Why are people rude enough to tell someone that they are not patriotic to the country they've moved to if they still identify with where they are from? My husband and I live in Philadelphia, PA. I am American and he is Haitian. He's a citizen, and very often people ask him where he is from, since he lived in Haiti until he was 17 (has an accent), and is now 33. He speaks perfect English, but it's his 3rd language after Kreyol and French. More than once people have told him he's an American, and they get angry. Why??? If I moved to another country, I would still be an American, even if I became a citizen there. Or they say, "No you are an African American." He's neither African, nor American. He's 1/4 French and black and Taino mix. That's not African American. I find this extremely rude. Why do people care? Has anyone else had this experience?
2006-09-18 02:34:44 · 5 answers · asked by GreenEyedSista 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
brevejunkie: My husband moved because he was a TEENAGER! He had no choice. He initially didn't want to leave. Unlike what the media portrays about Haiti, he did not grow up in poverty or in a dangerous area. Why wouldn't anyone love the country they are from? He is a citizen because he made a life here. All of his immediate family is here and we are married and have a child. Your point makes no sense.
2006-09-18 06:08:38 · update #1
I'm an Icelander living in the Czech Republic. I have not experienced this problem. The people here realize that I'm an Icelander, not a Czech, and they don't expect me to be patriotic to the Czech Republic. They want me to follow the rules and etiquette of their society of course, but they don't try to change me into a Czech or get me to see myself as one and I haven't heard of any foreigner experiencing that here.
I agree with you that it's silly to get angry over him not considering himself an American. Those people sound rude. He lives in the US, but I don't see why he should turn his back on his roots or the country he grew up in. After all, he is a Haitian and not an American. It would be a different story if he was born in the US.
2006-09-18 02:45:07 · answer #1 · answered by undir 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i do not think that it matters, leave people in their ignorance. i am caucasian, and live in europe, i was born in england, then moved to italy then back to england again, and if i was in italy they said i was english, in england, they never guess where i am from, and start with it. they gather that just because i am caucasian i am european without a doubt. why? i could be from anywhere! people will always be like this. the best thing to do is to completely ignore them, or immediately correct their mistakes.
xxx
2006-09-18 02:41:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2006-09-18 06:42:41 · answer #3 · answered by gw123456 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If a person loves his native country so much, why did he renounce his citizenship?
2006-09-18 04:29:02 · answer #4 · answered by brevejunkie 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, I had the same experience.
2006-09-18 02:39:10 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