Ameritish

[REDJOHNNYMIKE]

@PazaakPrincess...

 

Amish?

 

You'll get a cute bonet!!!

 

Remember my friend, you are nor American neither British - you are a citizen of the World.

Really? Who would be a citizen of this world? It sucks.

As much as people like to dis my country the whole world sucks in general.

[adamqd]

Ive always been an americaphile, I grew up watching US TV, films, sports, I guess they draw a more exiting picture than what I saw out of my bedroom window. Ive never managed to get there yet, maybe one day. I have a problem with the whole British thing, because we can't celebrate it, as that would be distasteful to our immigrant communities. Besides, it's England who seem to fly the union Jack, but northern Ireland, wales and Scotland hate us, it's so fake.

[Zyfer]

I live have lived in America my entire life, but it isn't home for me. I can't explain it. I just feel like I belong somewhere else. Over the past few months I have had a strong pull towards France. I love the language, the food is very interesting, the architecture, the landscape, the history, it is all so lush and beautiful. America on the other hand is very young, and the history is so construed with political bullcrapt and has a very one-sided view, and while I do not have a problem wih people thinking it, but the founders were not the saints they are made out to be. Another thing that pisses me off is how American's think the French Revolution was a waste. Read Vive La Revolution by Mark Steel and you will understand the awful conditions and life styles the people of France suffered under the aristocrats in France. If I had been treated like them I would have gladly joined the revolution. The slaves that worked on some of the islands were forced to work as long as there was light and if they tried to eat any sugar or potatoes the were tortured horribly. Some methods were forcing them to eat black powder then blowing them up, or cutting there ears off. If the peasents did not pay salt tax there house was forcefully taken, and if a women in the house had an unborn child it was killed in the womb more often than naught.

 

The Revolution helped abolish the idea that you are preordained to a social position in life by God and can not escape it. The revolution influenced the founders of America to adopt capitalism.

 

The war in Iraq is also influencing my desiscion. When France stood up to America and refused to join the war with them America basicly blasted them with all kinds of stupid retaliations such as, " France caused the war do to to them not voting for it." Yeah, that makes perfect sense, they caused war by voting against the war.

 

America thinks it is the police of the world, and they have no more authority than any other country or place on this earth. They claim that America is all about freedom, well why is America trying to force its laws and beliefs on every other country in the world.

 

I do not hate France one bit for voting against the war. The only part of this war I support is our troops, because they are human beings and brave people who have been thrust into a holy war that is a waste. This war is like two kids saying "I am better than you are", "no, I am better than you are." Who gives a crapt.

 

My teacher thinks every country in the world is socialistic. I am not kidding he thinks America is the only right place in the world. He dogs France all the time saying such things as " they are suffering from there backwards socialistic society", and that "they are globalistic for using the Euro". He also says that "the French were cowards in WWII for surrendering so easy". France lost 100,000 people before they surrendered.

 

French history shows that the French aren't cowards they just watch out for themselves, and put there citizen's lives before others. They have suffered contrary to what some people think.

 

Sorry about going off on a tangent about how I hate America's attitude towards the world, but it just agrivates me how America thinks it is up on some pedestal of greatness. Don't worry about patriotism. Have a good time in Britian.

[Totenkopf]

The war in Iraq is also influencing my desiscion. When France stood up to America and refused to join the war with them America basicly blasted them with all kinds of stupid retaliations such as, " France caused the war do to to them not voting for it." Yeah, that makes perfect sense, they caused war by voting against the war.

 

America thinks it is the police of the world, and they have no more authority than any other country or place on this earth. They claim that America is all about freedom, well why is America trying to force its laws and beliefs on every other country in the world.

 

I do not hate France one bit for voting against the war. The only part of this war I support is our troops, because they are human beings and brave people who have been thrust into a holy war that is a waste. This war is like two kids saying "I am better than you are", "no, I am better than you are." Who gives a crapt.

 

French history shows that the French aren't cowards they just watch out for themselves, and put there citizen's lives before others. They have suffered contrary to what some people think.

 

I see that you're a francophone, but do you really believe that France's opposition to either of the gulf wars was rooted in any principle beyond base economic self-interest? Btw, just seeking some clarification on your thinking there.

[JasraLantill]

I think you've misunderstood me, I've lived in the UK for 4 years. I have just gotten my British Citizenship but I am retaining my American Citizenship since you are allowed to have both (who can resist fasttracking the visa lines at the airport on either side?)

 

I was only kidding about the un-patriotic part really, I've never really been "all-american gungho" I'm from New York afterall

 

It just feels weird sometimes when filling out forms now, I didn't expect it at all to be honest. It has been my experience that some (not all) British (though mainly English) love to deride America and Americans. I've always put up with it, since I have to live here, and pretty much just think "well what the Frack do they know about being American? they aren't one". I am fairly proud of the country and the ideals on which it was founded, modern politics and government policies withstanding of course.

 

I think it must be some deep seeded psychological thing though harkening back the revolution.

 

Oh Well I'll Live.

 

I agree with Sabretooth, we are all citizens of the world.

