Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Can You Still Be a Good American if You're an Expat Living Abroad?
Newsmax ^ | May 21, 2017 | Chuck Bolotin

Posted on 05/21/2017 4:12:38 PM PDT by ThankYouFreeRepublic

As the founder of Best Places in the World to Retire, I’ve spoken with more than a thousand expats, many of whom have told me of instances where they were told that because they lived outside the US, they were no longer entitled to be called “an American,” that they were unpatriotic, or in extreme cases, that they were traitors.

Not only do I reject these charges, but I believe that those making them don’t understand what it means to be “an American.”

There is no better statement of what it means to be an American than...

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


TOPICS: History; Miscellaneous; Society; Travel
KEYWORDS: actionsspeaklouder; americanexpat; americansabroad; expats; liveabroad; liveoverseas
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-45 next last
What, exactly, is it to be an "American"? Do you agree with this article?
1 posted on 05/21/2017 4:12:38 PM PDT by ThankYouFreeRepublic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: ThankYouFreeRepublic

`American’: lives in America

ex·pa·tri·ate
noun
1. a person who lives outside their native country.

Ex-patriot.


2 posted on 05/21/2017 4:20:47 PM PDT by tumblindice ("Fight for your country." Hector)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ThankYouFreeRepublic

Waste of bandwidth.


3 posted on 05/21/2017 4:21:14 PM PDT by RightInEastLansing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ThankYouFreeRepublic

Not even close

The yob is certainly full of himself though. Then again it’s Newsmax


4 posted on 05/21/2017 4:22:08 PM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ThankYouFreeRepublic

Tagging this article, for follow-up.

:D


5 posted on 05/21/2017 4:22:16 PM PDT by cba123 ( Toi la nguoi My. Toi bay gio o Viet Nam.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ThankYouFreeRepublic

I live outside the US part time...4 or 5 months a yr. And i vote!!!


6 posted on 05/21/2017 4:24:23 PM PDT by rrrod (just an old guy with a gun in his pocket.l)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tumblindice

Precisely


7 posted on 05/21/2017 4:24:29 PM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ThankYouFreeRepublic

Funny episodes of House Hunters International aren’t on streaming TV. Would love to see a redo of those who chose France, Sweden and Germany.


8 posted on 05/21/2017 4:25:00 PM PDT by MamaDearest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MamaDearest

It’s easy. Just keep a low profile.


9 posted on 05/21/2017 4:27:41 PM PDT by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: ThankYouFreeRepublic
What, exactly, is it to be an "American"?

I'm retired in the States, but if I weren't, I'd only consider returning if I were needed in my Navy. That's unlikely as I'm almost 76!

10 posted on 05/21/2017 4:28:37 PM PDT by Ace's Dad (BTW, "Ace" is now Captain Ace. But only when I'm bragging about my son!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ThankYouFreeRepublic
To understand expat you have to work with the definition of Patriot: A patriot is someone who feels a strong support for their country. (See also Patriotism.) It is derived from the Hellenic (Greek) word Πατρίς (Patris), which means homeland. It is the female form of Πατέρας , which means Father. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot So the issue is not where you live or if you are an American. Are you a patriot or not..................
11 posted on 05/21/2017 4:30:53 PM PDT by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rrrod
"I live outside the US part time...4 or 5 months a yr. And i vote!!!" The fam and I lived in the PRC for two years, 2005 ~ 2007 and my wife and I voted. However, I lived in South Vietnam for a year, 1965 ~ 1966 and I did not vote, don't even recall being given the opportunity. Guess I wasn't an American that year, huh? Too funny 🙄....
12 posted on 05/21/2017 4:31:04 PM PDT by snoringbear (E.oGovernment is the Pimp,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ThankYouFreeRepublic
The American Dream has grown dim here.

That flame still burns in many countries.

Hopefully, it will spread.

13 posted on 05/21/2017 4:34:07 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ThankYouFreeRepublic

The English have been doing this for a long time due to their Empire. They are still English.


14 posted on 05/21/2017 4:35:00 PM PDT by BJ1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ThankYouFreeRepublic

Over the years I’ve heard a few on FR say (in a huff) that if things started to get bad here they were GONE. I didn’t like that, nor see that as remotely “American”. People choosing to live abroad freely and in peacetime? Why not?


15 posted on 05/21/2017 4:39:05 PM PDT by avenir (I'm pessimistic about man, but I'm optimistic about GOD!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ThankYouFreeRepublic

As long as I carry a U.S. passport I’m an American regardless of my address.


16 posted on 05/21/2017 4:40:51 PM PDT by clintonh8r (AMERICA! THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY SCREEN NAME OBSOLETE!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ThankYouFreeRepublic

I’ve had some discussion with people about this.

And some of what I’ve heard on this subject is as follows:

1. expatriots tend to be retired, and they are rejecting America in favor of some other country in their retirement. The country which was good enough for them in their working life is not good enough in their golden years?

2. expatriots are running away from America’s problems. They won’t stay to help fix what’s wrong. They often are moving because of dissatisfaction with America, but won’t stay and be part of the solution.

3. expatriots often go to countries with fundamentally different social and economic systems; which result in those countries having lower costs of living. Thus retirees find that while their dollars go further, they are supporting a corrupt status quo in places such as Mexico.

4. expatriot retirees are said to be selfish, abandoning America and their extended families, including grandchildren, just to retire somewhere with a lower cost of living.

I’m not saying I agree with this. I certainly don’t want to tell anyone else how to live or where to live. Just saying I’ve heard people talk like this. Legally they are all still Americans unless they take steps to renounce American citizenship. I don’t think too many expatriots do that.


17 posted on 05/21/2017 4:41:05 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: snoringbear

I live in Colombia


18 posted on 05/21/2017 4:42:27 PM PDT by rrrod (just an old guy with a gun in his pocket.l)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: ThankYouFreeRepublic

Banks the world over used to go GAGA for Americans —now we’re HIV+ lepers.

The IRS went to all major overseas banks and said, “Ya know we can’t FORCE ya to give up all financial info on Americans keeping accounts with you..”

(throws switchblade into dart board for effect)

“...but if we find a SINGLE case of an American depositor who has evaded US tax..? Well, we’re going to charge you a 30% penalty on EVERY transaction you had that went through ANY American bank during that year -maybe BILLIONS of transactions. CAPICHE..?”

Voila..!

They don’t want to hear from ANY of us —just TOO risky to accept deposits from Americans.

We got that after A SINGLE black Prez.

THANK YOU, OBAMA. Now we really ARE ugly Americans.


19 posted on 05/21/2017 4:45:02 PM PDT by gaijin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gaijin

You’re right, of course, about how difficult it is to get a bank account abroad and that many banks won’t even accept Americans under any circumstances.


20 posted on 05/21/2017 4:54:34 PM PDT by ThankYouFreeRepublic (Philippines, expat, taxes)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-45 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson