As we discussed a few days ago, Emily Blunt has been joking about her new American citizenship while she promotes her film, Sicario. She took her citizenship oath the same day as the first GOP Debate, and she’s made several jokes about how watching the debate made her think that becoming a citizen was “a terrible mistake.” Which is fine with me, part of being an American is hating on our idiotic politicians. What bugged me was that she described her naturalization as “sad” and “not entirely thrilling.” That smacked of privilege to me, just because… there are seriously SO MANY undocumented immigrants who would love the opportunity to become legal citizens. They are fighting so hard and coming across so many roadblocks and all they want to do is call themselves Americans. If Emily really had such ambivalence about becoming a citizen, why bother? That was my problem with her statements, although Fox News jumped over everything she said and told her to take her crumpet back to jolly old England or whatever.
So, Emily heard all of the complaints and she attempted some damage control on the Today Show yesterday morning. First, she was asked about taking her citizenship oath and Blunt changed her tune in a hurry, saying: “It’s really meaningful. You know, I mean, my two favorite people in the world are American — my husband and my daughter. It was kind of a special day. Yeah, it was great!” When asked specifically about her comments about the GOP Debate, Blunt flat-out apologized: “It was so not the intention to hurt anybody or cause any offense, so I really apologize to those that I caused offense. It was just an offhand joke. I think I’ll probably leave the political jokes to late night or something.” Yeah… except she was telling variations of those jokes in several outlets over the course of two weeks. But whatever, she apologized. Embrace her again, ‘Merica!
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
Oh my god, she should NOT have apologized and just told Fox & Friends to stuff it. Having said that, this is one of the rare times I am glad to hear the “sorry not sorry” apology, “Sorry if YOU were offended.”
OH For heavens sake. She doesn’t have to apologize.
It was a joke. A subtle one.
People are just looking for offense.
That’s what I said.
Yep. There was no need to apologize. If some people are so sensitive they cannot see it is a joke that is not her fault.
If she was SAD at the ceremony and NOT ENTIRELY THRILLED I see no nothing wrong with that. Perfectly normal of anyone renouncing an old way for a new one. It must be done you know it’s for the better but there is still that element of “renouncing” a place that was so good to you and it’s where your parents/siblings/many relatives still live.
If she had asked my advice I would have told her that she cannot help it if there are some people who have no sense of humor. But thankfully the majority does.
@Addison, you said, in your second paragraph what I was going to say . I bet even the immigrants who really want to become citizens of the US feel some kind of “sadness” when it happens. They’re still denouncing something that held at least some kind of good memory to them (family, living where they grew up, their kids seeing their culture first hand, etc.). So yes, they want better opportunities, but I bet if a lot of them had better opportunities at home, they wouldn’t give up their homes because it still means something to them. So of course there’s going to be some kind of sadness (for some people).
me too, she really didn’t owe an apology. especially because, as she points out, her husband and daughter are american, so anyone with half a brain could have understood she was clearly joking.
This. Also she didnt said anything bad, Emily just implied that she loves her country
I agree, that is one of the few times the non-apology is appropriate.
From what I can tell, she was simply joking, and this is one of those times that the internet/media outrage machine got worked up for nothing.
“…the internet/media outrage machine…” A good description of Fox News in particular.
Every time this happens, it also cheapens the meaning and necessity for a very real apology and opportunity to examine a genuine issue (looking at Matt Damon).
I like her non-apology. Would have liked it better if she hadn’t apologized at all. This dumbing-down, PR pandering to the lowest idgit denominator drives me nuts.
Agreed. The whole celeb apology sh*t is getting tiresome.
I’m sorry you feel that way.
+1
Some topics are worth an apology but apologizing for everything is exhausting. And she clearly made a joke.
At this point it’s the apology that is worse.
She said it and meant it. She wasn’t excited on changing citizenship. There was truth in her joke/statements. Own it.
Just like she backtracked on saying how she’d never want to be a spear carrier in a Tom Cruise film.
I couldn’t agree more. Sometimes criticism is warranted but increasingly there’s this witch hunt mentality that makes me supremely uncomfortable and tired.
Seriously, she said nothing offensive! I’m so tired of celebs never standing by their statements… everyone is always apologising for anything that might offend anyone. Exhausting!
I agree.
Seriously agree she said nothing wrong. I also don’t think it’s offensive that she felt sad and wistful about having to denounce the Queen. Whether you are privileged or poor there is something sad about leaving your homeland behind even if it’s a good thing in general.
I’m an American. I wasn’t offended by Emily’s statement. I don’t quite understand the outrage.
Oh well.
I could excuse the offhanded remark about citizenship after watching the debate circus but to describe the naturalization ceremony as “sad” is disturbing.
I don’t think she described the ceremony as sad, just that she felt some sadness because she felt like she was giving up a piece of her beloved British heritage.
Internet outrage machine seems to still be going strong.
I love London and have considered living there. It didn’t work out, but if I had, and had become a citizen, I would have felt very sad to say that I renounced the U.S.. That has nothing to do with England. I would just feel that a part of my life was over, or a part of my identity had changed. I think that’s what she meant, and I don’t think she should have to apologize.
What I find disturbing is that she was able to jump the line. Why didn’t she have to do what everyone has to? Because she has a career here?
I’m interested in how that (US) career became a reality in the first place. I thought the process to even get a visa (not to mention a green card) was extremely long and difficult. To get a visa to work in the US don’t you have to prove that you have unique skills and experience that are difficult to find and that you can’t be taking a job away from a qualified American. Hmmm, there’s a shortage of actors in America? Right, that’s why so many are working tables at restaurants.
Bearcat Lawyer, are you reading this?
She didn’t jump the line. She was eligible for early citizenship because she is married to a U.S. citizen. Spouses of U.S. citizens only have to be legal permanent residents for 3 years instead of 5 in order to apply for naturalization. And to be honest, we do not know when she actually obtained her green card because USCIS recognizes common law marriage for green card purposes. Or she could have gotten a green card through her work as an actress.
As for feeling sad, I find it very offensive that people are judging her for how she feels. She clearly thought a lot about what she was doing and why, unlike some of my clients who treat naturalization as just another hoop to jump through. Yes, there are many people who would love to be U.S. citizens and she is definitely very lucky in life, but that does not – nor should not – negate how she feels about giving up (even ceremonially) her national identity. I am very glad she issued a non-apology because, frankly she has NOTHING to apologize for.
Every immigrant’s journey is different. But one thing I can say unequivocally after nearly 20 years in this field is that every journey is hard in its own way. NONE of my clients – even the wealthy, educated ones who were virtually guaranteed to get a visa or green card – had it easy. My former legal assistant and I watch Alexandra Pelosi’s documentary film “Citizenship U.S.A.” whenever we have a bad day. We cry almost nonstop throughout it, even though it is arguably a very happy, positive film. But we cry because we KNOW what these new citizens have survived to get to their natz ceremonies and how many twists, turns, and roadblocks they likely faced in their journeys.
And free speech is a right enshrined in the Constitution. Faux News keeps forgetting that the First Amendment applies to people in the U.S., including noncitizens – not just them.
Er, are you sure she jumped the line (or got special treatment)?
In yesterday’s thread, a lot of people were wondering why she bothered getting citizenship. I googled to see if she’d given a reason, couldn’t find one, but did stumble across an old interview (2010) talking about how hard it was to get a green card. http://www.accesshollywood.com/emily-blunt-its-amazing-how-difficult-it-is-to-get-a-green-card_video_1266146
Seems like she went through the same process as anyone else claiming green-card/citizenship via marriage.
Edit to add: just saw Bearcat’s reply. The video is from December 2010, and she was anticipating another 5 months until she received the greencard. So she’s probably been a permanent resident since mid 2011.
Caitlin – in general most employment based green cards DO require a showing that there are no willing, able, or qualified U.S. workers. The sponsoring employer has to attempt to recruit for the job for at least six months, and the advertising of the position and the recruitment must be conducted in a very specific format.
