Unpopular Opinion, maybe offensive? 

I was born and raised in Africa, I am still in Africa. My family have been in Africa for generations, but I am most definitely NOT a European, even though I am white.

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Unpopular Opinion, maybe offensive? 

@fatboy Some people from other countries say I can't call myself American despite my family being here for generations. They say I'm "European" instead as well which seems silly to me.

re: Unpopular Opinion, maybe offensive? 

@swiley @fatboy if you were born here you're an american :youmusip:

re: Unpopular Opinion, maybe offensive? 

@icedquinn @fatboy @swiley My thought on the matter is that you can become a [Place]ian in 3 ways, and all remain valid:
* Have substantial ancestry from Place, especially 50% or more
* Be born in Place
* Live in Place for a substantial time (10+ years), becoming part of the community

Elon Musk is a great famous person case study: He is European by ancestry, (South) African by birth and residency, and American by residency.

re: Unpopular Opinion, maybe offensive? 

@icedquinn @fatboy @swiley Whether Elon Musk is Canadian is a bit harder to figure out.

His mother, first wife, and current wife are all Canadian, he's a Canadian citizen, and he seems to be involved in Canadian social circles.

However, he only resided there for 2 years, and there's a wide overlap between the Canadian social circles he's involved in and American social circles.

re: Unpopular Opinion, maybe offensive? 

@urusan i think american culture is such that if you get the card you are american :blobcatverified:

the IRS definitely sees it that way, esp. when they want your overseas money. :blobcatgiggle2:

@fatboy @swiley
@icedquinn @urusan @fatboy @swiley that's basically all to American citizenship. Do you have the card? Was your public school inadequate? Have you consumed predominately corn-derived products daily for 5+ years? If you got 2/3 you may as well be American.

@bograt @fatboy @swiley @icedquinn But corn is so tasty! Especially when processed into extruded food products!

If that's wrong, I don't want to be right!

:-P

re: Unpopular Opinion, maybe offensive? 

@icedquinn @fatboy @swiley It is certainly convenient that the US is one of the only countries that taxes you based on citizenship instead of location...and has treaties with essentially every country on this issue.

I have a close relative who has had a lifelong green card, and everyone considers him American. He's also been in the country for decades.

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