Do you consider naturalized citizens as real Americans considering their foreign accent and different language separates them from locals?

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Uhhh_what555476384@reddit

Yes. A citizen is a citizen is a citizen.

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Landwarrior5150@reddit

Yes, especially because they’re an American by choice and through their own efforts, and not just because they happened to be born here.

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I feel this as a New Yorker. It’s so hard to make it in the city if you’re born there, so when I see people come from other places and thrive, they have extra respect from me. Also, people immigrating is kind of the whole point of NYC, it’s a beautiful, delicious melting pot. We’re nothing without our foreign born New Yorkers.

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GoodQueenFluffenChop@reddit

Yeah and through those efforts a lot of them know more about the US than actual native born citizens.

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Ms-Metal@reddit

Boy that's sure the truth! I moved to the US at 2, so of course it was my parents who moved here. I went to school in the US and the only language I've ever spoken was English. I have no accent and never have, nobody would know I wasn't born here unless I told them. Nevertheless my parents never signed the form to make me a citizen for reasons unknown. They just never saw it as important I guess and so I had to take the test and go through the citizenship procedure when I was around 22 because I wanted to vote. I have been working since 14 so I have been contributing tax wise to the country since then. Obviously I aced the reading and writing in English part but the questions that you have to study for, even though I went to school in the US, I never learned most of that stuff, I had to study just as much as someone who moved here at 40 years old! It's not that it's a hard test but it's not stuff you know off the top of your head, I consider myself fully American because like I said I only ever remember living here, but I guarantee you that the average American would not be able to answer 80% of those questions.

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CyanCitrine@reddit

Exactly.

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P00PooKitty@reddit

Yes…almost no one is actually from here.

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ivantmybord@reddit

Yep. That accent just means they speak at least one more language than I do

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ClickClick_Boom@reddit

What if it's an English accent?

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Medium_Tomatillo2705@reddit

They are then posh

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tandem_kayak@reddit

+10 Charisma

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LAWriter2020@reddit

Then we give then an estimate extra 10 IQ points.

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shelwood46@reddit

They have different words for everything.

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PM_Terry_Hesticles_@reddit

Then it’s neat

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Ms-Metal@reddit

Get what you're saying but that's not even always true. I was a naturalized citizen, I moved to the US at 2 years old. The only language I've ever spoken was English and it's still the only language I speak. I went to school here. I have no accent. There are millions like me! If I didn't tell you I wasn't born here, you would never know. So not even all naturalized citizens speak multiple languages, not by a long shot!

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Radar1980@reddit

Absolutely. Most of the naturalized citizens I meet know more about basic American civics than native born ones.

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Salty_Permit4437@reddit

They’re treated 99% as citizens. They can’t run for president. Meanwhile someone born to a birth tourist can.

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ZaphodG@reddit

American nationalism historically was to get people to blindly serve in the military. The pledge of allegiance every day in public schools. The national anthem at all sporting events. Cub Scout, Boy Scout. The obsession with sports in public schools to create tribalism.

“Real American” means you were subjected to that brainwashing. The Vietnam War and the ease of travel that expands peoples worldview changed that in the wealthier and better educated parts of the country.

I’ve probably been outside the United States 100 times. My worldview is quite different from someone who hasn’t traveled.

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SteveMarck@reddit

Of course they are Americans, we're a country of immigrants. Honestly, I think the undocumented folks who are working here and trying to build a better life should be given a pathway to citizenship too. Being a "true American" for me is someone who believes in our ideals of freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It's not about the color of your skin or your accent. I don't care if you speak another language. I will admit it is easier if you can learn some English, but that's not a requirement. To me, what is required is carrying about what we're supposed to be. Frankly, a lot of citizens are not good Americans.

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Silently-Snarking@reddit

Of course I do!

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Murderhornet212@reddit

Of course. They actually earned it. We didn’t. We were just born here.

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thatsad_guy@reddit

Yes

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the_quark@reddit

As far as I'm concerned, if you believe you're an American, you are an American. That's the essence of America.

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Dahvido@reddit

Exactly. An American is not a white person speaking American English. It’s anyone who comes here that desires to be an American. That’s one of the values that used to be foundational here.

"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

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Lightningtow123@reddit

Fr. I'm a white guy born in the US. A Hispanic dude who illegally crosses the border from Mexico looking for a better life, who doesn't even speak English, is far more American than I could ever be

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xivilex@reddit

This might be a really bad take from me, and I might get downvoted, but I’m going to say it anyways because deep down, I truly believe it and I’m not keeping quiet about it anymore.

Our country is built for those looking to come here as 1st generation immigrants. In certain ways, those people that come here to work and get their life started, well, this country and its ideals are kinda more about them now than it is us. Like obviously it’s our country, but those people that are striving to come here, fleeing war and danger and yearning for freedom are kinda the “real” Americans.

It’s hard to have emphasis in text form, so I don’t want to be taken out of context. I’m not saying that there is a real and not real American. Not at all. I’m emphasizing that this country is more about the new Americans than it is us.

We called ourselves a melting pot. Canadas said they’re a mosaic. I actually think it’s flipped. We don’t really require people to “conform” to some mystical “true” or “proper” culture. There is no such thing. We just require you to not harm others and respect others freedom That’s why being an American is more of a state of mind than a naturalization sheet of paper.

We have China towns that are entirely in Cantonese. Area of the SW completely in Spanish. Places in the northeast that are Italian. Amish communities that are entirely in German. None of these is more or less than the other. They didn’t “adapt” to us, they MADE us.

We are actually the mosaic out of the two. The immigrants bringing their culture dictates what America really is.

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ChiliAndRamen@reddit

I’ve always been of the belief that if you’re willing and able to cross that much desert and hostile terrain to reach where you want to be is much more desirable as a neighbor than someone who pays for it.

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Orienos@reddit

This is my stance too. My husband isn’t a citizen but a permanent resident and he’s lived in the US longer than his native country. He’s as American as they come. Some of his friends who came on work visas so they can eventually establish residency are pretty darn American too. They want to be here. They believe in this place just like anyone born here.

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Ms-Metal@reddit

Yeah this person doesn't know what they're talking about. I totally understand what you're saying about your husband and frankly, I was a naturalized citizen for 20 some years and I moved to the US at 2 years old. My parents moved here when I was too, I only know one language and that's English. I went to school in the US, I have zero accent. The only way anyone with no I was not born in the US as if I told them. So yeah what a bunch of weird assumptions, there are millions like your husband and myself.

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spiralsequences@reddit

This is genuinely what sets us apart from other countries IMO. Because I've spent some time living abroad in various locations, and (at least in the countries I've lived in) there's usually a sense of national lineage/identity tied to ethnicity. Because such a small percentage of our population is indigenous, the only defining factor for what makes you an American is citizenship.

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kmactane@reddit

As far as I'm concerned, if you believe in things like the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and a secular government of the people, by the people, and for the people, you're an American, no matter where you were born.

And if you were born here and don't believe in those things (like MAGAs, who categorically reject them in favor of a Trump-centered Christian fascist theocracy), then you're fundamentally anti-American. A traitor to the principles our country was founded on.

This is a hill I'll die on.

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TickdoffTank0315@reddit

100% agree.

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magnanimous_rex@reddit

This so much. You come here and naturalize, you’re an American. That’s it. Hell, there are people born here with heavier accents than most naturalized citizens.

