What does it take for you to consider someone your co-citizen in your country?
I don't belive alot in the citizenship
(In the end we are all the citizens of the earth)
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Nationalism, one of the most stupid mankind sense of belong.
Just because you weren't born here I'm better than you.
Like, oh really an inherent causality makes you better than anyone on this planet with 7.5 billion people?
But if really bothers you you can ask for naturalization, but in many countries this means you lost your first nationality, check laws above it with your countries.
A non-EU citizen having legally resided in Italy for ten years may apply for Italian citizenship and a EU citizen after four years. A foreigner with native-born Italian parents or grandparents who have lost their citizenship and therefore unable to pass citizenship on, is entitled to apply after three years of legal residency in Italy.
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To other people you're that person form the country "X", if they can "sort of" categorize your first/last name/skin color.
Doesn't have to mean anything, but usually it ends up explaining yourself at some point. That's the exp. i made,
having an Italian first name in Austria ("quattro stagione, vamanos subito").
What people perceive is their business, yours is to accommodate yourself to be comfortable enough.
"What makes you really citizen of a country?" -> As for this - the state legislation.
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If in some time everyone in Italy would become of asian race, would you say that it is the same Italy as now? That's world-old philosophical question. I think if some people tell you, that you are not real Italian, they have their right to that opinion. DNA is the part of national identity in old countries, that are not mixed from start like USA, because it simply shaped their culture. And that doesn't mean, it can't or shouldn't change. Actually, Italy right now is rather a little different country than it was 100 years ago, right? But they have their right to decide in which direction their nation will be changing. If someone doesn't accept foreigners, then you can't force him to invite them to his house or to mate with them, right?
I don't think there are real problems for you. From what you described i guess, that some people there still thinks that every Romanian is a gypsy, and that all gypsies are thieves, so you can prove them wrong (about one of the stereotypes at least). After all, if you will be integrating then they will mostly accept you, and your children probably won't have any problems there. You will become just a new stream that flows into the river of nation, that then flows into the ocean of humanity.
I'm sorry for my english, i supported myself with google translate, i hope you can understand it all.
Greetings.
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I don't want to force people to have dinner with me, but I do expect to be treated as anybody else. They did not chose to be born here, and I did not chose to move here when I was a child, it just happened and it's quite silly to judge people by place of birth.
I remember seeing some interviews of british people talking about why they voted for brexit. One thing they all mentioned was being sick of polish people because they are lazy, live on the country's welfare and often end up with crimes. Now I can think about a kid born there by polish couple being judged simply for having polish parents despite growing up in a british environment. Having the possibility to do something and having the right to do it are very different concepts
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Did you check somewhere that I'm from Poland, or is it just coincidence that you brought up the topic of polish immigrants?
Funny thing is, that it's actually pretty common opinion in Poland, that a lot of our emigrants are lazy and often described as pathological. I don't usually like to judge people which I don't know personally, but i have to admit that atmosphere now after mass emigration is a lot better than >5 years ago. And it's not just a "feeling", but specific things in my area that I can name. No more illegal "racing", no more jobless people sitting with beer on playing field next to primary school, much less incidents with drunk people. A lot of young, "dynamic" Poles emigrate, because there were no "perspectives" for them. And, well, I feel sorry for their new hosts.
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Well, I do agree that all you need to do to be a citizen is respect local laws and traditions (I don't mean following traditions, of course, but respect is essential - therefore I actually have problems with Muslim holidays when sheeps are publicaly sacrificed in the center of Moscow). I've been born and have spent all my life in Russia, so I don't really get this DNA conception at all: from what I know, I've got a mixture of 1/2 Jewish, 3/8 Polish and 1/8 Belarusian blood in my veins, so I guess you can call me your typical Russian)) This country is huge and multinational indeed, but it doesn't mean in the slightest that we haven't got this xenophobia problem, it's quite the contrary.
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I taught that Russia had nearly no Muslims, this proves that I still have lots of things to learn.
Sadly not many news from Russia come here
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But we've got whole Muslim regions here (unlike mostly orthodox regions where there's a mixture of different religions and a lot of atheists, almost everyone is actually Muslim in some of them), not to mention tons of labour migrants from nearby countries; these regions are sometimes really different from others culture-wise, they vary from civilized ones (like Tatarstan) to the ones where, for example, girls' genitals are traditionally mutilated (Dagestan) - believe it or not, it's not forbidden by law here (exactly because national traditions should be respected and all that). So, I guess, I practise double standarts a bit: the range of this respect should have some boundaries, some national customs should just be eradicated.