Artists, Olympic athletes, top-notch researchers, etc. are a different story. Someone like Eddie Redmayne who was already won an Oscar as well as a slew of awards in other countries does NOT have to go through the same process. Even an actress who has not won an Oscar but has a long list of successful films to her credit and lesser awards in the U.S. and overseas can get a green card without having to prove there are no other U.S. actresses willing, able, and qualified to perform the roles.
However, I am pretty sure that she got her green card through marriage to her U.S. citizen husband. Spouses, parents, and unmarried children under age 21 are first in line for green cards, and the timing of her citizenship process suggests she also applied early for U.S. citizenship based on being a spouse of a U.S. citizen.
I also thought of a big reason why she would want to naturalize: estate taxes. Noncitizens do not get the same tax exclusions and limits that citizens do. Now that she has a daughter, it probably made sense for her to naturalize so in case anything happened to her, her husband and daughter would not pay huge death duties or forced to sell off assets to satisfy the IRS.
Before her marriage she probably would have qualified for the “alien with special talents” visa. I think that’s the one Justin Bieber has.
I am with you and Bearcatlawyer on this one. I got what she said.
@Lucrezia
No, I’m not sure she jumped the line. I just read that.
It’s disturbing that you find the comment disturbing.
You are forgiven. You made a good pait with my man Tom Cruise so I could never be angry with you for long
She really had no reason to apologise – it was very obvious she was joking.
Some of the comments under the previous article were more offensive than what she said.
agreed. i had to stop reading.
+1
At the end of the day, sometimes I like to go through posts and read any comments I might have missed. At the end of that particular day I chose to skip the American Citizen Emily post.
“I’m not wading back into that mess,” said I.
Me Too, Threads Like That are becoming too frequent and starting to keep me the fuck away, that type of commentariat is who I Block on fb and twitter, like, I don’t come here for that?
Also If she wasn’t Joking Her Feelings were still Valid as hell, speaking as someone that went through the same experience (naturalization) and the same misgivings
This times a billion. That thread was one of the most disappointing things I’ve ever read on CB. “Sounds like a personal problem” my lily white ass.
That said GET HYPE for Sicario! Gonna go see it tonight.
Is it tonight already Mimif? I think i need to go throw money at it (im still so sad I missed the Amy winehouse doc and now I cant find it!)
Damnit, I have the major dumbs, it’s not til Oct 2nd. And I still haven’t seen the Amy doc either. *hangs head*
THANK YOU!! As one of those people with the same feelings she has I thank you. And, yes I’ve been told “If you don’t love the USA, get back to where you came from.” Even though I never said I don’t love America; just that I’m conflicted.
What I found made some, but not all, people think was asking them “If you went to France and lived there for 20 years, would you take out French citizenship and renounce your allegiance to the US?” NEVER, said everyone.
Thanks for letting me say this here.
Threads like that are just one more reason why we need to bring Hot Guy Friday back. Back in the old days when threads would devolve into everyone just yelling at each other, Hot Menz Appreciation Day was the only thing that could unite all of us.
I’m with Kitten on this one. Hot Guy Friday would bring some much needed lightheartedness to us all.
(Still secretly hoping CB will dig out vintage scandal bits on a regular basis. Nudge, nudge.)
What Kitten said! Please, bring HGF back!!!!
Or even One Hot Guy Friday. Doesn’t have to be zillions.
Yes, some of the comments on that thread were very stupid. Including mine, for which I am very sorry. i never had a problem with what she said, but tried to explain why I get defensive when people bash my country. I did a bad job of it, and made everything worse. It made me really think about some of my own reactions, which is a good thing, but I’m just sorry I opened my big mouth.
I’m sad she had to apologize for a joke. I guess John will now apologize for what he said about Matthew McConaughey?
Yes, I felt the same way about the comments on her last post. Both sides got very petty and combative, it was totally not needed. I highly doubt someone who willingly came here to work and has an American spouse meant anything by her joking comments. I’m used to CB being a light hearted place with intelligent people, not a bunch of bickering trolls.
Same thing happened on the R.Patz post, ‘Murica bled red.
There was no need to apologize. It was obviously a joke.