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Lovemybee@reddit

``You can go to live in France, but you cannot become a Frenchman. You can go to live in Germany or Turkey or Japan, but you cannot become a German, a Turk, or Japanese. But anyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American.'' ~ Ronald Reagan

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BananaJelloXlii@reddit

Too bad his party no longer feels that way.

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Great_Value_Trucker@reddit

Yes. Of course.

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GoCardinal07@reddit

Ronald Reagan:

Since this is the last speech that I will give as President, I think it's fitting to leave one final thought, an observation about a country which I love. It was stated best in a letter I received not long ago. A man wrote me and said: "You can go to live in France, but you cannot become a Frenchman. You can go to live in Germany or Turkey or Japan, but you cannot become a German, a Turk, or a Japanese. But anyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American."

John F. Kennedy:

There is no place in America for any concept of second-class citizenship. Our Constitution defines as citizens "all persons born or naturalized in the United States" - and they are and ought to be entitled to all of the same rights and privileges.

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GoCardinal07@reddit

Ronald Reagan:

Since this is the last speech that I will give as President, I think it's fitting to leave one final thought, an observation about a country which I love. It was stated best in a letter I received not long ago. A man wrote me and said: "You can go to live in France, but you cannot become a Frenchman. You can go to live in Germany or Turkey or Japan, but you cannot become a German, a Turk, or a Japanese. But ** anyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American.**"

John F. Kennedy:

There is no place in America for any concept of second-class citizenship. Our Constitution defines as citizens "all persons born or naturalized in the United States" - and they are and ought to be entitled to all of the same rights and privileges.

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Embarrassed-Ruin2969@reddit

If someone naturalizes it really doesn't matter what they look like, how they dress, and if they have a different accent or not. If you're a citizen you're a citizen doesn't matter how you became one.

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someofyourbeeswaxx@reddit

Yeah, it’s a big tent. Pretty much everyone who lives here and plans to stay counts, in my mind. Almost none of us are really from here, past a few generations.

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CornucopiaDM1@reddit

Considering EVERY American, other than Native Americans, is either a naturalized citizen or a descendant of a naturalized citizen (or immigrant), this should never be an issue. At all. That's the foundation of this country.

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pueraria-montana@reddit

I don’t know if I’d be so quick to include African Americans in this… they didn’t exactly get a choice either.

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_HeyGFY_@reddit

I'm not sure where I first heard the term, but "forced immigration" still qualifies as immigration.

Also, Black =/= African-American

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Landwarrior5150@reddit

I don’t quite understand. Are you saying they should be considered native citizens and not naturalized ones? Or that they shouldn’t be considered citizens and/or Americans at all?

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pueraria-montana@reddit

I’m saying that the framing makes it sound like we all came here by choice except Native Americans and that isn’t true.

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CornucopiaDM1@reddit

I said nothing about choice.

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pueraria-montana@reddit

You did include African Americans in with the rest of us.

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Sad_Highlight_9059@reddit

As far as I am concerned, if you live in, and positively contribute to America, then you are an American. IDGAF about your accent or any of that. TBH, kinda don't care about your immigration status either. Especially if you are contributing positively to your community/the country.

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Ms-Metal@reddit

Thank you for that, I appreciate it reading it. I moved to the US at 2 years old. The only language I speak is English and I have no accent and I went to American schools. I have no memory of ever living in another country. Nobody would know I wasn't born here because I'm a white European and I have no accent or any other language. My parents just never signed the form for me to become a citizen automatically when we moved here. It was not the political climate it is today so there was no urgency to do it and they never got around to it. Which meant I had to go take the test and everything in my mid 20s when I decided to become a citizen. Here's the kicker though. I've been working since I was 14 and I'm not talking a paper route lol. I'm talking real jobs. At 16 and 17 I was holding down three jobs, paying taxes on all of them. I have considered myself an American my entire life because I have no memory of ever living anywhere else. I have no other language, the US is the only country I have ever known. So it's nice to read the somebody else considered me an American even before I became an actual citizen.

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Turd_Fergusons_@reddit

Absolutely

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marklikeadawg@reddit

If they're naturalized, I believe they're more American than a lot of people born here. They wanted it and achieved it. There are other Americans who were born here who don't deserve it.

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nowhereman136@reddit

Im gonna start by saying I think there is a difference between being an American and being a US Citizen

To me, I consider an American if they do three things. They live here, they work here, and they want to make this country better. If you do those three things, I would consider you an American regardless of citizenship or legal status.

That is still different that being a US citizen and I do support a thorough but streamlined process to get citizenship. But if this is your home, then you are an American. This is also why I don't really consider guys who were born here but moved to UK when they were two and haven't been back to be American. They are still US citizens and are welcomed to come back, but my Indian neighbor who moved here 10 years ago are more American than that British guy

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Ms-Metal@reddit

Conversely and I know you would agree from what you wrote, some of us are Americans even though we were born elsewhere. I moved to the US at 2 years old, to say I have no memory of my previous country as an understatement. I only know one language and that's English. I went to school in the USA. I have no accent because I've been in the USA since I was 2 years old. Nobody would know I was not born here unless I told them. That said, I didn't become a citizen until my 20s, because my parents never bothered signing the form. I did become a citizen eventually because I wanted to vote but I've been working since I was 14 and paying taxes since I was 14. I'm not talking some shitty paper route, I'm talking a real job and at 16 I was working 3 jobs, paying taxes on all of them. I have considered myself an American my entire life even though technically I didn't become one until my mid twenties.

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Alternative_Risk4230@reddit

As an American, this is not a question I spend any thinking about or being concerned.

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rolyfuckingdiscopoly@reddit

Yes of course they’re Americans.

I have never lived in Tennessee or Arkansas, but I live very rural in the American West, and it would be totally unacceptable around here to be hostile or rude to someone because they are an immigrant.

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Ricelyfe@reddit

I’m a naturalized citizen so I am bias but yes. I came as a baby and naturalized as a kid, so no test. For adults going through the naturalization process, that shit is hard. Imagine studying for AP American history and AP government at the same time while also adapting to a new country, working, raising a family, learning language etc etc.

Although I don’t have to take the test, I help my mom study. That shit isn’t easy unless you’re decently knowledgeable about US civics and history. There’s a reason that the social media trend of White natural born citizens failing the questions from the test took off.

As someone with a POSC degree and work in government now, it would do this country a lot of good if EVERYONE had to take a form of it as part of school. The same people who don’t know how elections work, what the emancipation proclamation was, how congress functions etc. are the same voters whose decisions affect all our lives (broadly gestures around).

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Ms-Metal@reddit

I can attest to that. I moved to the US as a baby. 2 years old. Needless to say I have no memory of it. Hopefully needless to say, I've never spoken any other language but English. I went to school in the USA. I have zero accent other than possibly Minnesotan lol. Actually Minnesotan mixed with three other states. Certainly no foreign accent. I'm pretty old though so when my parents moved here it certainly was not the political climate that it is now and so they never saw those important to get me my citizenship before I turned 18, which took no effort other than signing a form and submitting it. I'm still bitter about it and one of my parents is dead and the other is almost. I started working at 14 and I've been paying taxes since I was 14 and I'm in my 60s now. When I decided to become a citizen so I could vote, around age 22, even though I grew up in the US and went to school in the US, that test was super hard! Obviously I could easily prove that I could speak read written right English because it's all I ever used. But the history test, despite going to school here, I had to study like crazy and while I did pass, it was not easy to study. I guarantee you that 80% of natural born Americans would not be able to pass that test without extensive study beforehand! I also help my mom study many years after I became a citizen because she had also never bothered to do it officially, so people don't realize how hard it is and especially from my mom because she did have an accent and she didn't grow up learning American history. I'm glad your parents got the form signed though!

