(no subject)

[owlectomy]

Expats talk about Canada.

We don't much like to wave the flag,
We find patriotism shocking,
So we celebrate on Canada day
By going cross-border shopping
Forgive us, we're Canadian
We try hard to be nice
You too can be Canadian
If you follow this advice
-The Arrogant Worms

Five years after moving from Montreal, I get more and more nervous about claiming "Canadian" as my identity. I spent all of high school with no higher goal than to move to Montreal as soon as possible, and -- since Cornell fortunately rejected me! -- I made it. But I like Brooklyn enough, and my French is bad enough, that I don't feel that way any more; and I get emotionally involved with American politics even though I can't vote, and I don't follow Canadian politics that much except when they get especially crazy; and still, I do not want to become an American citizen.

Ultimately I guess I don't really mind feeling like an inadequate Canadian.

Comments

[takumashii.livejournal.com]

It's not just a bunch of paperwork, you know? It's a loyalty oath. The bureaucracy is heinous, sure, but I really do not feel comfortable pledging my loyalty to any country, much less one that is still not dealing all that well with issues like torture and Guantanamo.

(Plus? There have been a bunch of cases recently where a person with a tiny bit of a criminal record, like a misdemeanor or two, has applied for citizenship and gotten thrown out of the country altogether. My record's clean, but I feel like this is so messed up that I don't even want to go near the system.)

[takumashii.livejournal.com]

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

I don't feel like I could say it. The idea just makes me feel bad at a gut level. It would be like marrying someone you don't love, complete with vows to love, honor, and obey, just to get health care or a green card.