It seems like we should keep a signed apology in our pockets at all times.
Honestly, having Donald trump and some of the other candidates
running for president and getting so much coverage is highly embarrassing for everyone….I dont blame her for any political comments. I don’t think she meant any offense and while she was probably sad not to be totally english, she wouldn’t have done it unless it was something really important to her and her family.
Oh Lord why do they always back peddle because they upset someone. Stick to your convictions people. It may not always be popular but we do have the right to free speech…..see Emily how good America is.
she didn’t backpedal, she explained the joke (because that’s what it was!) and then gave a non-apology to the offended.
She apologized. That was my point. If you say something, own it.
The “murica crowd needs to get over itself. We can’t fix problems until we admit that there are problems and their selfish jingoism prevents that while our infrastructure crumbles around us and we divide ourselves with bigotry and hatred.
No doubt that the bigoted piece of scum who asked Trump how he plans to get rid of Muslims jumped all over Emily when Fox News rang the bell.
I love Emily, she was clearly joking, and there was a overreaction….BUT I get why people are annoyed (just think the backlash was OTT) because I was rubbed the wrong way. I completely agree that she sounded like she was coming from an extreme place of privilege because there are people who would kill to become citizens and have a much more difficult time obtaining citizenship.
The thing that rankles me when comments like this about America pop up from celebrities is that said celebrities are often white, wealthy, very privileged people from the U.K. (which frankly isn’t any better than the U.S. when it comes to meddling in other foreign countries) or other western European countries. As a WOC, I’d be a little more understanding if it was a foreign POC who was shocked by the racism or issues that we have after experiencing it firsthand….I know that’s not entirely fair of me, but I just cringe because my relatives and ancestors fought and sweat to get into this country and love it even if we recognize its flaws. To have some wealthy white British actress essentially say that she could take it or leave it just rubs me the wrong way..
but it was a joke!! she did become a citizen right? she never said she could take it or leave it, obviously if she CHOSE to do it, it’s because it mattered to her and to her american husband & daughter.
i’m a brit. she was joking about it the way brits do about these sort of things. if it had been an american actor making similar statements on a british talk show about becoming a british citizen, no one would have bat an eyelid. for as problematic as the brits are, at least they don’t take themselves all that seriously all the time.
As I said, it was clearly a joke and the overreaction to her joke was beyond dumb. It still was a joke that rubbed me the wrong way a bit though and like Kaiser I found it to be a bit privileged and dismissive imo. I chalk this up to a cultural difference in several ways, especially when it comes to the idea of patriotism. I’m a far-left WOC who is the first person in line to poke fun of the GOP and their overly patriotic supporters, but I still think there’s a certain way to “talk” and “joke” about patriotism and this wasn’t it.
Apparently as a Brit you have a very selective memory regarding Brits taking themselves seriously. Perhaps you forget what happened to Chelsea Clinton when she was studying in Britain? It was a day or two after 9-11 and she said ( Very understandably! ) that she had a yearning to be back with friends and family in the US. The British public went bananas.
I clearly remember watching the news and seeing one British woman say, “Well if she wants to go back to the US so badly she should just leave already!” And then there were the other Brits crowing and getting out their pitchforks. Unbelievable. A catastrophe had just occurred in the country and there was not an ounce of empathy or understanding for this poor girl. And she didn’t even say anything negative about the UK! She was forced to apologize.
So spare me with your “we don’t take ourselves so seriously. ” I thought the joke she made about the GOP was funny. But like Kaiser I thought she could have been a tad more gracious about becoming a citizen.
@blanche, I don’t have selective memory. I was about 11/12 in 2001, so I have no recollection of this chelsea incident, probably due to the fact I never heard of it. I tried to google it and check for myself, but I can’t find anything on the internet so I have to take your word. nevertheless, I have no idea what the context was, so I can’t judge whether the reaction was the same as with emily. if you have any links I’m happy to check them out, although tbh I suspect the fact she was clinton’s daughter might have had something to do with it, but anyway…
that said, your reaction basically just proved me right about SOME (I can tell not all obviously) taking themselves too seriously. i actually do think brits take themselves far less seriously and have a tendency to self-deprecate their own culture in a way americans don’t, but I also added brits are problematic. i wasn’t claiming any superiority, just pointing out that it’s silly to take her JOKE so seriously. if she hadn’t been joking then fine, but she was, and it was bloody well clear.