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Important-Trifle-411@reddit

Of course I consider them fully American !

3 of my grandparents were immigrants, and my husband is as well. Immigrants are also some of the most patriotic people I know.

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TehLoneWanderer101@reddit

Even if you're not a citizen, as long as you're in United States borders with me, I'm treating you like an American. That's how far I take it.

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Ms-Metal@reddit

And I appreciate that. I was born in Europe but I moved to the US at 2 years old. So needless to say I have no memories of that. I have never spoken a language other than English. I went to American schools, I have zero accent. But for whatever reason, probably because it was a different political climate, my parents never signed the form before I turned 18 to make me a citizen. So I wasn't for the first 4 years or so of adulthood. Nevertheless I've been working since I was the 14 and paying taxes since I was 14, only have memories of the USA, only speak English, yeah I considered myself an American my entire life even though I didn't technically become a citizen until around 22. My heart absolutely breaks when I hear about people who want to deport kids that were born here because there weren't citizens. It would be like me being sent back to the country I was born in. I know nothing about it, I literally don't know the language, I don't know the people, I don't know the customs, I know nothing about it, America is all I've ever known since I was conscious enough to have thought that I can actually remember. I don't consider myself less American in those four years before I got my citizenship.

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HaphazardFlitBipper@reddit

Yes.

That said, I genuinely don't think about anyone's citizenship status. I might think 'there's an Indian lady' or 'there's a Mexican guy', but I'm thinking about ethnicity and culture, not citizenship. I assume the best about people in general, so if I see you in America, I assume you're here legally and I genuinely don't think about your citizenship status at all.

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InfamousSquash1621@reddit

Dude.

You're making ridiculous assumptions. Not every naturalized citizen speaks a different language. Have you ever heard of Canada? England? Australia? People come to the US from those places too.

And not everyone that picks up English as a subsequent language speaks it with a foreign accent. Plenty of people move here as children. By the time they're adults you don't think they sound like locals m

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elviswasmurdered@reddit

Yes. I generally don't really think about other people's citizenship status? A lot of people I interact with each day have a foreign accent: at work, the grocery store, neighbors. I would consider a naturalized citizen the same as any other, and I would just kind of assume anyone I am interacting with is a citizen unless they tell me they're not.

I know there's people who feel otherwise, but those people generally don't align with me morally anyways.

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Ms-Metal@reddit

Not only that, but many people who are not citizens don't have accents! I was born in another country but I moved to the US for 2 years old. I don't speak any other language, I have no accent and unless I told you, you'd never know I was from another country because I'm European by birth so I'm white and I look like I was born here. Yet I didn't become a citizen until my mid 20s. I have however worked since I was 14 and paid taxes since I was 14 and I'm in my 60s now LOL so yeah I considers myself an American even before I became a citizen. It's the only country I have ever known. I obviously don't remember the two years as a baby that I lived in another country.

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venturashe@reddit

Think about the indigenous populations when we showed up a mere 2 to 3 hundred years ago and claimed the land for us, foreigners. Who’s the locals?

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NoPersimmon7434@reddit

Yes. If you are a citizen, you are an American.

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Ms-Metal@reddit

Many of us are Americans even if we're not citizens. I am now but I moved to this country at 2 years old, needless to say I don't remember anything about my birth country, I've never spoken any language other than English. I was born in Europe so nobody would be able to tell that I was born in another country unless I told them. I have no accent because I obviously went to US schools. I started working at 14 and have paid taxes ever since then, but I didn't become a citizen until I was about 22 and I only became a citizen so I could vote. I still consider myself completely American even before I was a citizen, it's the only country I've ever known! We moved here legally but not in today's political climate so there was no urgency to become citizens. But like I said I've contributed since I was 14 and I'm in my 60s now and I don't know any other language lol.

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mckenzie_keith@reddit

Lots of people have accents. Normally their immigration status doesn't come up. You have no idea if the person you are talking to is natural born, naturalized, or on some form of long-term visa or green card.

Yes, even natural born citizens sometimes have foreign accents if they are raised in an ethnic or national enclave.

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Ms-Metal@reddit

The opposite is also true. I moved to the US at 2 years old. The only language I've ever spoken was english, the only schools I have ever went to were in the USA, I have no accent, I never have. You would have no idea I was born in another country unless I told you. I'm quite certain I'm not alone! My parents immigrated when I was a baby and there are plenty of people who experienced the same thing, we don't know any other country. We don't know any other language and we don't know the history or teachings of any other country.

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mckenzie_keith@reddit

It seems like the OP was asking about people who seem possibly foreign because they have an accent or don't speak English well. With you, nobody would think you were anything but American.

But that is a good point, too. Lots of people if they came to the US at a young age don't have accents even though they are naturalized.

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mckenzie_keith@reddit

One thing I will say, though, is that for naturalized US citizens, if they apply for security clearance, they have to answer more questions on the form than natural born citizens.

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helikophis@reddit

Sure do

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Far-Drawing-4444@reddit

Yes.

I actually don't really care about their immigration status or citizenship. If they live here, they're as American as anyone else as far as I'm concerned.

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AndreaTwerk@reddit

Right, there are people who have lived here for longer than I’ve been alive. It would be weird to claim that I’m more American than them.

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tcspears@reddit

There are lots of people that live here that aren’t American…. Not in a bad way, but we have lots of expats here, immigrants, migrant workers. They most likely wouldn’t want to be called American, and aren’t.

Not saying they aren’t welcome here, just that not everyone who lives here is an American.

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jvc1011@reddit

Same. I care a lot more that the people around me are good neighbors, friends, coworkers, etc. Immigration status is about bureaucracy; why should I care about that at all? It’s not my job or my concern.

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TankDestroyerSarg@reddit

Someone comes to the US, makes the effort to fully and properly become a US citizen, then they are a real, red blooded Yankee Doodle like the rest of us. Everywhere is going to have at least some racists and xenophobes, not anything unique to the rural southern states.

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Under_A_Full_M00n@reddit

Yes.

I don't knock anybody for having English as their second language. That means they speak at least one more language than I do.

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Ms-Metal@reddit

Also come on immigrants do not have English as a second language. Of course some came from countries that spoke English but some of us, me I'm sure millions of others moved to the US as babies. The only language I've ever spoken was English. I have no accent because I went to American schools and the only language I've ever spoken was English. Nobody would ever know I was an immigrant unless I told you.

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BoSKnight87@reddit

Yea, anyone who lives here is an American. I live next to a Spanish neighborhood and they’re good people with great good. Idk about the ark and tenn thing tho

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danimaniak@reddit

Me? Of course. Much of America? Nope.

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Hey-Bud-Lets-Party@reddit

Yes and most of them have that can-do attitude that is missing from a lot of porn here these days.

