Is a Naturalized American Citizen an American to You?

Question

Would you consider a person who is naturalized an American? If "yes", under what conditions?

The thing is while the law says (s)he is, the media always likes to emphacise foreign birth. You always read things like- "German-born", or "Polish Immigrant" long after a person is naturalized. It almost never calls such a person "American". Does this reflect a deeply ingrained tendency in the American psyche that an American is someone who is "born and raised" in the USA?

People in the USA also like to ask one " where are you from originally?" and almost never "what is your citizenship?"

I would like to know an honest ( non-PC answer)

Answer 1

Like it or not, America is a melting pot.

Any American citizen is an American.

No family, aside from native Americans, is not a descendant from an immigrant.

I can't answer for the media, though. They are all half-wits that couldn't get a real job...

Answer 2

You may be an American, but to be culturally American is a different thing. Many people who were born here either know the history or don't, but those who are naturalized Americans do not understand the history of the country. The English have two ways of identifying themselves. They are either British or English. However, the term British applies to not just those of English heritage or ethnicity, but those who are citizens and Scottish, Irish, Welsh, African, etc. The United States is no different a melting pot than England. The term British is the political identity of the British people.

How different is that from the political identity of the United States of America? We are Americans, but I would argue that is our cultural identity. To be a United States citizen is our political identity. Just because you have a political identity as a U.S. citizen, naturalized or not, does not make you culturally American. Do you know the history of this country as encompassed by all those who ethnically are here? What do you know about the Italians, Irish, Germans, Chinese, Native Americans and African Americans? What do you know about the political system's evolution? Each of these groups have influenced the culture of this country. To understand that, and to know it. I believe it makes one an American, and just calling yourself an American because you are naturalized or born here does not make you culturally one. There is a reason those who are naturalized have to take a test to understand what their pursuit of citizenship means. The history of this country is covered during this test.

Answer 3

I remember growing up and being in school where I learned about all of these wonderful nationalities that my friends identified with, I would go home and ask my dad every week what nationality we were and my dad would calmly say "well son WE are Americans." That had a profound impact upon me and to this day I get pissed when people say "I'm an Irish-American," et. al. because that hyphen makes you different from me and I say Bull...oney! Your ancestors might have been from Austria, Poland, Germany etc. But they were SMART ENOUGH to come over here (becoming naturalized) and so although they were hyphenated for a while, you my friend are an American. Then you can say "with English heritage" that's fine.

STOP MAKING YOURSELVES LESS THAN WHAT YOU ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm done, I'll just step off of my soapbox and go sit down now.

Answer 4

Yes, I believe a naturalized American citizen is American. My ethnicity is Chinese, but I was born and raised in the USA. That would make me an American. What I hate is that people always ask me, "Where are you from?" and when I say "Texas" they say, "No, where are you REALLY from?" It is very annoying. Some people who are born and raised in the USA still aren't looked upon as Americans.
I'm sorry about my ranting.

Answer 5

Being "American" has no longer something to do with having citizenship or no longer. that's approximately pondering your self a factor of yank society and being familiar with the custom and values of the united states. lots of people who're US electorate are no longer human beings; people who have been born interior the US (and for this reason, have citizenship) yet grew up overseas won't have any connection to the united states in any respect. in addition, many human beings without US citizenship are American; immigrants are generally greater patriotic than organic-born electorate. different than the constitutional standards for the presidency, the regulation does not distinguish between naturalized electorate and organic-born ones. The shape is slightly unusual, in that regard.

Answer 6

Being American is one thing, and being a Native Ameri-
can is another. In history the only Native american are
the indians who were there long before Columbus dis-
covered America.

Answer 7

I was amazed at all of the questions on the tests those who sought to become naturalized citizens had to learn.
How hard they had to work to become a US citizen, and how seriously they took the rights and responsibilities after they took the oath of citizenship.
It made me think in some cases they are even more true to the spirit this country is supposed to embody than many who were born here and have become complacent.

Answer 8

Not unless your an American Indian your were once an immigrant. You had to start somewhere. So yes.

Answer 9

anyone who takes the time and effort to become a LEGAL citizen is an american in my book.