@Blanche The ‘British’ reaction to Chelsea Clintons comments was pretty much fabricated by the American press. Most of us could have cared less/weren’t even aware of it.
I love how the same people who shriek “PC POLICE” when someone makes a nasty joke about women, minorities, LGBT people, get so upset and indignant about a little joke like the one she made.
Also, did the people responding to her actually watch the debate? She has a point…
No kidding. People will dismiss, support or say the most ignorant racist garbage but this comparatively innocuous non-insult lands and it’s war.
Privilege, privilege, privilege. I thought aspiring to be wealthy and privileged was the American Dream.
Well said.
Aside. I saw Emily in “Salmon Fishing in Yemen” and she was absolutely radiant. Maybe a few years, having a child, and living in ‘Murica is what stole most of that radiance.
Is she unhappy with her life? Maybe that’s the issue.
I remember my citizenship oath ceremony – I did feel a bit sad, like I was giving up a little piece of my heritage. That doesn’t mean you don’t also feel pride.
Also, one of the freedoms we have as citizens -Emily Blunt included – is to freely speak critically of the political process and politicians. Those who are jumping on her now have missed that, and have missed one of the key points of our Constitutional freedom. They have a right to disagree with her, but they’re acting as though she didn’t have a right to say what she did. But she does have that right, and it’s protected.
I have daydreamed my whole life about becoming British, but if I had to renounce my country of origin, it would make me a little sad, too. What’s wrong with having mixed emotions?
I’m a heck of a lot more p.o.’d at R-Patz saying being called American is “the biggest insult”
I said the same above. I think it’s natural to have mixed feelings unless you came to another country because you hated your own.
I think most people who leave or flee their country do not hate their country, but the government or the executors of power who harm them. Or they leave for economic reasons, not for disliking their country of origin.
And you may take citizenship of another country for many different reasons and I believe that a lot of people see citizenship as having the status of a member of a state versus nationality as in ethnicity.
Dang. The Borg got to her.
Aren’t everyone’s feelings valid? People who are waiting for years to become citizens have their right to be offended by her comments.
It was blown out of proportions. I don’t think she wanted to hurt anyone, just a bad joke. She just missed the perspective. It’s not fair to jump on her and twist her words, but it’s also unfair to ignore them because one likes her.
It happens a lot in interviews, or even in comments on this site. No one is perfect but we all can learn new things and perspective while staying polite and respectful to each other.
If it was the people who are still waiting for their citizenship being offended, then I could see a reason to walk back the joke. However, we all know that the ones who were freaking out were the Fox fascists who were offended that a foreigner dare express an opinion that isn’t 100% Murica rah rah rah. Those assholes don’t need apologies.
We are starting to see it in Canada too with the Niqab story. It is the ones born here who are like “you must respect the oath and show your entire face!” when they never have had to make the oath themselves because they had the luck to be born here.
Hi, fellow Canadian here, and yes – people are obtuse when they don’t have to go through it themselves. I don’t see what showing one’s face has to do with giving an oath. What about people who’ve had plastic surgery, are badly scarred, are incapable of showing expression, etc. What is it about the face: Is there a gauge of sincerity in the eyes? Should someone be smiling, not smiling, or what? Should the eye crinkles match the mouth?
This is like being a woman in business and told (by a woman) that wearing a skirt shows more respect than wearing pants. How exactly does it do that? Aren’t nice tailored slacks more ‘respectful’ than wearing a jeans cutoff-skirt? What is this weird kind of man-sense?
Also – genuine question – what about people who cannot verbalize the oath due to reasons of medical or intellectual disability? I assume there are alternative means put forth for them to affirm their allegiance to their new country.
