Rant about Nationalities.

[A Letter From Janelle]

So I was just thinking:

"If I'm born here in America, I am American. However, my ancestors come from many different places...So therefore I am that nationality as well, inherited."
Statement is correct, yes?

Ok now, thinking this :
My boyfriend is from Ukraine. Of course he's Ukrainian. He moved to the United States and became a citizen. To most people (including me) , Yes, he would be considered American because he became a citizen.

But at the same time I think this:
But how would I add a nationality to oneself? It simply cannot be done. Just because I'd move to a different country doesn't make me that nationality.
...Or could I be wrong?

My mind contradicts me, so I'm looking for other people's responses to the matter.
stressed

[Rovati]

A Letter From Janelle

Just because I'd move to a different country doesn't make me that nationality.

in my opinion you have to love the country to become a citizen



ethnicity


Nationality

[A Letter From Janelle]

Rovati

A Letter From Janelle

Just because I'd move to a different country doesn't make me that nationality.

in my opinion you have to love the country to become a citizen



ethnicity


Nationality

That's one way to look at it. I agree, there's a difference between ethnic groups and nationality.....but most times it has such a fine line.....


But.. I live here in America.. and I LOVE Finland. ...But I can't be considered a citizen...just by sitting here on my American couch on American Soil. crying

[Little Motel]

"Ethnicity" and "nationality" are two completely different things.

Nationality is whatever country of which you're a citizen. I can be German but if I live in America then my nationality is American.

Ethnicity is your ancestral roots.
Unless you're an actual Native American, your ethnicity cannot be "American".

[Rovati]

A Letter From Janelle

But.. I live here in America.. and I LOVE Finland. ...But I can't be considered a citizen...just by sitting here on my American couch on American Soil. crying

hehe yeah . i meant you love the country but you have to live in it, work in it, fight for it.
say you love other country but if you're not live there you are considered a "Turist".

[A Letter From Janelle]

Rovati

A Letter From Janelle

But.. I live here in America.. and I LOVE Finland. ...But I can't be considered a citizen...just by sitting here on my American couch on American Soil. crying

hehe yeah . i meant you love the country but you have to live in it, work in it, fight for it.
say you love other country but if you're not live there you are considered a "Turist".

Ah I gotcha. I'm quite the literal person... So I thought of it a different way.

[Nettaiya]

Little Motel

"Ethnicity" and "nationality" are two completely different things.

Nationality is whatever country of which you're a citizen.

Took the words right out of my mouth. Nationality is very cut and dry as far as I'm concerned.

You can change your nationality by renouncing your previous citizenship and getting a new one.

Alternatively, you can be "Finnish at heart."

[Born Backwards]

Little Motel

"Ethnicity" and "nationality" are two completely different things.

Nationality is whatever country of which you're a citizen. I can be German but if I live in America then my nationality is American.

Ethnicity is your ancestral roots.
Unless you're an actual Native American, your ethnicity cannot be "American".

[kuriheartsyou]

I would have assumed that your nationality is the country you're born in neutral

Like, I'm American because I was born here but I have ancestral roots all over the world so my ethnicity is mixed and jumbled.

[Offizier Wolfgang]

I was born in the United States, but I could never claim to be a true American, but rather, a descendent of Europe. I'm part German and Irish. As far as I know, I have no Native American blood in me.

[A Letter From Janelle]

Jono Blue

I was born in the United States, but I could never claim to be a true American, but rather, a descendent of Europe. I'm part German and Irish. As far as I know, I have no Native American blood in me.

See, I'd agree with you!
Being a wee bit Irish, Scottish, Swedish, Italian, and French... I don't think there is anything but to call me a descendant of Europe. razz
edit: But I'd still consider being an American citizen, to be American.....

[A Letter From Janelle]

kuriheartsyou

I would have assumed that your nationality is the country you're born in neutral

Like, I'm American because I was born here but I have ancestral roots all over the world so my ethnicity is mixed and jumbled.

That is a way to look at it.. But often times the words are misused and confused for one another.
I'd agree. Nationality is American... but ethnicity and ancestry would be something way different, assuming that you're a descendant of Europe (or a different continent).

[Not British Just Gay]

Jono Blue

I was born in the United States, but I could never claim to be a true American, but rather, a descendent of Europe. I'm part German and Irish. As far as I know, I have no Native American blood in me.

You are an American. Nearly everyone in the US is a descendant of somewhere else, you are not unique. Do you really think that non-aboriginal Australians and non-first-nation Canadians claim not to be Australian and Canadian? Stop denying your nationality.

[Ping of Death]

Nationality means you belong to a certain nation by virtue of your birth or if you're a naturalized citizen. You OP and your boyfriend are Americans by law. Whatever your roots are have nothing to do with your nationality. You're confusing two different things. You can't be a Finnish national because you're not born there and you're not a naturalized citizen. What you claim as your European roots is called ethnicity.

[Offizier Wolfgang]

Not British Just Gay

Jono Blue

I was born in the United States, but I could never claim to be a true American, but rather, a descendent of Europe. I'm part German and Irish. As far as I know, I have no Native American blood in me.

You are an American. Nearly everyone in the US is a descendant of somewhere else, you are not unique. Do you really think that non-aboriginal Australians and non-first-nation Canadians claim not to be Australian and Canadian? Stop denying your nationality.

I never made claims that I'm unique. I won't accept this nationality.