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drnewcomb@reddit

Yes and no. Yes, of course, they are real citizens. My maternal grandfather was naturalized. He was as much a citizen as anyone else. But then, can you really be a citizen if your ancestors didn’t fight in the Revolutionary War? If they weren’t there when the Constitution was being debated? Can you really?

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Maxorus73@reddit

One of the best things about America is we have people from all over the world.

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R3alisticExpectation@reddit

I’m extremely biased here, but I think real Americans have been here since the beginning. Beginning of what you might ask? I’ll leave that up to you.

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boilface@reddit

So my family arrived in the 1800s. Does that mean I'm not a real American? The US by no definition started in the later 1800s, so clearly neither side of my family counts. Do you understand how absolutely stupid that sounds?

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Ms-Metal@reddit

Yes of course. Also, naturalized citizens don't always have 'foreign accents' necessarily or 'different languages'. I was a naturalized citizen for around 20 years, I moved to the US when I was 2 years old so I don't have any accent, never have and I've never spoken anything other than English that I can recall. I guess I did speak a little bit too of another language but I don't know it now, I never remembered knowing it, as far as my memory, I've only ever spoken English. I also paid taxes and contributed to the society from the age of 14 when I started working all the way through when I became an actual citizen around 22 because I wanted to vote for the first time in a presidential election. Plus the 40 years after that.

So you're making assumptions about naturalized citizens that are not necessarily true! In fact, no one who knew me had any idea I was not a citizen unless I told them and frankly to this day 4 decades later, nobody knows that I was born in another country unless I tell them. I've never spoken anything other than English, I only went to school in the US and I have no accent, nor do I have any memories of ever living in another country or any ties to that country other than a lot of family lives there but I've only visited it once in my life. More important than all of that, there are millions like me, we have a saying in the US about assuming. Assuming makes an ass out of you. So while I'm not saying you're an ass, you really need to check your assumptions! You have no idea what you're talking about.

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boilface@reddit

1000% yes. An American who just got sworn in as a citizen is just as American as somebody who's family came here on the Mayflower

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TransportationOk3469@reddit

The essential thing about being American is that anyone can be an American. No other country can say that.

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NegotiationStatus727@reddit

Other countries have immigrants too.

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Dr_Watson349@reddit

What she is trying to say is that once you become a citizen of the US, you are an American. No different than someone who can trace their lineage back to the 1776. Not just legally American, but culturally accepted as an American.

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RoutineCranberry3622@reddit

I had someone from Italy tell me that even if someone is born there of immigrant parents and they have a citizenship, real Italians will never see them more than a compadre at best. I think that’s the sentiment across most of Europe at least. Like you need to have lineage going back to the Stone Age in the same village, otherwise you might as well be from a different planet.

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Glum-System-7422@reddit

I don’t know if no other country can say that, a lot of South American countries have similar histories of colonialism and mass immigration but I don’t know their laws

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AtrumAequitas@reddit

Yes, in my mind there is no difference, except I feel pride for them. It’s badge of honor because they worked for it, I didn’t have to earn it, they did.

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donnacus@reddit

Natualized citizens know more about the country and the way our govenment works than a lot of birthright citizens. As to foreign accents, ask someone from New York "Which is more difficult to understand, a foreigner speaking English or somone from deep in the bayous of Louisiana?"

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ThePickleConnoisseur@reddit

There is no “American” ethnicity. Almost everyone knows where their family immigrated from. It’s all about mindset

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malibuklw@reddit

Naturalized citizens are citizens.

I can’t speak to whether those states are hostile, I don’t live there and haven’t spent much time in either besides driving through.

[-]

TheDude-Esquire@reddit

For me, American is a matter of self determination. If you believe you’re an American, then I believe you.

[-]

Quarterleper@reddit

I don't even care if they're naturalized. If you want to come and live here you're an American.

[-]

roguesiegetank@reddit

Americans are born every day, all over the world. Some just haven't come home yet.

[-]

IndiaEvans@reddit

That is so beautiful. 🇺🇸

[-]

Kit_the_Human@reddit

I love this so much.

[-]

tiredeyesonthaprize@reddit

Come home, my new family.

[-]

Neuvirths_Glove@reddit

I need to remember that and use a variation with my daughter-in-law who was recently approved for citizenship.

[-]

Lornesto@reddit

🫡⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🇺🇸

[-]

godesss4@reddit

What a lovely way to say that!

[-]

Dr_Watson349@reddit

You are as American as a person who can trace their lineage to George Washington.

Makes no difference.

Once you're in, you're in.

[-]

r2k398@reddit

I consider them more American than a lot of Americans.

[-]

_Molj@reddit

Where are you from to ask?

[-]

mysecondaccountanon@reddit

Obviously yes. Honestly a lot of the time I’ve even interacted with people who haven’t naturalised where I’m like “you’ve lived here longer than I have, you do so much important stuff, if you wanna be called American I’m not stopping you.”

[-]

HorseFeathersFur@reddit

Yes, yes we do. Uniquely so.

[-]

Ragnarok345@reddit

Fucking obviously. And the opinion of anyone who disagrees is automatically invalid.

[-]

Dull_Complaint1407@reddit

If you went through the process to become a citizen you are one of us the only thing you can’t do is run for president but other than that you are full blooded American at that point

[-]

ProfessionalBee4228@reddit

It's just not something I even think about. If someone has an accent that I see regularly, or even if I'm making small talk, I'd ask them where they're originally from, but that's just curiosity. I think naturalized citizens, especially if they do the same hobbies as I do... great! If you decided to live here and achieved that, you got just as much right to be here as myself.

I think that despite the south having some pretty heinous politics, the south and anywhere else in the country for that matter are extremely welcoming to foreigners. I'm an American but am thoroughly well traveled with many long-term friends from Europe. They are certainly much more critical of foreigners in their countries than I am in mine (though they are wonderful people).

[-]

Datadrudge@reddit

Yes. But we obviously have some rather ignorant and entitled politicians and citizens that think it should be otherwise.

[-]

tandem_kayak@reddit

All of them are descendants immigrants.

[-]

I-am-a-constant-LIAR@reddit

To the majority of Americans, once you are a citizen, your one of us. The vast majority of Americians are very open and accepting of others overall. Its the minority that get noticed.

But, especially compared to what I have heard about Japan, we are extremely accepting, and are aware that USA is a "Melting Pot".

[-]

Leverkaas2516@reddit

considering their foreign accent and different language separates them from locals?

This is just so off-base I have to respond.

My parent is a naturalized citizen from an English speaking country who moved as a kid. He has no distinguishable accent, and of course I consider him a "real American".

And I have a goid friend who was born in America, to immigrants from Europe, and he DOES have an accent because he learned English from them. And he's a "real American" too.

The only people I don't consider to be Real Americans are those who commit treason or betray American values. Even people who are descended from the Mayflower colonists can prove themselves to be Not Real Americans.

[-]

Fourty2KnightsofNi@reddit

Listen, dude, you live here, you live here. We only have so long on earth, why spend it being nasty to one another? Everyone deserves to have a home, wherever that may be.

[-]

RealAssociation5281@reddit

Absolutely.

[-]

throwaway04182023@reddit

I have never once in my left thought about a neighbor or an acquaintance by their citizenship. Truly couldn’t care less.

[-]

lavasca@reddit

Yes!

