Temporary_User

I have a weird thought for all of you...
Im Canadian-American; exactly like Mexican-American.
I was born in the states but both of my parents and everyone else in my whole extended family was born in Canada.
Of course once you get up to my great great grandparents and so on they're from other countries.
I was talking to one of my friends one day and he said his parents were born in Scotland, so he was Scottish. Then he made the comment and you're American. I told him my parents were born in Canada so I'm Canadian. The conversation kind of ended then, but got me thinking who was more Canadian. Of course I'm not asking who was more Canadian literally, because I don't even know what that means. to be Canadian.
He was born here, I was not.
As you can tell Im a little confused and not thinking straight. Now you all are probabley a little confused.
Im not very good @ internet talking, because I can't get my thoughts out of paper that well without structure and proper planning.

Lewis

Well, part of me says 'does it really matter?' and 'your home is where your heart is' and all that kind of stuff. On the other hand, I am looking forward to living in Canada and being just as Canadian as anyone else (I'm in Switzerland right now, but I'm English and have lived in England, Spain, New Zealand and a couple of other places as well). My wife is Irish, but also Canadian.

So, I think we all end up a bit of a mixture, but I guess if you feel Canadian, and you live there, and you have a Canadian passport, you're just as Canadian as anyone can be!

Charlatan

If you have Canadian citizenship, you are Canadian...

We are a nation of immigrants (even the Native Canadians are immigrants they just got here earlier than everyone else).

I am an eighth generation Canadian (which I am told is a reasonably long amount of time for an English Canadian). It doesn't make me any less Canadian than someone who just recieved their citizenship. That is the beauty of Canada.

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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

Janey

I was born in Trinidad of Chinese parents (guangzhou) but have been a Canadian citizen since i was 6. I feel as Canadian as anybody. but living in a cosmopolitan city like TO or Van helps as many people here have the look and feel of recent arrivals, so I blend in better to the mainstream. That is unless i go to a restaurant in places like Whitby, where I visibly stick out and people think i don't speak English.

the thing is, My Grandfather was a Canadian citizen too, from about 1900 to 1963 when he passed away. So, my roots here are old too as he originally worked on the railroad projects. So yes, the 'New World' is full of immigrants, some recent, some established. I think that this follows for south american countries and Australia too.

Europe doesn't get off easy either, there are many ethnic migrations which have been documented through the centuries. It's just that it was more of a trickle feed because of the land mass connection. With the America's, people actually had to plan, and build boats to get there.

what's my point? ummm oh damn, i forgot. just anteing up my thoughts i guess.

trache

Technically, I believe according to U.S. law, if you are born within the jurisdiction of the U.S. then you are a U.S. citizen. It does not matter to the I.N.S. where your parents are from.

I bet that if you were to apply for a Canadian passport that you will be given a U.S. one and have to go through hoops to proove that your parents are Canadian to get a Canadian passport (and therefore be a Canadian citizen). You will then have dual-citizenship.

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"You looked at me as if I was eating runny eggs in slow motion." - Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip

Temporary_User

Well It's not about me feeling Canadian or anything. Im Human I could care less what country I was born In, or where I live. If every country gave the same rights. Canada & US are similiar so I dont notice any difference living in either country.
I have a US passport/birth certificate, and I have a Canadian Citizenship card. I suppose I could get my canadian passport aswell, but I dont see much point in it.

vox_rox

That's funny, because as I was reading this, I forgot what thread I was reading because my mind was wandering to the deepest, darkest place on earth, my work!

But Janey's right, at some point, someone brought your ancestors here from another continent, sometimes even willingly. So, really, except for First Nations, we all "arrived" here. Technically they did as well, but several tens of thousands of years earlier. Still...

So, now that I'm completely lost in my own words, you are as Canadian as you are. Do you live here? Are you a citizen? You're good to go. Are you a landed immigrant who wants to be a citizen? Great, you're good to go as well.

See, it's that easy. But really, stick around for a couple of generations or so just to get the feel for it.

Peace,

Pierre

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There is no such thing as strong coffee - only weak people.
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cierah

I am nothing but Canadian. Of course I have other ethnic blood in me but I am Canadian. Canada is the only culture I have so therefore I am Canadian.