"What makes someone American is not just blood or birth, but allegiance to our f

1. 65

   alexandriaruthkposted 12 years ago

   "What makes someone American is not just blood or birth, but allegiance to our founding principles"
   
   This is according to Pres Obama re : speech on immigration reform.
   
   Agree or disagree?

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2. 59

   MickSposted 12 years ago

   To be an American, you need to be born in North or South America, or on one of the offshore islands that geographers consider to be part of the American continents.

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      peeplesposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      You saw this was in the United States Political and Social Issues section right? I understand that Americans are multiple areas, but this is in the USA section.

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      MickSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      No, I read the question, not the smal print, the context of any question should be apparent from the main subject line.

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3. 71

   sarascaposted 12 years ago

   Agree AND disagree.
   
   (1.) If you want a good answer to what makes someone American, read Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler regarding his views on what makes someone German.  It is blood/birth AND allegiance.
   
   (2.)  If the definition of "American" was to rely solely on someone's allegiance to the United States of America, a large portion of the country's current residents would likely be deported for failing the "test of Americanism."
   
   (3.) If the question is quoted verbatim, don't make the mistake of thinking that Obama said it's either/or (blood/birth OR allegiance).  The statement says it's "not just" one, "but" also the other...meaning BOTH at the same time.
   
   (4.) NO politician, particularly our current President, should make any utterances regarding the founding principles of the United States of America, since they have polluted, twisted, perverted, and utterly distorted the founding principles of our country to suit their own political agendas.  (Take the gun debate, for example...which has NO connection whatsoever with the "founding principles" of the U.S. other than to change them.)

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      cfinposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Are you really using Hitlers definition of Nationality. You do understand that he was evil.....right? Also, if you need clood birth and allegiance, you would need to be a native Americans tribal member. Germans were actually there for 000's of years.

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      number2sonposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You have got to be kidding me!  You're actually advocating reading Mein Kampf! 
      
      To cfin, I agree with you, and he sure was!

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4. 64

   cfinposted 12 years ago

   What is American..... founding principles....... by the founding fathers...... Founding fathers were Europeans...... telling people in 2013 what makes them American?...... Don't you think in 2013 it is time to set forth a new goal. It's quite hard to stay in line with principles crated hundreds of years ago, by people who had no electricity and needed to kill to survive.
   
   What I think makes someone American is not relevant. I am Irish living in the USA for the time being with my American wife and child who often ask why I am treated so badly. 28k later, 3 green cards, and I watch on as people call me illegal, just because I am not from here. There are greater issues at hand. Maybe you should start by asking who is not American. Then go from there.
   
   And no I was never illegal!

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   number2sonposted 12 years ago

   If you're an American, it doesn't make you a good American.  If you are born in America, you are technically American.  However, to be a good American, you have to have allegiance to the country.

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6. 60

   ib radmastersposted 12 years ago

   This is not a question but it is a statement.
   Citizenship is the basic requirement.

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      number2sonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes.

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7. 52

   Chinachimoposted 11 years ago

   Nothing makes us Americans, we are emigrants from Europe who killed the Americans in order to have their land.

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