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Post by Rare_Commodity on Mar 24, 2011 14:57:41 GMT -5
WWII vet discovers he’s not a U.S. citizen Thu Mar 24, 10:39 am ET Ninety-five-year-old Leeland Davidson discovered recently that he's not a U.S. citizen, despite living nearly 100 years in the country and serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Davidson, from Centralia, Washington, told KOMO News that he discovered he wasn't a U.S. citizen when he was turned down for an enhanced driver's license he needed for a trip to Canada to visit relatives. "We always figured because he was born to U.S. parents he's automatically a U.S. citizen," said Davidson's daughter, Rose Schoolcroft. Davidson was born in British Columbia in 1916. He checked up on his citizenship before joining the Navy and was told by an inspector at the U.S. Department of Labor Immigration and Naturalization Service he had nothing to worry about. Now he worries that he won't be able to prove his citizenship, because his parents were born in Iowa before local governments started keeping records of birth certificates in 1880. "I want it squared away before I pass away," he says. Schoolcraft says they tried to dissuade him from pursuing the matter. Employees at the local passport office scared them, telling her father "If he pursued it, (he could) possibly be deported or at risk of losing Social Security." "We keep telling him, leave it alone, leave it alone, and he won't, like a dog with a bone," Schoolcraft told the Centralia Chronicle. But Davidson says: "I want to get it done before I die." He also still wants to visit his friends and family in Canada. Sen Patty Murray's office is helping him with his application. You can watch the interview below: news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110324/us_yblog_thelookout/wwii-vet-discovers-hes-not-a-u-s-citizen#mwpphu-container
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Post by T-Rex91 on Apr 20, 2011 8:17:54 GMT -5
Wait, dude was trying to get a drivers' license at 95 and that's what got him busted? OK, let's keep going.......
If you are born of American parents, you are American. My Republican side comes out on immigration issues but even if that weren't the case, I feel like anyone who puts their life on the line and serves in combat should get a pass. That's a hardcore commitment that I wouldn't make (yeah, I know he was drafted but work with me). After 100 years, I can't believe they're making an issue out of this.
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Post by ReignMan19 on Apr 20, 2011 10:29:02 GMT -5
Really??? Why is this even a question.. Shouldn't there be a grandfather clause somewhere... the dude has almost a century of residency... WTF
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Post by ReignMan19 on Apr 20, 2011 10:31:30 GMT -5
those comment on the site are the white version of coontastic... lol
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Post by LejaOMG on Apr 20, 2011 11:59:48 GMT -5
well is he a citizen of Canada then? If so, shouldn't he be able to visit his relatives with no problem? #justsayin
Also, I'm not certain that in 1916, birth in Canada automatically made one a Canadian (or UK!) citizen. He might literally be a man without a country.
What is more, if he got deported, at least his healthcare and final costs would be free. Might not be such a bad deal. Ok, I'm done for real, lol.
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Post by LejaOMG on Apr 20, 2011 12:02:00 GMT -5
I feel like anyone who puts their life on the line and serves in combat should get a pass... Oh really? Color me truly surprised to hear that. |
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Post by LejaOMG on Apr 20, 2011 12:02:21 GMT -5
and while I'm here, howTF you gonna draft a foreign national?
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Post by T-Rex91 on Apr 20, 2011 12:21:54 GMT -5
I feel like anyone who puts their life on the line and serves in combat should get a pass... Oh really? Color me truly surprised to hear that. Why are you surprised? My beliefs on what active duty combat soldiers should get goes WAY beyond this. Same for cops and firefighters. |
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Post by LejaOMG on Apr 21, 2011 8:27:28 GMT -5
I'm surprised because I remember your thoughts on the DREAM Act. At that time, you didn't seem beat for undocumented young people receiving amnesty and benefits for joining the military (among other conditions).
This WWII Vet is actually a textbook DREAMer.
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Post by Rare_Commodity on Apr 21, 2011 9:49:56 GMT -5
This is definately and interesting topic.
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Post by Rare_Commodity on Apr 21, 2011 9:56:42 GMT -5
I'm surprised because I remember your thoughts on the DREAM Act. At that time, you didn't seem beat for undocumented young people receiving amnesty and benefits for joining the military (among other conditions). This WWII Vet is actually a textbook DREAMer. You are so right it is! I'm not sure why I find it easy to support the WWII vet but not the Dream Act... I'll have to think about this one. I should hold the same view for each so my mind is still trying to figure out the difference. |
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Post by LejaOMG on Apr 21, 2011 10:19:16 GMT -5
^^ let me know if you'd like my guess as to the cognitive differences between this guy and Mario
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Post by Rare_Commodity on Apr 21, 2011 10:35:01 GMT -5
Ok let's hear it
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Post by LejaOMG on Apr 21, 2011 12:31:37 GMT -5
1. He's white
2. He's not Hispanic
3. He's white
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Post by LejaOMG on Apr 21, 2011 12:33:31 GMT -5
No, but really. The fact that he claims to have American parents might make a difference to some folks. But, as the article noted, he can't prove that either (not that it would actually help him under the law even if he could), so he's in the exact same boat as Mario.
