I should be used to this by now, but I’m not.

I’m referring to the weird insouciance so many Americans — decent,

thoughtful, even *conservative* Americans — have towards their own

citizenship.

I had this conversation yesterday with a well-educated and sensible American

lady:

She: “So are you a citizen now?”

Me: “Yes, since 2002, actually.”

She: “And do you get to keep your British citizenship?”

Me: “No. I swore an oath to abjure all allegiance and fidelity to foreign

princes and potentates.”

She: “That’s terrible! They should let you keep your British citizenship.”

Me: “Do you think so? I don’t agree. Surely you can only be loyal to one

nation.”

She: “Yeah, but I mean, that’s your roots.”

Me: “What if the US and Britain got into a war? Which side would I then be

on?”

She: “I never thought of that.”