My wife was born in Jamaica but has lived in the U.S. for about 20 years (college for a couple of years, then got married to me.) She became a citizen only last fall. She finally went ahead with it for a couple of reasons. The right to vote was one. After 9-11, in general, things didn't get any better for people who were not U.S. citizens. Some not even very overt. She is a public school teacher. E-mails are often sent to all employees for certain opportunities. Sometimes being a U.S. citizen is a requirement.
When travelling abroad, she will be able to stand in the U.S. citizens lines now. The people in charge of the other lines never seemed very friendly to her.
She was a very good sprinter in college. Not sure how it all works, but I think our kids (should they by chance actually grow up to be very talented runners) could actually compete for either Jamaica or the U.S.
Well... I have my friend just became a US citizen. They[the US agents] took his green card, but he still carries his BNO [British National Overseas] passport. I don't think it is legal, but just don't say a word.
BTW, I have my green card, a BNO passport, and the Hong Kong ID card.
Yes.. some jobs require a US citizenship, e.g. government job.
Yes.. some jobs require a US citizenship, e.g. government job.
Not necessarily all government jobs, but in general, many that would require a security clearance. This is not as important as it used to be (at least in the military) since the security requirements for many jobs have been downgraded since the Walker incident (a U.S. sailor who spied and recruited his son to spy for the former USSR, if I remember correctly).
Am I the only one who thinks this is pretty sad? Or is everyone else so jaded and cynical that they really don't think voting is worth a damn? Do I have to break out the "people fought and died for the right to vote" bit? That we'd all still have BNO passports if a few folks didn't get upset about their inability to vote?
Eh, well, I would have added that as a citizen you at least get the right to a trial before you're thrown in jail for ever, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore anyway.
Comments
Originally posted by Existence
You get to vote people like Bush out of office.
He definitely gets my vote [out of office] come 2004!
I saw a bumper sticker on a local artist's door at the recent ArtWalk here in downtown LA that read ....
Anyone but Bush
2004
There's no real benefit in becoming a citizen?
When travelling abroad, she will be able to stand in the U.S. citizens lines now. The people in charge of the other lines never seemed very friendly to her.
She was a very good sprinter in college. Not sure how it all works, but I think our kids (should they by chance actually grow up to be very talented runners) could actually compete for either Jamaica or the U.S.
I'm sure way more than anyone wanted to hear.
My $.02.
Originally posted by badtz
There's no real benefit in becoming a citizen?
well, here's a few that i can think of:[list=1][*]social security[*]welfare[*]jury duty [*]voting[*]???[*]profit[/list=1]
Originally posted by thuh Freak
well, here's a few that i can think of:[list=1][*]social security[*]welfare[*]jury duty [*]voting[*]???[*]profit[/list=1]
I'll take a #6, hold the 3.
BTW, I have my green card, a BNO passport, and the Hong Kong ID card.
Yes.. some jobs require a US citizenship, e.g. government job.
Originally posted by thuh Freak
well, here's a few that i can think of:[list=1][*]social security[*]welfare[*]jury duty [*]voting[*]???[*]profit[/list=1]
what benefits would there be for social security, welfare, profit?
Originally posted by Kenneth
Yes.. some jobs require a US citizenship, e.g. government job.
Not necessarily all government jobs, but in general, many that would require a security clearance. This is not as important as it used to be (at least in the military) since the security requirements for many jobs have been downgraded since the Walker incident (a U.S. sailor who spied and recruited his son to spy for the former USSR, if I remember correctly).
Originally posted by Existence
You get to vote [...]
Originally posted by badtz
There's no real benefit in becoming a citizen?
Am I the only one who thinks this is pretty sad? Or is everyone else so jaded and cynical that they really don't think voting is worth a damn? Do I have to break out the "people fought and died for the right to vote" bit? That we'd all still have BNO passports if a few folks didn't get upset about their inability to vote?
Eh, well, I would have added that as a citizen you at least get the right to a trial before you're thrown in jail for ever, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore anyway.