Ah, so you're a fellow colonial! I've lived in the UK since 2001, but haven't given up my American citizenship, just have 'indefinite leave to remain'.

 

Might have to give it up later though...when I get closer to 'pension' age. I've heard that unless I'm a British citizen, I won't qualify to collect a state pension even though I've paid into the system through my paychecks. :s Hopefully, I can become a dual citizen in that case. Even though I don't live in the States, and really have no immediate plans to return, I would hate to give it up completely.

[Zyfer]

I see that you're a francophone, but do you really believe that France's opposition to either of the gulf wars was rooted in any principle beyond base economic self-interest? Btw, just seeking some clarification on your thinking there.

 

Can you blame them though if their reason for staying out of the war was economic? I can't, because a country has to make a desiscion of whether what it is doing is in the best interest of it's people not other countries people. It just wasn't worth France potentialy destroying the economy they built up, and since they use the Euro there economy is linked to other economoies. Isn't it? This wasn't France's fight, heck it wasn't even America's. We should have just let all those middle-east countries fight it out themselves, and not gotten involved. Plus, America's economy is so screwed up already it isn't like getting into a war was going to do more damage than is already done.

 

Ah, so you're a fellow colonial! I've lived in the UK since 2001, but haven't given up my American citizenship, just have 'indefinite leave to remain'.

 

Might have to give it up later though...when I get closer to 'pension' age. I've heard that unless I'm a British citizen, I won't qualify to collect a state pension even though I've paid into the system through my paychecks. :s Hopefully, I can become a dual citizen in that case. Even though I don't live in the States, and really have no immediate plans to return, I would hate to give it up completely.

 

If you give up your citizenship will you ever be able to get it back? And will it be harder to visit America if you give up your citizenship?

 

Err so I'm British now.

 

I'm still American though. Its very confusing.

 

I've taken the 4th off anyway.

 

I'm still not sure what to write on forms. I feel weird only putting British (since I live in the UK) as it feels somehow un-patriotic (ha! MOI? never) not to write American.

 

American-British just doesn't have a good ring to it, the two words just weren't meant to mix me-thinks.

 

And I am curious how expensive was it to move to England? Did you buy all new stuff ( as in electronics since some American electronics don't work in England), or have your stuff flown over? Also, how are you handeling driving on the opposite side of the road?

[PazaakPrincess]

You don't have to give up your American Citizenship to become British (at least not at the moment) though I've been warned that soon they will not allow you have to two passports...which I will also have in the near future mwa ha ha ha!

 

I agree HerbieZ (I don't think I ever disagree with Calamari) Cornwall is the home of choice, unfortunately there is no work to be had at my salary level that will allow me to sit on the coastal path all day and stare at the sea before I go home to play Kotor.

 

Remind me to tell you about the Paedo-Pole man of St.Just btw

 

Actually, living in Britian these days doesn't feel to un-different to living in the US. I've been sorely dissapointed politically and I am not hopeful of a brighter future. Why Blair thinks he would make a suitable emissary to the Middle East not even God could figure out. Gee, shocked that the Palestinians are not happy with the idea? wonder why.

 

The most enjoyable difference has been that there is more greenery in London then in New York and you can actually enjoy the Thames more then you can the Hudson or the East River. Also its easier to travel from the UK and around the UK.

[Totenkopf]

The most enjoyable difference has been that there is more greenery in London then in New York and you can actually enjoy the Thames more then you can the Hudson or the East River. Also its easier to travel from the UK and around the UK.

 

That's where being closer, yet also smaller comes in handy. London/GB is much more convienent as a jump off point to see the rest of europe (saves at least 7-9 hours of transit time from east coast of USA). As I haven't been to England in a long time, has London gotten any cleaner? Most vivid memeory is of all those d@mn pigeons in Trafalgar Sq. Well, that and overcast skies.

[PazaakPrincess]

Totenkopf: Mayor Ken made sure to get rid of the pigeons...actually I prefer them to the tourists as far as cleanliness goes its probably on par with NYC although because of the IRA and now Al-Quida there are far few too many rubbish bins in places where they really need to be. People still use public transport and bushes as their own personal rubbish bins.

 

At least the buses are two tiered still, which I love. We had those when I was a kid in NYC but they got rid of them in the 80s

 

BTW to those above: Officially if you are citizen of the UK you are British even though those of the various countries might prefer to call themselves Scottish or Welsh etc.

[Zyfer]

I looked up Cornwall on Wikipedia. That place is beutiful. Plus, it has a climate I like: 49-53 degrees fahrenheit, and it gets a good amount of rainfall which is something else I like. I like the sun, but prefer a good, slow, cold rain. May have to make a trip out there.

[PazaakPrincess]

Zyfer its a very cool places even in the depth of winter because its on the trade winds so it can be a tad mediterranean during the summer but actually is a bit warmer or at least a bit less harsh during the winter then other places in the country.

[SilentScope001]

Why not call yourself English-American. Or American-English.

[HerbieZ]

I went there with a friend on a semi-holiday a few weeks ago. It was so peaceful and relaxing. Porthtowan is where i stayed around mostly but i did all the touristy stuff around there and had the legendary Hungrymans at Smokey Joes.