Ugh, I know. This country is becoming more ignorant, more intolerant and less caring and the world can see it. Hopefully we’ll start to get some of our sanity back, if only in policy, when we get Cold Miser out of office. Was never great with sexism and racism but now, oh boy. How do you slash funding for refugee services, pump up deportation services costs into the billions of dollars and say you’re fiscally conservative? Oh, wait, maybe…
Is she morphing into Megan Fox? If she is tweaking a la Hollywood demands she should stop.
She was probably told to apologize by the studio. Actors can’t make jokes these days because every sentence is analysed.
No need to apologize as it was a joke but am I the only one who thinks Emily always looks smug?
No, but I think it’s just her face. She can’t help it. Resting smugface
I don’t know about smug, but I’ve noticed – and I think someone pointed it out here before – that she never smiles unless she is promoting something or acting. Her expression in all candid/pap shots of her that I’ve seen is complete sourpuss.
Those paps can be tiresome, aggresssive and downright offensive so I wouldn’t expect anyone to give them a toothy grin (unless you are a dlister/reality wannabe and have called them) but many (most) other celebs especially the big ones can manage a neutral or pleasant expression as they go on about their business — George Clooney, Matt Damon, Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie —
Her sister smiles, but I would too married to Stanley Tucci <3
that’s so not true. it’s just her resting face, and you can’t help your face can you? she always comes across very pleasant as a person. she even commented on her facial expression early in her career, when she was asked why was she getting so many roles as a “bitch” and she said it was probably her face, especially her eyes.
I have RBF too, so I empathize. I was delighted when that expression was coined. It was a phrase we didn’t know we needed! I always just said, “I’m not mad; it’s just my face in repose,” but now I can say I have resting bitchface and everyone knows what it means.
The opposite of smiling is not ‘sourpuss,’ the opposite of smiling is simply not smiling. I’m glad she sets an example for her daughter of not feeling as if she has to make the world feel better by smiling all the time. That is not a woman’s responsibility. Maybe she’s a serious person, maybe it helps her maintain some sense of privacy, maybe she saves her warmth for the people most close to her, maybe she has other things on her mind, it’s not ours to judge. If non-actresses moved through airports grinning widely we’d wonder what was wrong with them.
You’re right, it’s about privilege. Which a lot of these people miss because they consider themselves liberal and open.
So do you people who were offended by her comments feel better now that she has apologized?
The Olde Etonian d***ks that make up most of the political (and every other) elite in Britain are the best reason to consider emigrating , but ridiculing the establishment is also a national past time and it wouldn’t be the same without them. I hope she doesn’t have to go through the rest of her life grovelling in gratitude and unable to take the micky; I couldn’t do it.
I know this was a generalisation but I have to say I disagree about your characterisation of the elites in Britain and I also don’t think it’s any different in the U.S. Most elites in Britain went to Oxbridge, yes (not Eton, the predominance of OEs in the elite is vastly exaggerated), but both Oxford and Cambridge have worked hard to increase the number of state school students and I have no problem with most of the elites coming from Oxbridge as long as admission to it is as fair and merit-based as possible.
And the U.S. is just the same, even someone who tries to appear outside of the political establishment like Ted Cruz went to Princeton and Harvard Law. Every country has its elites.
Yes, I am sorry, I agree with you wholeheartedly about Oxbridge. I was being flippant and I know a lot of people have worked hard to get there. I don’t agree about Eton and other similar schools though – it is no coincidence that at least three senior Tories were in the Pudding Club.
It might be true that every country has its elites, actually I will take that word back because to me it means the best and we are just talking about those who were born with an advantage, above and beyond their talents. They have their privilege, I have the right to mock them. I assume any American has the right to do the same, even if they are immigrants.
I agree that OEs and Old Harrovians etc have a somewhat disproportionate influence in the elites (particularly in politics and the arts, less so in areas like banking and law), but I do think it’s exaggerated in the media because of people like David Cameron, and it couldn’t be described as “most of the political (and other) elite”.
And absolutely you have the right to mock people who benefit unduly from their privilege, I agree completely. I just don’t think that it happens more so in the UK than in the US, so it shouldn’t particularly be a reason to consider emigrating.
