Text 3142, 54 rader
Skriven 2010-01-13 20:44:58 av Robert Bashe (2:2448/44)
   Kommentar till text 3111 av Ward Dossche (2:292/854)
Ärende: Lemme get this straight
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Ward Dossche wrote to Robert Bashe on Wednesday January 13 2010 at 11:21:

RB>> Yes, it was necessary to obtain German citizenship. The Americans
RB>> would have tolerated the German citizenship, but the Germans would
RB>> not accept the American citizenship.

WD> And could you get it back, if you applied for it?

I assume only by naturalization, same as any other foreigner. Perhaps there
would be some allowance for my past, but perhaps that would even be held
against me. I honestly don't know.

WD> You needed to be German for logistical reasons I suppose? Job? ??

No, it was no particular disadvantage being an American in Germany by that time
(1992) - I meanwhile had an unlimited residence and work permit - but there was
also no advantage - and after nearly 30 years here I came to realize this was
home. I wanted to belong.

RB>> The reason for this lack of flexibility, if you want to call it that,
RB>> is the fear that the large minority of Turks in Germany, who have
RB>> problems with integration into German society anyway, would become
RB>> dual nationals simply to have a right to live in Germany, but not
RB>> really to accept and embrace the German nationality with all its
RB>> rights and obligations.

WD> It's one of the reasons why Germany for years has voted for Turkey
WD> during the Eurovision Song Contest.

;-)))

And the Turks in Germany root for the German soccer teams. One time I can
remember, when Germany played Turkey, they rooted for both sides.

WD> But was Turkish immigration already an issue when you came over?

No, not yet. The problem with massive immigration, not only of workers but also
families and family members (and the extended families are _big_ in Turkey),
only started to develop in the mid to late 1970s and 1980s. The "new guest
workers" at the time I arrived in Germany in 1966 were from Italy and Greece.
Nowadays, they and their decendents can hardly be distinguished from the
"native German" population except by their southern European appearance.

That naturally also applies to some Turks and Germans of Turkish descent
(second and third generations), but even those who are "integrated" into German
society still tend to be clannish. I suppose that will disappear with time, but
it certainly will take longer than in the case of western Europeans. At the
moment, there isn't much intermarriage, and that's what really brings
assimilation into a society.

Cheers, Bob

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