[-]

IvyRaeBlack@reddit

I honestly rarely think if someone I meet is a citizen or not, I just assume they are unless they are a tourist and tell me where they are visiting from. Someone having an accent doesn't really tell me much. My grandparents have been here for 60ish years and still have an accent.

[-]

sep780@reddit

They are citizens just like me and as real of an American as I am as 100% a descendant of immigrants.

If we’re gonna get picky about who is or isn’t a “real American,” Native Americans are the most real as their ancestors were here thousands of years before the ancestors of the rest of us were.

[-]

The0wl0ne@reddit

Yes

My standard for what counts as being as American is pretty simple. Do you live in America? And do you believe in the ideals of freedom and democracy? If so, congrats you’re an American

[-]

ImpatientMaker@reddit

I don't care. You are either part of the problem or part of the solution. There are plenty of citizens that are assholes.

[-]

swosei12@reddit

Yup! To be frank many naturalized citizens (even with a distinct accents) speak better English and know more basic information than the locals.

[-]

Latii_LT@reddit

Yes. I consider everyone in the US an American unless they tell me they are current citizens of a different country. It doesn’t matter their culture, ethnicity, language, accent, etc…

[-]

LavenderPearlTea@reddit

Not all naturalized citizens have accents, but yes. I came as a kid and was naturalized. I never felt unwelcome in my own country until Donald Trump and his racist supporters came along, but for decades I never felt like I didn’t belong.

Now both my native born Gen Z kids vote regularly against MAGA.

[-]

pee_shudder@reddit

People need to get the white america ideas out of their heads. Our greatest strength is our diversity

[-]

Cookieman_2023@reddit

I'm seeing a lot of that unfortunately :(. It's all over x and the immigration sub

[-]

Working-Emergency-34@reddit

It’s an identity I couldn’t care less about. So, please, feel free to make it your own.

[-]

ooopseedaisees@reddit

WTF? Of course they are considered real Americans

[-]

LAWriter2020@reddit

Absolutely. Anyone who chooses to go through all the hoops to become a U.S. citizen is my fellow American - even more so than those who are Americans by accident of birth and who don’t know enough to appreciate how special this country is.

[-]

Waltz8@reddit

As a travel nurse, I've met some Native Americans and other groups that couldn't speak a single word of English. They were born and have lived their whole lives in the US. I didn't think that made them any less American.

[-]

Ordinary_Camel_3456@reddit

Yes, anyone born here or naturalized is an American. My fellow American. They’re home

[-]

Adorable_Dust3799@reddit

Most of us realize that our close (within the last couple hundred years) ancestors were immigrants once too. My kids school notices used to be printed in 12 languages

[-]

BrackenFernAnja@reddit

All they need in order to be real Americans is to live here for a while, love this country, be willing to protect others whenever they can, participate in their local community in some way, and believe in freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and religion.

[-]

dessdot@reddit

If someone goes through all the bullshit immigrating entails just to be here (documented or not), you’re an American to me. More than those of us born here, in some ways.

[-]

SueNYC1966@reddit

Studies have been done on this. Yes, we do. I married a naturalized immigrant. It’s not a big deal. It just means you get to eat some new dishes and get in a long plane ride to see their relatives.

[-]

cmiller4642@reddit

I don’t really actually view being an American as anything in particular. We just happen to live here. It’s not really an identity like being French or Japanese is. I kind of view our culture and everything as being a bastardized version of British culture just like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. We’re that further removed from the UK because we became independent much earlier than those other countries.

[-]

continuousBaBa@reddit

Yes. I'm at the point where I wish we could deport the rabid anti-immigrant maga assholes

[-]

Bargle-Nawdle-Zouss@reddit

Yes. Especially because they went to the trouble of the Naturalization and citizenship process. They want to be here. And quite frankly, I think a lot of them, having studied for the test, have a better idea of what America is about and supposed to be about then those who were born here.

[-]

BackgroundPublic2529@reddit

Absolutely yes.

[-]

Artichoke_Salad@reddit

If you live in the US, you’re an American. I don’t give two shits about paperwork.

[-]

WokeUpIAmStillAlive@reddit

Yes

[-]

Mysterious-Cod-5767@reddit

If they are a citizen of the US, they are an American. They probably know more about the US than many of the people actually born here.

[-]

MessoGesso@reddit

Yes. My father was born a US citizen, in Panama. He grew up in Panama. He came to the states for college and the rest of his life. He never lost his accent. It's very rare to be born in a place outside the states or territories and be a citizen. When he arrived though, it was a much bigger issue, really the only issue that he was black. It was during segregation. To complicate matters, he married a white woman when it was still illegal in many states to marry between white and black people. We children were so light, he couldn't be with us in public places. Doctors refused to treat us once they saw him.

I don't think anyone was interested in his accent and immigration status.

[-]

CalebCaster2@reddit

Me? Yes, absolutely. If anything theyre "realer" than the people who just happened to born here.

My racist neighbors? Depends which accent and skin color

[-]

snotrocket2space@reddit

Absolutely, without a doubt. Nor do I care if they’re legally here. Our system’s rigged by white, racist, billionaires, I do not care what they have to say about my fellow Americans.

[-]

Joemirag78@reddit

In the United States, one's general identity is more important than their accent. People tend to judge whether you are part of this society. The feelings in different places are more about specific individuals and environments, and cannot be generalized in a broad sense.

[-]

Footnotegirl1@reddit

I absolutely do. If you've gotten citizenship, you're an American and if you're here with or without, you're my neighbor.

But yes, there are a lot of gross, ignorant bigots that don't. They disgust me.

[-]

skipperoniandcheese@reddit

yes

[-]

the-quibbler@reddit

Yessir! Anyone who went through the struggle to become an American is 100% pure blooded American. USA, baby!

[-]

Alternative-Law4626@reddit

Of course! We see naturalized citizens as “real citizens”. And, we celebrate them. At work cubicles will be decorated when someone gets their citizenship.

[-]

cleverburrito@reddit

Yeah, anyone who is a citizen is an American. I don’t treat anyone “as foreigners” unless they specifically tell me they’re visiting the US, then the way I treat them differently is by asking them questions about their trip.

[-]

dadsgoingtoprison@reddit

Yes

[-]

snyder3894@reddit

Yes.

[-]

big_bob_c@reddit

I consider them better Americans than the people who object to them.

[-]

PapaTua@reddit

Yup!

[-]

StinkButt9001@reddit

American and American Citizen are two different things.

I wasn't born in America to American parents so I'll never really be an American. No matter what sort of documentation I get, I'm still going to have my own culture, beliefs, way of life, and general life context that is not the same as an American.

[-]

AmerikanerinTX@reddit

I get what you're saying, but I don't think most others view it that way. I think most of us can see just about anyone as American, it doesnt really matter where you were born or raised. Most Americans do have their own unique culture, beliefs, way of life.

[-]

StinkButt9001@reddit

So someone who has never been to America is an Amercan?

[-]

AmerikanerinTX@reddit

Can be, sure. My friend has a kindergarten, born in Germany, never been to America. He's American as much as me or my kids. I actually grew up with quite a few American kids who had never been to America.

[-]

StinkButt9001@reddit

If you definition of "American" includes people that has never been to America then I don't think your definition is a reasonable one.

