Where do you stand?

[RICHARD]

I have thought about what I have done to earn my citizenship.

Nothing.

I do get on my knees often and realize that I do live in fairly decent country.

I do go on jags of being patriotic, sing the National Anthem before sporting events, look after my fellow man, try to be a civic minded person, learn another trivial fact about my country.


I have asked the security guards to fix the flag that flys over the parking lot on a windy game.

I know most of the rules concerning my flag. how to fold it, treat it when it becomes unflyable.

I didn't do anything to get my citizenship.

But I try to keep in good stead regarding the laws and the way it's run.

I respect the office of the country, but not the fools in the chairs.

There are many things l love about my country and many that I dislike.

I cringe on the days when I hear another stupid story that happens in my country-
I really cringe should it come out of Cah Lee Fuh Nee Ah..
But that goes with the territory.

I'll fight and probably die for my country, But I may as well for She has treated me right for all these years.

Have I earned my citizenship? Probably not.

Which should make anyone entering the country, anyone who desires to wrap themselves in my flag, more apt to follow the rules.

I cannot earn my citizenship, but they can.

That is why I feel oh, so lucky that I didn't have to.

[lizbud]

Richard,

We all earn our citizenship every day by staying involved with what
goes on in the political arena in our name. By voting & speaking up we
may well prove lucky enough to live in a free society.

[smokey the elder]

IMO we earn our citizenship by complying with the laws of the land, paying taxes, voting, performing civic duties like jury duty, volunteering, becoming politically active, exercising our freedoms. But I'll admit we are definitely at an advantage because our ancestors did the legwork of becoming naturalized US citizens. During all eras of American history there were immigrant groups at the bottom of the social totem pole. In the antebellum East and South it was the Irish. In the post-Civil War West it was the Chinese railroad workers. They worked hard, were abused, but sucked it up, and made a better life for their kids. 'Nuff said...

[Edwina's Secretary]

I still have my FM3 from when I worked in Mexico. Oddly, I did not have
\to go through such an onerous process as described.

Read this thread..."those people" is not a phrase of respect....

My grandparents came here for the same reason. But...and I am just asking to further the discussion....what WERE the requirements then? Does anyone know? I know the health one, but other than $$$ what did you have to do?

[lizbud]

I was curious also. I found this link that contains general & specific
requirements for immigrants. It also has a history of the immigration
laws & requirements. In the general requirements is one that requires
the person to be able to read, write & speak english. I think that one
alone would cut out a lot of people.


http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/services/natz/index.htm

[BOBS DAD]

I think that many of the posts here miss the point! Americans - Old and newly immigrated came here "legally" for a better life for themselves, but mostly their kids. And of course, there has always been some level of illegality or questionable admittance, but those who came here under those conditions (along with those who came legally) "DEMANDED" nothing.

They felt lucky enough to be here and did whatever they could to stay and gain eventual citizenship. They demanded nothing because they felt they were owed nothing. It irks me to see so many people who are here illegally to stand up and demand to be recognised (??? - one might think they would want to keep a low profile) and be given the rights (in some instances, exceed the rights) of naturalized citizens!

[Edwina's Secretary]

I think that many of the posts here miss the point! Americans - Old and newly immigrated came here "legally" for a better life for themselves, but mostly their kids. And of course, there has always been some level of illegality or questionable admittance, but those who came here under those conditions (along with those who came legally) "DEMANDED" nothing.

They felt lucky enough to be here and did whatever they could to stay and gain eventual citizenship. They demanded nothing because they felt they were owed nothing. It irks me to see so many people who are here illegally to stand up and demand to be recognised (??? - one might think they would want to keep a low profile) and be given the rights (in some instances, exceed the rights) of naturalized citizens!

But..."demanding" is something everyone does more of than in the good old days....whenever that was. But to your point....what about Emma Goldman for example? In the early 1900's there were many politically active immigrants.

It is interesting to read in the link Lizbud posted, the process has never been "pure." And of course, those rules are for citizenship not immigration.

I thought the point of the thread to be....immigration reform. It has become a discussion of the behavior of "those people."