Only Joking about that. The only thing that would make me leave Britain is the reinstatement of the death penalty and so the US is a definite no no for me.
I do not think she jumped the line, she is married to an American , so am I and I was able to get naturalized citizen less than 4 years from moving to the country. It’s an expedited process once you are married to an American.
On one hand I can’t blame her for apologising because a tidal wave of hate in social media must really be an awful way to ruin your day. On the other hand she said nothing wrong and I hate that she had to apologise to the PC police.
I think you have to consider the source. If I was the target of a tidal wave of hate coming from Fox News, I’d feel majorly honored.
I am so angry that she apologised!!! She is the one who is owed an apology from the bottom feeding pondscum that is Fox and friends. And as for the offenseratti that have dominated the discussion on this board…shame on you.
I am too. Too bad she caved. Pretty soon no one will be able to say anything because of OFFENDEDNESS. How bland the world will be.
When it comes to their great nation, Americans truly are some of the most thin-skinned people I have ever met. I lived 2 years in the US when I was a teenager, and the amount of people that got offended when I had the audacity to criticize anything about the country or its politics was really daunting. I can’t remember how many times I got asked if I preferred USA to my homecountry, and I would always say “No, of course not, I prefer Norway because that’s where I grew up”. And people looked at me like I was insane or had just said something incredibly offensive. They also didn’t like it when I refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at school, even though I wasn’t American.
Don’t get me wrong, I mostly enjoyed my time there and I do like the US for many reasons, but culturally, many things are very different from what non-Americans are used to, and it takes time to get used to those differences. American patriotism is one of those things, and personally, I never got used to it because it always felt more than a little odd to me.
I’m American and I’m annoyed she apologized. I’m sick of people apologizing for every little thing. It’s stupid.
Really. Leave the needless over-apologizing for the Canadians!
> can’t remember how many times I got asked if I preferred USA to my homecountry,
Yes, I also get asked this a lot. And I have a standard answer along the lines that “it is nice here” and that is that.
But inside I cringe, it is just like asking – do you still love you mother? The country where you were born and raised is like a mother. You can have different opinions about her, know her faults , but you can’t stop loving her. Never.
You can have two mothers, original and adopted, and you can love them both, you don’t have to give up the love for your first mother. Neither one is better.
How is it not obvious to people, I don’t know. But it isn’t. Some things can only be understood through experience, I guess.
I understand what she means. When I got married I was sad I was changing my last name. Not only because I went from 4 to 13 letters lol but it’s part of who you are. I also moved from being born and raised and living until I was 36 years old in NYC. Now I live in NJ and I do get sad just about moving to another state in the tri-state area! She can feel sad about her citizenship. Sheesh why can’t people take a joke or consider other people’s feelings. Everyone is different. She obviously did I because of her husband, child, job, taxes, etc. I say this was blown out of proportion and shouldn’t have even been an issue at all.
She has said anti-American things before, if memory serves me. So no, I shall not “embrace her again.”
I thought she came off like an entitled little ingrate, myself.
I don’t think she needed to apologize or should have apologized. Who wouldn’t feel conflicted about changing their citizenship? It sucks when your heart is in more than one place.
No one who actually read the whole article is slamming her because she is conflicted about losing her home country’s citizenship. (I wish people would read more closely.). What pissed many of us off was her snotty comment that requiring new citizens to renounce their former country (to ensure loyalty to th U.S.’s democratic system) was “so American”. Yeah? Damn straight, Emily. You’d better be sure.
Aaand here we go again.
What is she apologizing for? Yes there are illegal immigrants who would like to become citizens but not everyone is all gung ho about becoming an American citizen. Perish the thought! She’s allowed to express her opinion about it, privilege or no privilege. America is not the best ever. Get over yourselves.
@ Anyone who thought she should apologize
What does it mean to be an American?
I’m curious as I’m not American and don’t understand when people say “that’s American”.
It’s a genuine question, I’m curious : )
Can’t she retain her British citizenship and just gain another one, or does the US not allow dual citizenship? I could be wrong but I think I read that Rupert Murdoch has it (dual citizenship).