[-]

AmerikanerinTX@reddit

My definition CAN include them, yes. Why shouldn't it? If you are a US citizen, raised by an American parent, are you not American?

[-]

StinkButt9001@reddit

Well my question was about people that aren't born in the US to US parents, to which you said that didn't matter.

It's weird that in your follow up you've pivoted to "Born in America to American parents" rather than what we were actually discussing which is the complete opposite. Are those goalposts you're carrying?

[-]

AmerikanerinTX@reddit

No. I specifically said NOT born in America and have never been to America. I grew up with many like that: Americans who have never been to America. They are very much still American. And in my friend's case, her kindergartener doesnt speak English at all. Still American.

[-]

StinkButt9001@reddit

I specifically said NOT born in America and have never been to America.

Quoting you:

If you are a US citizen, raised by an American parent, are you not American?

..so now you're just straight up lying and hoping I don't remember what you said 1 comment ago?

[-]

Glum-System-7422@reddit

It’s so obvious you aren’t actually American lol. All Americans bring their own culture, beliefs, ways of life to being American. that’s how it works here

[-]

StinkButt9001@reddit

That's really not true. Americans (as in, actual Americans) have a very particular set of core beliefs and way of life. This has been muddied a bit because their influence has spread theses beliefs and ways of life to many parts of and many people of the world but to suggest that there is no real American identity is just silly at best and some kind of propaganda at worst.

[-]

pulchritudinousprout@reddit

I don’t think it’s my place to say who is real and who isn’t, but…

There are over 350 different languages spoken in US homes, of which English is only one. And even the English comes in over 24 major dialects with thousands of regional variations. Appalachian English, Cajun English, and Midwestern English could easily sound like three different languages to an unfamiliar ear- and that’s not even mentioning the differences in culture and lifestyle among US regions.

[-]

I_Like_Turtles_Too@reddit

Yes.

[-]

Detonation@reddit

If anyone answers this question with anything but a nice and simple 'yes', you should distance yourself from them because they're an asshole.

[-]

misagale@reddit

Yes, I do.

[-]

hella_cutty@reddit

Probably more so if I'm being honest. Like they want to be here where as many Americans might feel they just happened to be born here.

[-]

rockettaco37@reddit

Of course. This country was built by immigrants.

[-]

ehrenzoner@reddit

What of course they are Americans Jesus Christ.

[-]

Oceanbreeze871@reddit

Yes. There are all kinds of accents around America. Half the country will claim the other half doesn’t talk right

[-]

Biteme75@reddit

If they are legally American, they are American.

Some places like Arkansas and Tennessee are still hostile to POC and women.

[-]

FinsFan305@reddit

Yet they have high percentages of POC and women residents. Can’t be that hostile.

[-]

Landwarrior5150@reddit

I don’t follow the logic here. You can absolutely be hostile towards someone without completely getting rid of them (which in this case would mean something extreme like murdering them or banishing them from the state). Likewise, the people who the hostility is directed towards may stay there anyway for many different reasons, such as family/employment ties, being unable to afford to move elsewhere, etc.

[-]

Aspen9999@reddit

I’d also like to comment that even for US citizens born here that there are multiple accents from various regions around the country.

[-]

Silly_Animator@reddit

There are pockets of states that you would consider hostile to foreigners but I wouldn’t generalize whole states as being hostile. Most people would be nice even if you are not from there. Also yes naturalized Americans are Americans. It is not a weird concept here is a because of our history but I could see it as weird if you were from a country that isn’t a settler culture like China or France.

[-]

KCalifornia19@reddit

Yes. I view this as the sacrosanct, founding principle of the United States.

If American exceptionalism can even be argued to exist, it’s this idea that should support it. I think recent history is ultimately a death knell to exclusionary white supremacy. I hope so, at least.

[-]

pudding7@reddit

Yes.

[-]

san_souci@reddit

Yes. If they are a citizen, consider themselves an American, and their primary alliance is to the U.S., I consider them Americans despite any accent or continued cultural practices.

[-]

this-guy1979@reddit

I’m proud to accept naturalized citizens as Americans. I was taught that we were a melting pot, which is what made us great. I love that the Statue of Liberty has a plaque saying, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

[-]

GOTaSMALL1@reddit

I am a pick-up driving college dropout that works construction and loves to shoot stuff.

Come, work, live, raise your family and be an American. Happy to have you.

[-]

TheDangerist@reddit

Yes. Wholly and absolutely.

[-]

soon2Brevealed@reddit

Naturalized u.s. citizens, know more about the constitution than most Americans.

[-]

chihuahua2023@reddit

Absolutely.

[-]

Esmer_Tina@reddit

Yes. When I was younger I would get really emotional about naturalization. This latest anti-immigration trend really upsets me.

[-]

Surprised-elephant@reddit

Yes I don’t care about immigration status or if you born here. If you live here. You are my neighbor and American.

[-]

masonic-youth@reddit

Of course

[-]

GoodCallMeatball@reddit

I grew up in Los Angeles, California and given the diversity and large numbers of immigrants from all over the world never thought twice about someone's accent or language or frankly ever really questioned if someone was a "real American".

[-]

FondleGanoosh438@reddit

Well said. I grew up in LA county and anyone trying to make an honest dollar in this country is wanted and welcome. Too bad there’s a lot of people born here making dishonest dollars.

[-]

TheLurkingMenace@reddit

We're a nation of immigrants.

[-]

elle_quay@reddit

Naturalized citizens tried hard for a long time to become citizens. It’s not an easy path. They wanted it more than many people who were geographically lucky when they were born. So, yeah, if they want to be American, they are American to me.

[-]

FondleGanoosh438@reddit

I consider them more American in some ways. An immigrant who comes in to make a better life is living the American dream. Really the only upward mobility is people come from piss poor countries to make a decent living here.

[-]

Altruistic-Pizza999@reddit

there are people that were born here with all kinds of different accents and languages so… yes, they’re still american. that’s the thing about america. it’s not just one group of people, it’s people from all over the world. there are native/indigenous americans and even among them, many many different languages and cultures.

[-]

LastOfTheAsparagus@reddit

It depends on who you ask. We have people here that yell go back to your country to indigenous people.

[-]

Powerful_Image6294@reddit

No one loves America more than immigrants.

[-]

smugbox@reddit

Yes of course

[-]

CyanCitrine@reddit

If you're an American, you're an American. Have whatever accent or language.

America is huge and diverse but where I live, we have an incredibly varied bunch of people, lots of immigrants. I live in the suburbs of a large city with lots of first gen immigrants and lots of accents and cultures. It's great. If they're american citizens, of course they're americans. They're almost more american because they worked so hard to become one, to me.

[-]

Bluemonogi@reddit

If you are naturalized then you are a citizen. Doesn’t matter if you have an accent.

[-]

Danibear285@reddit

It’s as American as tandoori chicken pizza and Tex-Mex!

[-]

Pale_Space_4144@reddit

Yep. If you're a citizen, you're one of us. Almost the whole country is from some sort of immigrant lineage, really.

[-]

michelle427@reddit

I do. I think they are even more American than me because they chose to come here. Take the classes, take the test, they worked harder to be an American. I was just born here. So were my parents and grandparents. (Only with my great grandparents are when you get immigrants. Germany and Canada).

[-]

AliMcGraw@reddit

A citizen of the US is someone who loves this country enough to jump through bullshit hoops, and they are just as American as I am, if not moreso. I have been to the citizenship ceremonies of friends and waved my tiny American flags and listened to impassioned judges doing the best damn part of their jobs. I welcome everyone who wants to be an American. I wish my country did better at welcoming all comers.

[-]

Much_Usual_3855@reddit

Yes, America should accept people from all cultures except the Dutch.

[-]

tcspears@reddit

Yes, Americans all have different backgrounds and accents. That’s the beauty of the US: anyone can come here and become an American.

[-]

DriblyRedwyne@reddit

Yes. 250 years ago last week, on April 6, 1776, the revolutionary government of the American colonies announced that its ports would be open to world trade rather than just to the ships and merchants of imperial Great Britain. The patchwork assemblage of world trade that flooded the colonies represents the global nature of "the real America", and the labor of its diverse peoples the reason it is a world power it is today.

[-]

drumzandice@reddit

Yes

[-]

Neuvirths_Glove@reddit

Of course.

[-]

airberger@reddit

Real Americans consider naturalized citizens to be real Americans.

[-]

Leona_Faye_@reddit

Yep! All day long.

[-]

smcwill63@reddit

Yes

[-]

Henry_Fleischer@reddit

As far as I'm concerned, if you live in the US, you're an American. This is pretty close to how citizenship worked during the Civil War, a lot of people back then got their citizenship automatically, then got drafted, thinking they were just spending a few years in the US before returning home.

[-]

leeloocal@reddit

Yeah. Lawrence Welk was a born and raised American whose first language was German, and he spoke with an accent.

[-]

Eastern-Heart9486@reddit

Yes absolutely

[-]

dobster1029@reddit

I do.

There are too many who do not.

[-]

TheRealDudeMitch@reddit

Americans are born all over the world every single day. They just haven’t all come home yet.

[-]

bjbigplayer@reddit

Yes 100% yes. When you realize the nation was built on the backs of immigrants you welcome them as essential parts of the American family. These folks bust their hump and deserve our respect.

[-]

mikegalos@reddit

Absolutely

[-]

PaepsiNW@reddit

I’m a daughter of a naturalized citizen, so yes.

[-]

DadPuncher69@reddit

Yes, of course.

[-]

filkerdave@reddit

100% real Americans

[-]

Mirabeaux1789@reddit

Naturalized Americans are generally held in high regard. they’re an active part of our immigrant story and the values that we treasure as a nation.

I will say that culturally 2nd and 3rd generation immigrants feel more American as in “another one in the crowd” kind of way if that makes sense? Like they just feel like Americans that have family that way rather than being immigrants. However, I will say that people who go through the process of becoming citizens up here to really put in the effort to joining our culture and want to be part of us. They bring with them their past, but they do feel quite noticeably American in their own right.

[-]

hrdbeinggreen@reddit

All the ones I know I totally accept! They are amazing and went through so much to come here and worked hard to pass the tests. Each are very grateful to be an American citizen now.

[-]

AfroSarah@reddit

Of course

[-]

WCather@reddit

Southerners also have a foreign accent and a different language. They also pine for the days they were in open rebellion against the federal government for their states' rights to buy and sell people.

If they're American, naturalized citizens most certainly are, and more so.

[-]

mtcwby@reddit

Absolutely. And they can be some of the biggest patriots there are appreciating the freedoms we have. If you've gone through the effort, more power to you and welcome to the club.

[-]

Admirable_Bus5827@reddit

Yes. They are as American as apple pie and baseball.

[-]

mckenzie_keith@reddit

They are as American as chow mein or tacos.

[-]

Admirable_Bus5827@reddit

Even better.

[-]

mckenzie_keith@reddit

I am fond of apple pie, don't get me wrong!

[-]

Admirable_Bus5827@reddit

No worries.

[-]

ehs06702@reddit

Why would we consider them different. A lot of people (myself included) strongly believe that once you come here and you take the oath, you're one of us. Being born elsewhere doesn't bar you from being American.

We're made of all races and nationalities. There's no America without immigrants.

[-]

altarwisebyowllight@reddit

The concept of America is built on the foundation of immigration.

Anybody who doesn't understand that--and griefs the hard-working people who come here to contribute to our society while working towards the American Dream--can fuck off. They are anti-Americans, not the people who bust their asses to achieve citizenship.

[-]

No_Sorbet_5754@reddit

We are a nation of immigrants. That is the history of the U.S. and our foundation.

[-]

jessek@reddit

Yes.

[-]

cevapi-rakija-repeat@reddit

Yes, this is what America is all about, despite the worst among us trying to change it.

[-]

pueraria-montana@reddit

Yeah. That’s like the main thing about us.

[-]

username-generica@reddit

My family on both sides came to the US from England more than 200 years ago. My husband came to the US for college, which is where we met. He became a citizen in 2008 via our marriage. We have 2 kids who were born in the US. We’re all Americans.

[-]

ron_spanky@reddit

Yes

[-]

EverySingleMinute@reddit

Absolutely

[-]

altblank@reddit

so a naturalized citizen isn't a "foreigner" by your definition.

almost everyone here comes from somewhere else. if they personally aren't imports, someone in their ancestry is or was.

think of this as a melting pot.

[-]

jackfaire@reddit

Yes. My very existence is the result of immigrants from all over Europe coming to the US and Canada and having families that would converge in Montana to make myself and my siblings.

Some of my ancestors fought in American wars going back to the Revolution. Some got here relatively last week. I say Gesundheit not God bless you. I love spicy food and barely seasoned food and heavily seasoned food.

I'm a mutt and I welcome all comers.

[-]

gremel9jan@reddit

yes

[-]

sleepygrumpydoc@reddit

Yes. I even consider my neighbor who isn’t technically a citizen an American as he has been here for decades has no plans on leaving and loves America more than anything.

[-]

Bright_Ices@reddit

Of course naturalized citizens are Americans. Anyone who considers America their true home is American in my book.

[-]

FinsFan305@reddit

Once they are legal citizens they are Americans to me.

[-]

Building_a_life@reddit

As the other comments make clear, yes we believe they are real Americans. Some may ask how come we elected a president and administration that believes the opposite. Because a plurality of us are hypocrites?

[-]

FinsFan305@reddit

Legal vs illegal immigration is very different. Any naturalized citizen who spent thousands and filled out paperwork will explain this to you.

[-]

cool_weed_dad@reddit

Yes. My family goes back to the Mayflower, and even they were immigrants.

Unless you’re Native American everyone that lives here comes from an immigrant family.

[-]

Ayuuun321@reddit

Yes. The US has many accents. You’d think you were on another planet if you tried to talk to someone with a thick Louisiana accent.

The US has many languages, too. Most of us don’t speak the native tongue because our ancestors forced the natives to speak English.

[-]

Illinikek@reddit

Yes

[-]

Ok-Energy-9785@reddit

Yes

[-]

MrChristmas99@reddit

Yes, that’s the point of America! That’s the spirit that’s been stolen from us by bigots and supremacists, no ethnicity owns America or her history entirely.

[-]

Remarkable_Ship_4673@reddit

Yes

An American is an American

[-]

JimDemintRecession@reddit

Yes. Albert Einstein is an American from New Jersey. This is not controversial to Americans.

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Eric848448@reddit

Yes I do. They did more to be American than I ever did.

