Nationality

[ronandannette]

Why should that bother you? Like a PP said it's a matter of semantics AND a matter of pride. Why get so riled up over what he considers HIMSELF?

Aren't people born in Puerto Rico Americans? I know they have American passports.

 

[Northstar]

Aren't people born in Puerto Rico Americans? I know they have American passports.

Yes, they are American citizens. But citizenship and nationality aren't always the same thing, at least not to cultural/ethnic/language groups within a larger nation-state.

Like in Canada... in 2006, passed in the House of Commons:
"That this House recognize that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada"

So Québécois can rightfully say their nationality is Québécois and their citizenship is Canadian.
First Nations people, the same thing.

I work with international students, and I've learned to avoid asking "what's your nationality?" when what I really need to know (for documentation purposes) is "what passport did you enter this country on?"

 

[Teacher Princess]

Puerto Rico it's a US Territory and US Commonwealth since 1917.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Aren't people born in Puerto Rico Americans? I know they have American passports.

But they also have their own Olympic team.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I was on line in IoA with a family from England and after I said one thing to them the young boy said "Mummy, she talks like the Sopranos!"

BUSTED!

 

[ronandannette]

Yes, they are American citizens. But citizenship and nationality aren't always the same thing, at least not to cultural/ethnic/language groups within a larger nation-state.

Like in Canada... in 2006, passed in the House of Commons:
"That this House recognize that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada"

So Québécois can rightfully say their nationality is Québécois and their citizenship is Canadian.
First Nations people, the same thing.

I work with international students, and I've learned to avoid asking "what's your nationality?" when what I really need to know (for documentation purposes) is "what passport did you enter this country on?"

Complicated and subjective if (so it seems) we are all free to choose our "nationality" based on our ethnicities. Officially one is a "national" of whichever country holds their citizenship.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I either say New-Yorker or American.

What always peeves me is when people confuse nationality with heritage. My boyfriend says he's puerto rican, but he was born and raised in the US, and I think a lot of people do this, but it's INCORRECT! You are American, or even Puerto-Rican-American. You have Puerto Rican HERITAGE, but if you were not born there, then puerto rican is not your nationality. Get it right people!

So are children of U.S. citizens born in Germany, Germans? Of course not. They're Americans. Clearly then, the piece of land one is born on is not 100% conclusive as to nationality.

 

[bcla]

But they also have their own Olympic team.

And the option to compete for the US Olympic Team is so desired. Gigi Fernandez did in doubles tennis, and she stated part of it was because of better chances for endorsements. I think she also

There are some complexities regarding those from Northern Ireland competing in the Olympics. A lot of it is sport specific, where some governing bodies represent all of Ireland and others are separated between the Republic of Ireland and the UK. There's the possibility of switching sides too.

 

[Sydney2977]

DH laughs when we are abroad and people ask where we are from, because he says we are from the USA/American and I say, "Texas."

DH and I can totally relate to this!

Texas: it's a whole other country.