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Racism has always been there, it's more and more visible because/thanks to social network or simply internet.
We have the same in France, against arab people and Romanian people too. I have a British name and people don't care, but if you are black, Arab, etc, you'll have a hard time.
Anybody should be able to become citizen of any country they want (if they commit to follow along, not like the man that killed the boyfriend of his niece because he didn't allowed her to be with a non-Muslim, and it was in France, not in the Middle East, all 3 were French citizen).
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As sad as it is, a foreign name or different appearance will always make one an outsider in a set group. The kind of reaction may vary, should be less in big cities and culturally mixed neighbourhoods, might be more in rural areas. It depends on numbers of positive interactions people had with other "foreigners" and what kinds of media they read/watch/listen to (e.g. I expect a higher level of hostility from readers of the German tabloid BILD).
(I have not read all comments, sorry if it has been asked already) How do you handle those situations? Ignore the strange/hostile behaviour and try to make the best of it or tell them to judge you by your actions and not their prejudice? I know that I would speak up, "all my people are thieves? I know, everyone is in the Mafia! How many jobs did you do last month?" That wording might not be the best advise as it might provoke violent reactions. Please dear Italians, don't take my example the wrong way.
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I could defend myself and/or react badly but if someone has prejudices, this would lead them to even more extreme positions.
I prefer to pretend that it doesn't bother me. I'm pretty sure that if they are good people one day or another they will feel somewhat ashamed for that reaction with me.
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I hope they will, but you know, there's this pattern where people that suffer from xenophobia, homophobia or something like that have no problems with accepting certain individuals anyway and explaining it as an exception, it's just psychologically easier: you can keep your prejudices and be friends with your neighbours at the same time.
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Sadly, there are too much stupid people worldwide that consider themselves enough intelligent to judge you just for your name, appearance or origin.
Good luck trying to convince them to be more respectful. ;-)
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well, i was born in New Zealand, lived in Malaysia for 11 years, and currenly in France since 2013. I'd like to consider myself as a citizen of earth, i mean, in the end, despite the differences in colour, appearance, culture etc, we all still bleed red. and people shouldn't be biased to others because 'he is black, so he's part of the gangster' or 'he's a terrorist because he's from the middle east' or 'he is white, so he's a role model'. Diversity is something we need to appreciate, not hate.
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In your case, I would definitely view you as being Italian no matter what some people there have told you. You have embraced the country and her culture, and that doesn't make you any less of a citizen than someone born there.
However (and this is just my opinion, not a view I am forcing upon anyone), I don't think a person that has come to the country, and makes no effort to learn the culture (or even give a crap about the culture/laws/history), and indeed tries to mold their new country into what their old country is, isn't truly a citizen. Citizenship is in a person's heart and mind, not merely from a piece of paper.
There is nothing wrong with a cultural melting pot, but the respect must go both ways. If I respect your culture and beliefs (this isn't directed at you, Fatality :) ), it is only common courtesy that you respect the culture and beliefs of the country you are calling your new home! Respect is a two-way street.
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Bump, THANKS!
and no potato?
btw, i think its stupid judge book by its cover someone by their name/nationality or whatever it is.
everyone deserve a chance, and they should've known you by your own personality.
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Some time ago I commented on a thread sharing part of my story, and I noticed that the topic was very interesting for many so I'd like to open the discussion to a wider range of audience, and also understand how ways of thinking change according to countries.
Long story short: I was born in Romania and lived there for 9 years, then I moved to Italy because my mother found a job here. I grown up in Italy, went to school and university in Italy, have italian friends and cook italian food BUT I don't have a italian name, so every time I have to give explanations about it, and so sometimes people change their behaviour towards me.
Most o the time it's simple distrust, like when I went to a friend's home and he told me that his parents spent half an hour to hide their belongings and jewelry when they knew I was coming. A couple of times it came to open statements like "you will never be italian", "your people are all violents and thiefs", "you should go home to where you came from".
The very most people here are not like this, I have lots of friends and know lots of awesome people so I will never blame the population for these episodes. But still they happened, and became more frequent in the last years with the arrival of immigrants on our coasts. If I'd had to say what I feel to be, I'd say italian for sure because it's the only culture I know and have, but lately I started to question myself "will I ever be fully accepted in this society or my name will be an obstacle for my lifetime?".
I've made a poll and I'd like you to share your opinion, and if possible, to say where are you from.
I've also added 10 sweet giveaways for you:
6y7rq
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