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houdini31@reddit

Absolutely-if someone is willing to go through all it takes to get that then I will always have all the respect in the world for them as a fellow American.

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SippsMccree@reddit

Yes, and I can promise you that as long as you are proud to be an American and the opportunities it so provides you'll find scant few that will view you negatively

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Senpai2Savage@reddit

Ehhh kinda

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Throwaway_anon-765@reddit

Yes.

Accents shouldn’t really matter. This is a huge country, and we all have regional accents. Even within states, we have differing accents. So, someone comes here and brings an accent, they’ll fit in, in a way.

America used to be called the melting pot. I still believe we are one. We’re fighting to keep it that way. People who come here are part of our country, they add to the diversity and richness.

America also does not have a national language. So, having a different language (in theory) shouldn’t matter. I think coming to a foreign country and learning another language is incredible.

I know not every American would agree with me. But, this is what my America looks like.

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BusyMap9686@reddit

Yes

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professorfunkenpunk@reddit

Yes, but a lot of Americans don’t. Look at all the whining about Somalis in MN. They’re almost all citizens

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Relay13Incident@reddit

Of course. Obviously there are going to be certain groups that don’t feel the same way but those guys are outliers the majority consensus is that legal immigrants are as American as the rest of us. It’s with illegal immigrates that you start treading into controversial issues.

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cdiddy19@reddit

I think culturally, no, a lot of people would assume and suspect these people are foreigners and not citizens.

I think there c are a subset of people who do.

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SamsonOccom@reddit

The North couldn't have won the Civil War without German and Irish immigrants

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AmerikanerinTX@reddit

The US has no official language. You can go all over America and find different languages. I dont mean just some recent immigrants, im talking entire communities. Spanish, Yiddish, French, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Navajo/Diné. The language you speak has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not you're American.

Furthermore, most Americans don't even care about citizenship status. It really doesnt matter to us at all. If youre here, that's american enough for most of us.

One small caveat: yes ofc to a small degree, your accent may identify you as foreign. And americans may forever call you the german, or the Aussie, or Canadian, but that is more just a fun fact, the same way we'd say 'my Mormon friend' or 'my lawyer friend' or 'my super short friend.'

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minicpst@reddit

It also shows that Americans are very curious about where your family came from since we are a nation of immigrants. “Oh, you’re an O’Brien? Irish?” Their family may have been here 150 years, but you’re still “Irish”.

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ElectricSnowBunny@reddit

First, yes. One of us.

Second, I have a hard time sometimes following some accents and speech patterns from natives here in Georgia, so 'foreign accents" are kind of normal here even between even native speaking Americans from different areas of the states.

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Mouse-Direct@reddit

Yes. It hasn’t been 100 years since Ellis Island in New York harbor (the largest immigration processing station) closed. Most Americans have immigrant relatives within the last 50-100 years. The loud anti-immigrant noise of the past 10 years is the Republican Party attempting to convince Americans of European stock that their economic and educational issues stem from immigrants from Mexico, Central American, and Eastern Africa. Those problems in fact stem from Republican Party policies. Go figure.

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Crafty_Ish1973@reddit

Yes.

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Quack_Mode@reddit

Yes.

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haileyskydiamonds@reddit

Yes, of course.

I mean, we all have some sort of accent, don’t we? I live in south Louisiana, and we have a unique culture, dialect, and language within America.

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Impossible_Jury5483@reddit

Of course.

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Spirited-Way2406@reddit

Yes. Tossed salads are better than melting pots.

Americans who pretend to have the right to decide whether other Americans are "really" American are not welcome in my home.

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alabamerpammer@reddit

I don't treat anyone specifically as a "foreigner" or a "citizen" I just treat them as people.

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isweatglitter17@reddit

One of my very close family friends was born in India, raised in Australia, and came to the United States as an adult for work. He is visibly Indian with an Australian accent, which throws everyone off.

But I've never given it a second thought. I met him when I was maybe 5 years old? He got his citizenship when I was in high-school. He's family, he's an uncle to me. I never thought of him "not belonging" or even not being a citizen until learning about him going through the citizenship process.

And maybe that just set me up to be respectful and understanding of immigrants and not worry about if they are "real" Americans or not.

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ElectronGuru@reddit

The only “real” Americans are natives. Everyone else is an immigrant or descended from. My lineage only goes back to the 1500’s, so I’m in the later group.

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seldom_seen8814@reddit

There's a term we have for naturalized citizens here: Americans.

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JackYoMeme@reddit

I don't consider you a "local" unless you ski at least 30 days a year...you're still a real American though, I don't really consider myself the judge of that.

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Senior-Cantaloupe-69@reddit

Yes. If you’re a citizen or legal resident, you belong. Americans love legal immigrants.

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earthhominid@reddit

What else would a citizen be?

But yes, there are pockets (not entire states like you framed it) that are more hostile to foreigners

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NaomiiiTwinz@reddit

Yep

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Renamis@reddit

Yes. We aren't really like other countries, we're a collection of people who came here from everywhere possible who decided to stay here. We're all "real Americans", and blessedly we have a bunch of different kinds of Americans.

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huz92@reddit

yes

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tretaaysel@reddit

Yes, of course. They're still Americans. Just by choice rather than birth circumstance.

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damnyankee26@reddit

I consider us all passengers on planet earth. Fuck everything about the lottery of where you were born.

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Bigmtnskier91@reddit

What exactly is a “real” American? All of us came here besides a select few natives. Go watch gangs of ny. We’re the Irish immigrants less of real Americans, even though they fought for the union? Are former confederacy states less real because they staged a rebellion? The slaves who were brought here, or the Mexican farm workers toiling years on crops in America and living over the border?

In my belief, those who draw these lines threaten the foundation our country was built on.

It used to be that we were a nation proud of newcomers. We were proud they were learning about us and happy to be here. We would be proud of people from all walks of life taking citizenship tests and becoming an American. Obviously getting here illegally has its perils both life threatening and getting sent back. I’m not talking about illegal immigration here. But that’s another can of worms, since a hundred years ago you just showed up on a boat to Ellis Island.

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HoldOnHelden@reddit

1000% yes.

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Phoenix_Court@reddit

Yes. "American" isn't an ethnicity, unlike some other places. So we don't really see one race, accent, etc. as "American". If you're a citizen, you're American. In fact naturalized citizens are sometimes respected more because they chose it and put in a lot of work to accomplish it.

For anyone who hasn't read it, I highly recommend the book American On Purpose by Craig Ferguson. It's his autobiography, but the part where he talks about becoming a US citizen was really thought provoking to me, and in some ways kind of made me proud to be American just by proxy.

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TycheSong@reddit

Of course? They're American, and worked just as hard for it (or more) than most of my ancestors did.

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Brilliant-Virus7290@reddit

r/no

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FerricDonkey@reddit

Title: yes. Second question: mostly no, though you can find turds if try.

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Amarastargazer@reddit

They put far more effort in to become a citizen than I did by just being born here. They left their home and everything they know to be here. They are citizens.

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gard3nwitch@reddit

I do, yes. America is an idea, and if they support that idea enough to go through the whole process of citizenship, that seems real to me.

That being said, there are plenty of folks especially in rural areas who'd disagree. There are unfortunately plenty of people who think that being from a city makes you not a real American, or being a certain race or religion or being gay.

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