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Post by T-Rex91 on Apr 21, 2011 12:55:28 GMT -5
I'm surprised because I remember your thoughts on the DREAM Act. At that time, you didn't seem beat for undocumented young people receiving amnesty and benefits for joining the military (among other conditions). This WWII Vet is actually a textbook DREAMer. He's not a textbook dreamer. Mario knew he was an illegal, this dude didn't and his drafting and I'm sure other situations encountered in nearly 100 years reinforced his belief. Because he's white? Really Leja?  ? That's straight bunk. You're entitled to your opinion but I think it's weak when folks automatically fall back on the racial angle. |
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Post by T-Rex91 on Apr 21, 2011 12:56:21 GMT -5
and while I'm here, howTF you gonna draft a foreign national? EXACTLY. |
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Post by Rare_Commodity on Apr 21, 2011 13:18:08 GMT -5
1. He's white 2. He's not Hispanic 3. He's white No not because of his whiteness. Times have changed. Laws back then were very broad and unstructured so I am more sympathetic and empathetic to him bc it aint his fault back in the day they didn't keep good records and changed immigration laws frequently. However, for Mario the immigration laws are much more strict. Back then laws weren't enacted or created for the sole purpose of money and power. Now a days THIS is the world we live in so I am not as sympathetic to making laws that give special privileges to immigrants regardless of their race. |
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Post by LejaOMG on Apr 21, 2011 14:30:40 GMT -5
I'm surprised because I remember your thoughts on the DREAM Act. At that time, you didn't seem beat for undocumented young people receiving amnesty and benefits for joining the military (among other conditions). This WWII Vet is actually a textbook DREAMer. He's not a textbook dreamer. Mario knew he was an illegal, this dude didn't and his drafting and I'm sure other situations encountered in nearly 100 years reinforced his belief. Because he's white? Really Leja? ? That's straight bunk. You're entitled to your opinion but I think it's weak when folks automatically fall back on the racial angle. Old dude learned that he was illegal. And unlike Mario, he learned this at a time when he was old enough to depart voluntarily. Yet he stayed. Erstwhile, he desired to get his "papers" straight, so he undertook that process. If the DREAM Act had been passed, this vet would have qualified and would've been granted a greencard, not even citizenship. As for the racial angle. I said it and I meant it. Demonizing brown people is big business. Especially as regards US Immigration policy. I don't expect you to agree with me, but just look at the title of the article. He's referred to as a "WWII Vet" instead of "illegal alien." It asks whether he should be "denied" benefits, which presumes that, even as a noncitizen, he is entitled to them. Based on the facts we presently have, he is not. Neither was Mario. But cats were ready to deport his azz. I pay close attention to social cues, sociolinguistics and semantics. I AM a critical race theorist, and I am not afraid to point what I perceive to be the racist animus in situations. For some people, it weakens my argument overall. For me, it prsents a revelant piece of the puzzle that most people purposely overlook. |
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Post by LejaOMG on Apr 21, 2011 14:31:56 GMT -5
Back then laws weren't enacted or created for the sole purpose of money and power. hm? |
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Post by Rare_Commodity on Apr 21, 2011 15:23:49 GMT -5
Back then laws weren't enacted or created for the sole purpose of money and power. hm? LOL I was typing so fast but yea I still mean' t that. If the vet/illegal alien was black, white, or hispanic I would still feel the same way. Now I DO understand how race plays a part in people's decision but this was not my decising factor on this particular issue. So when Mario became of age to know better why didn't he do the "right" and legal thing and go back to his country of citizenship...same thing but you want us to be merciful on the brown people huh?? I still don't get it (for me) but race ain't my major factor... Not truly reputable but found some interesting PRO/CON ideas. debatepedia.idebate.org/en/index.php/Debate:_Path_to_citizenship_for_illegal_immigrants_in_the_USwiki.familysearch.org/en/United_States_Naturalization_and_Citizenship |
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Post by LejaOMG on Apr 21, 2011 15:38:13 GMT -5
^^ I believe you, I'm just asking how you mean that "back then laws weren't enacted...for the sole purpose of money and power"
and lol @ u posting sources. You ain't jokin around. We musta scarred you for life, LMBO!
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Post by Rare_Commodity on Apr 21, 2011 15:56:46 GMT -5
Guess that comment may need to rethought out because racial power was definately a motive!
Yes I've been having flashbacks scurrred Quiet gone get me LOL!
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Post by QUIET As Kept on Apr 25, 2011 10:15:28 GMT -5
*puts on innocent face* Whaaaaaaaaaaat? I ain't even do nuffin'! Guess that comment may need to rethought out because racial power was definately a motive! Yes I've been having flashbacks scurrred Quiet gone get me LOL! |
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Post by QUIET As Kept on Apr 25, 2011 10:21:06 GMT -5
*let me preface this by saying I'm simply asking for informational purposes...not trying to debate, or start anything...just purely being curious*
Soror 91 (I'm only asking you specifically because you seem to be very steadfast in your immigration beliefs), what exactly is it about illegal immigrants that is the problem/issue (in your opinion)?
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Post by T-Rex91 on Apr 28, 2011 8:26:53 GMT -5
Hey Soror,
I'm generally opinionated; I don't think I'm any more steadfast in this belief than any other. I fundamentally believe in following rules, that simple. I'm pretty black and white 90% of the time. People who enter the country illegally are lawbreakers. The fact that you wanted a better life doesn't excuse you from the laws just like stealing because you didn't have and needed doesn't excuse you from the laws. An illegal is no better or worse than any other criminal to me.
*shrugs*
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Post by LejaOMG on Apr 28, 2011 8:40:54 GMT -5
so here, where this guy entered the country illegally and remained here for 95 years, yet you advocate for citizenship for him....is this the 10% of the time when things aren't so black and white?
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Post by T-Rex91 on Apr 28, 2011 8:46:54 GMT -5
As I stated before, he didn't knowingly enter illegally according to the story. He was drafted. He presumeably bought property. He lived an entire American life and THEN discovered there was an issue. There was no willful deceit that I can discern. That and his advanced age qualify him for 91's 10%.
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Post by LejaOMG on Apr 28, 2011 9:38:47 GMT -5
I can dig it, I just wanted to clarify whether you believed that you were being "black and white" here.
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