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Is an Expat Living Abroad a True American?
Best Places in the World to Retire ^ | July 4, 2016 | Chuck Bolotin

Posted on 07/04/2016 8:49:14 AM PDT by lulu16

"Are you still entitled to consider yourself an American if you choose to live abroad?

As Vice President of Business Development for Best Places in the World to Retire, I have been told by many people living abroad that they have been told (let’s say, by their sister-in-law, Betty) that, because of their decision to live abroad, they were no longer “American”. A month and a half ago, my wife and I crossed over the US – Mexico border into Mexico and became expats, which makes this is our first American Independence Day living abroad, and which makes Betty’s challenge now a personal one for me. Because I’m now living outside the US, am I now less American?

Before we see if you agree, let’s clear up come confusion by first defining the term “expat.” “Expat” is short for “expatriate”, which just means someone living outside his or her country of citizenship. It has nothing to with the word “patriot” or “patriotism.” “Expatriot” isn’t even a word. If you don’t believe me, look it up.

We can define “American” in two ways. The first should be pretty unarguable. An American is someone who is a citizen of the United States. So, unless someone renounces his or her citizenship, any US citizen living in the US or anywhere else in the world is still an American, which means that Betty is wrong in the legalistic sense.

But I believe that Betty is communicating something more, which is that if you choose to live outside the borders of the US, you relinquish your right to be included in the social or cultural group as an “American,” that perhaps you have rejected America, or that perhaps you are in some way less American than those living in the US..."

(Excerpt) Read more at bestplacesintheworldtoretire.com ...


TOPICS: Travel
KEYWORDS: american; expat
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To: Nifster

They also charge in the U.S. Where did you ever get the idea that they do not?


121 posted on 07/05/2016 3:30:44 AM PDT by Hieronymus ( (It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged. --G. K. Chesterton))
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To: Hieronymus

If you hate this country so much just quit it already. The idea that some how you love the idea but not the country is so ridiculous as to be laughable.

You are like the pacifist who won’t fight but wants others to protect him


122 posted on 07/05/2016 9:30:46 AM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: Nifster

Did you even read post 113? Just because someone finds that there are good things outside of America doesn’t mean that they hate America.


123 posted on 07/05/2016 10:06:12 AM PDT by Hieronymus ( (It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged. --G. K. Chesterton))
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To: Hieronymus

IF you leave and choose not to live here....then yeah you do indeed hate the country that gave you everything.

Give uproar citizenship already.

All y’all that are trying to justify this are whistling in the the dark. It is one thing to visit another country....quite another to go live there for the rest of your life.

You are cowards one and all


124 posted on 07/05/2016 11:16:23 AM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: Nifster

So if you leave Georgia and move to Alabama, you hate Georgia?


125 posted on 07/05/2016 11:52:41 AM PDT by Hieronymus ( (It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged. --G. K. Chesterton))
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To: Hieronymus

You are a moron


126 posted on 07/05/2016 1:27:40 PM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: Nifster

I’m merely employing your logic. I do not embrace it.


127 posted on 07/05/2016 1:31:24 PM PDT by Hieronymus ( (It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged. --G. K. Chesterton))
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To: Nifster

“the country that gave you everything”


This is reminiscent of Obama’s claims concerning entrepeneurs.

Last I checked, I’ve worked for a whole heck of a lot.


128 posted on 07/05/2016 1:35:31 PM PDT by Hieronymus ( (It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged. --G. K. Chesterton))
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To: Nifster

You can only renounce your citizenship at an embassy or consulate abroad.


129 posted on 07/07/2016 10:42:46 AM PDT by bjorn14 (Woe to those who call good evil and evil good. Isaiah 5:20)
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To: lulu16
No. Next question?

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

130 posted on 07/09/2016 12:16:58 PM PDT by wku man (Just One Gun, the latest from 10 Pound Test - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6uFqQenIU4)
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