he totally avoided the man.

I don't even know what to say about that. I hope you didn't let this man's emotional abuse have any permanent effects on you.

 

[GhantaBro]

Why do people get so exited about having US citizenship and feel proud of their new status?

Be honest and answer the question. Here is my take on the subject
Foreign born People want the usa citizenship roughly for the following reasons.
1.Traveling, using the us passport will be much less stressful (no visa for most western European countries and a few other)

2. for employment purpose with in a us government organization

The following fact will remain true regardless of whether you acquired a new citizenship or not.
You will always be looked at as an outsider.
You still gone have your foreign accent and because of your hard accent, Americans will always ask you where do you originally come from? unless of course you come to the state at a young age and don’t have different accent …in that case the question will be about your parents not you.
You will always look for your background culture to associate with (Indian, Morocco, turkey, Iranian , African, chines etc), this is due to that fact that you can’t intermingle with people who were born in the USA ..ahhh that strong accent again!!
I can see that acquiring a us citizenship can have some benefit as describe above, but what I can’t understand is some people uttering a word such as “proud American” really? Do Americans see it that way too!!

Some people are not selfish and they think about their parents and family backhome... they want to get their parents here eventhough their accents are picked upon... and what is wrong with that.... they make fun of all kinds of accents here like african american's accent, redneck's accent... and above all you know that this is the country where you can work hard and get to the position that you can never envision yourself backhome (if you are an average Joe)... yeah if you are the cream of the crop and you think you are better off in your country then why waste time here... USA is not for you. We should be grateful to this country... if you are worthy enough, not many folks will make fun of you... they will respect you for your deeds!!!

 

[CrossHairs]

Ok, I'm English, newly dual-citizen and have to say that I don't feel proud to be an American, but then I don't feel proud to be English - we are mostly born with little to zero patriotism (outside football and rugby).

Why did I apply? Largely commitment to my adopted home- after 10 years, it seemed the right thing to do - and my (US) wife. Increased job opportunity is a big draw - yea, now I can apply for aerospace jobs that require citizenship - and my almost daily immigration inspection on the way to work is a lot easier as a citizen. I can already travel most everywhere on my EU passport so I think one of the biggest reasons to be a citizen that I've read on here is not that important to me.

Sorry if my reasons may feel undeserving to some of you, but we all have our reasons.

Tangodancer,

You have valid reasons. Some people here "judge" others' reasons.

There is no reason to judge. Everyone who files N-400 has his/her own reason as to why they file the N-400.

To each his/her own.

 

[usaangel2006]

Why do people get so exited about having US citizenship and feel proud of their new status?

Be honest and answer the question. Here is my take on the subject
Foreign born People want the usa citizenship roughly for the following reasons.
1.Traveling, using the us passport will be much less stressful (no visa for most western European countries and a few other)

2. for employment purpose with in a us government organization

The following fact will remain true regardless of whether you acquired a new citizenship or not.
You will always be looked at as an outsider.
You still gone have your foreign accent and because of your hard accent, Americans will always ask you where do you originally come from? unless of course you come to the state at a young age and don’t have different accent …in that case the question will be about your parents not you.
You will always look for your background culture to associate with (Indian, Morocco, turkey, Iranian , African, chines etc), this is due to that fact that you can’t intermingle with people who were born in the USA ..ahhh that strong accent again!!
I can see that acquiring a us citizenship can have some benefit as describe above, but what I can’t understand is some people uttering a word such as “proud American” really? Do Americans see it that way too!!

I saw your profile and I respect your thoughts but I am totally going to disagree with U we all came from some where ...America is a land of immgrants every body has a race even so called whites came from some where ....either irish or italian or what ever ....I strongly sugguest that take an American History book and go through through every country has races like in India there are so many races that do not get along well witheach other but still 1.1 million peopl are living there so I strongly sugguest come out this black hole concept and living the American dream...America is not bed or roses...it is diff to live in America and diff to leave America...Thanks in advance for reading this BS.....

 

[yourfirstname]

I saw your profile and I respect your thoughts but I am totally going to disagree with U we all came from some where ...America is a land of immgrants every body has a race even so called whites came from some where ....either irish or italian or what ever ....I strongly sugguest that take an American History book and go through through every country has races like in India there are so many races that do not get along well witheach other but still 1.1 million peopl are living there so I strongly sugguest come out this black hole concept and living the American dream...America is not bed or roses...it is diff to live in America and diff to leave America...Thanks in advance for reading this BS.....

Its not 1.1 million people....its 1.1 billion

 

[del0175]

I left my country to live in the US because it is much better than my native country and definitely among the best places in the world to live. I want to be "American." And that is why USC. If I loved my native country so much I wouldn't be here. Anyone who does not love USA and loves their native country more, go back. It is best for you and best for America.

 

[CrossHairs]

Everyone comes here for their own reasons and to them they are valid.

Exactly. EVERYONE COMES FOR THEIR OWN REASON. and THEY ARE ALL VALID. After all, you have to apply N-400, and it has to be APPROVED by the uscis, so they are all valid.


Just stop saying "Your reason is not as valid as mine". Dont judge, coz you are not appointed as one!

 

[rick92]

Why do people get so exited about having US citizenship and feel proud of their new status?

Be honest and answer the question. Here is my take on the subject
Foreign born People want the usa citizenship roughly for the following reasons.
1.Traveling, using the us passport will be much less stressful (no visa for most western European countries and a few other)

2. for employment purpose with in a us government organization

The following fact will remain true regardless of whether you acquired a new citizenship or not.
You will always be looked at as an outsider.
You still gone have your foreign accent and because of your hard accent, Americans will always ask you where do you originally come from? unless of course you come to the state at a young age and don’t have different accent …in that case the question will be about your parents not you.
You will always look for your background culture to associate with (Indian, Morocco, turkey, Iranian , African, chines etc), this is due to that fact that you can’t intermingle with people who were born in the USA ..ahhh that strong accent again!!
I can see that acquiring a us citizenship can have some benefit as describe above, but what I can’t understand is some people uttering a word such as “proud American” really? Do Americans see it that way too!!

I am really wondering what country you are from ???

Well, let me give you some insight.

Being a US citizen is about being free to say what you like, feel, think, love, regardless of your color and shape, without the fear of being persecuted by some two bit dictator or govt employee.

Being an American, has nothing to do with being a US citizen, being an american is an ideal of achieving your best with the best. You are your only enemy here.-

So, my friend, shape up, start thinking, get some ideas, and take some action.