I pledge allegiance...

[Double J]

...to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

That was by heart and I hope it's correct, because as of today, I am a United States citizen!

Actually, I've been a citizen since birth, just like I figured. I just had to get it affirmed at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto and I did that this afternoon. Now I'm just awaiting my passport and Social Security card which should be in the mail sometime in the next couple of weeks.

I still have to decide which state I'm going to register to vote in, plus I have to mail a letter to Selective Service explaining why I didn't register between the ages of 18 and 26. :-\

I want to reassure my fellow Canadians that I am not about to abandon our home and native land. All this does is guarantee that I'll be able to come and go across the U.S. border as I please and allow me to live and work in the States without restrictions if I ever decide to do so. It's always nice to have options, and I just increased mine tenfold, if not more.

 

[Chi City 81]

Congrats, hoser my fellow American.

 

[pittsburgie]

now you can be like other Americans and not exercise those rights or take them for granted...

 

[Double J]

Thank you.

And I won't ignore my rights and responsibilities as an American. Since turning 18 I've voted in every municipal, provincial and federal election here in Canada and I plan to take part in every U.S. election in which I'm entitled to vote -- that is, once I decide on a state (and that state accepts me as a voter).

 

[cougargirl]

Congratulations. And please vote.

 

[Buck]

Don't let people bully you.
You don't have to vote if you don't want to.

 

[slappy4428]

In class, a mob surrounds Uter as Nelson pulls his suspenders.

Nelson: Hey, German boy. Go back to Germania!
[everyone laughs]
Uter: I do not deserve this. I have come here legally as an
exchange student!
Skinner: Young man, the only thing we exchanged for you is our national
dignity.
[everyone laughs]

Willie: [threatens children] You want to pick on immigrants? Then
pick on Willie!
Skinner: Willie, please. The students want to pick on someone their
own size.


Proctor: All right, here's your last question. What was the cause of
the Civil War?
Apu: Actually, there were numerous causes. Aside from the obvious
schism between the abolitionists and the anti-abolitionists,
there were economic factors, both domestic and inter--
Proctor: Wait, wait... just say slavery.
Apu: Slavery it is, sir.

 

[HC]

We'll miss you down at the Tim Hortons. :'(

 

[Double J]

Oh, I'll still go to Horny Tims. But you won't see me at Crappy Tire, because I don't shop there. ;D

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

Welcome Mr. Factor --
Now, repeat after me:
"We hold thse truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.."
Figure out the rest yourself.
And get me a beer, newbie.

 

[Double J]

Hey, I'm far from new. Now that it's after midnight where I live, I've been a citizen for 36 years, five months and nine days.

So if you're younger than that, you guys can get me a beer (just not an American one). ;D

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Thank you.

And I won't ignore my rights and responsibilities as an American. Since turning 18 I've voted in every municipal, provincial and federal election here in Canada and I plan to take part in every U.S. election in which I'm entitled to vote -- that is, once I decide on a state (and that state accepts me as a voter).

You can't just pick a state, can you? Don't you have to live there or own property there or something to establish your connection to the area? That doesn't seem right that you could just pick any state, willy-nilly, and be allowed to vote there.

 

[Buck]

Thank you.

And I won't ignore my rights and responsibilities as an American. Since turning 18 I've voted in every municipal, provincial and federal election here in Canada and I plan to take part in every U.S. election in which I'm entitled to vote -- that is, once I decide on a state (and that state accepts me as a voter).

You can't just pick a state, can you? Don't you have to live there or own property there or something to establish your connection to the area? That doesn't seem right that you could just pick any state, willy-nilly, and be allowed to vote there.

People pick a state for political office. Might as well pick one to vote in.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Congrats. Now you can write "favorite" and "check"

 

[JayFarrar]

You do have to live, or establish residency in a state so you can vote there.
You do not have to be a property owner, that kinda went away since it was racist and sexist.
You did have to own property at one time, but that was back in the enlightened era when black people were counted as three-fifths of a human being.
The good ol' days, truly the Founders were inspired by God when they came up with that one.

 

[WSKY]

Where's Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf when you need him.

 

[Double J]

Congrats. Now you can write "favorite" and "check"

And "color" and "favor" and .... oh, and stop putting ketchup on potato chips, dammit. ;D

Yeah, I think I heard you folks don't have ketchup chips. You're missing out.

What about salt-and-vinegar chips? Do you have those? If not I guess I'd better move to a border city so I can keep stocked up on the good stuff.

 

[Double J]

Regarding the voting issue, as a citizen living outside the U.S. I should be able to vote in the state where I last held residency. Since I've never lived in the States, I can try to register in a state where my parents resided. That would be Washington.

But my dad only lived there for a few months and never registered to vote there himself. I feel more of a connection to Michigan and Massachusetts since that's where my grandfathers were born, lived most of their lives and died. So I'm going to look at those states.

It may turn out that they both reject me from registering to vote on a local or state level, but as far as I'm aware I'll still be able to register for federal elections. The staff at the consulate couldn't answer any of these questions with any certainty yesterday when I was there.

 

[JR]

Hey, we still have business to take care of here:

I'm taking away your S.W. Ontario citizenship if you don't recognize the town.

Congrats, man.

Massachusetts and Michigan are good hockey states (well, not the Bruins so much) so you'll feel at home.

 

[Double J]

Gimme a tough one, JR. That's Fergus, home of the old Thistles lacrosse team.

Maybe I'll try New York. I have a friend whose uncle is the men's hockey coach at Cornell.