What makes you a citizen of your country?
By merlinsorca
@merlinsorca (1118)
United States
December 18, 2009 4:41pm CST
Do you simply need to have a citizenship and documents or do you need to do something more?
I ask this because I remember one time I got into a conversation with my friend about cheese in a can (I never ate this before) and he said that if I had never eaten spray cheese then I don't deserve an American citizenship (really?!). He always says stuff like this, so it didn't really bother me, but it still gave me that thought.
What really makes a person a citizen of a country? Are there any norms you have to follow, like "If you're this then you have to do this" or do you need to eat cheese from a can to be considered a citizen? 
4 responses
@key2write (493)
• India
19 Dec 09
Citizenship don't require any special credentials. Citizenship is your birth right. Nobody can give or take citizenship from you. It is different thing if you like to change citizenship from one country to another. But in your own country your citizenship was started from beginning of your birth. Documentation is required just for the proof of your citizenship. So don't think that your citizenship should required any special requirements. Have a nice day.
@merlinsorca (1118)
• United States
19 Dec 09
I agree, the citizenship cannot be taken away and if you're in your own country then that would automatically make you a citizen.
I know, you don't need to do special things to be a citizen, but that is what my friend thinks. . .
@key2write (493)
• India
20 Dec 09
Actually, your friend had no intention to hurt you. See he is your friend so he says something without thinking so much about it. So don't take it too seriously. All human beings are not perfect. If you will notice your friend, he may also have some lacking. Good day.
@nelsonzhang (39)
• China
19 Dec 09
i don't think ur friend's talking is serious,and i think citizen is quite simple thing,u got the ID with the city,then ur the citizen
@merlinsorca (1118)
• United States
19 Dec 09
Well, my friend was serious, and that really shows what goes through his mind.
I agree with you, all it takes to be a citizen is to have the identification and if you're born there you would automatically be a citizen.
@DenverLC (1143)
• Philippines
19 Dec 09
I think your friend is just kidding about his argument. Being a citizen doesnt do anything about what food you eat or stuff you like, it is senseless. Chinese like noodles that much, I like it too but I am not a chinese,monkey like banana many people likes it too but they don't have to become a monkey to be accepted in the society. Citizenship requires some legal processes for those not originally born or those who renounced their citizenship and have decided to reacquire the same. For those original ones, following the rules and laws is enough.
@merlinsorca (1118)
• United States
19 Dec 09
Believe me, my friend was not kidding. He was very serious and he was trying to be insulting by saying that I should not be American, but he always does stuff like that, anyway.
You're right, the type of food you eat doesn't matter and I agree with you. If we eat or don't eat something it doesn't have anything to do with what country we live in 
@liuzhi (265)
• China
19 Dec 09
HoHo~I don't think we should identify a person's citizenship just according to what your friend says.what he refers to is all about a part of your native culture,say food culture.Maybe spray cheese is very popular there and local people used to take it everyday.So when you don't like it,they may feel very weird.This also happens on me.In my city,people here mostly like eat very spicy food.Oppositely,my parents and i don't like such kinda food.But we are still native.We,of course,should identify a citizenship according to the law firstly.But what's the most crucial element that makes a citizenship is about your love attributed to your country,says patriotism.
@merlinsorca (1118)
• United States
19 Dec 09
I know, I know, the food is just a part of a culture and it is not really important to being a citizen there. Eating certain kinds of foods is not neccesary and you can really do what you want and still be a citizen.
You're right, though, one of the most important part is that we have to love our country. . .
