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Choosing Between Allegiance To Two Countries

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by Rihana, Feb 18, 2020.

  1. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    As the world continues to become a smaller place, more people migrate to foreign countries and settle down there. They put down roots in the new country, become a part of its mainstream society and develop a sense of belonging to it as the years turn into decades. Affection, concern, patriotism and pride towards their birth country and the adopted country occupy an equal place in their hearts and minds. When needing to choose one country to support, such as during a sporting event, the conflict is light and the choice made casually.

    What if they are called upon to make a choice in a more serious context and when the stakes are high? A person’s birth country and adopted country are engaged in cyberwarfare that can wipe out an entire city in one country. The person has an expertise about fighting cyber threads that only few people in the world possess. Which country should he help? This is only an example of a conflict such people can face.

    I won’t ask you what you would choose or what that person would choose. Rather: What criteria can be employed to make such difficult decisions? Let’s take it as a given that the person has to choose one country and cannot excuse himself from that. Are there any examples in history, literature or legend that show how people in the past have dealt with such choices?
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  2. Amulet

    Amulet IL Hall of Fame

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    History ? Huge numbers of a certain immigrant group went and settled in Germany in 19th and early 20th century. And -- skipping over much of what happind to quite a lot of them and why -- eventually those few from that immigrant group with the special expertise that very few others possessed, helped defeat their adopted country and its allies.

    Institutional discrimination of the immigrant [as an identified group] by the adopted country makes the decision on the choice of allegiance rather easy. I am sure wikipedia has histories of migration that one could read and ponder.
    [​IMG]
     
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  3. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    :hello: I can only say Sania Mirza Comes to mind but in a tele interview after her wedding to Soheb Malik she did say about her allegiance.

    Thanks and Regards.

    God - can Gods be patriotic?
     
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  4. sln

    sln Platinum IL'ite

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    It is a pertinent but difficult question.It is easy for an ethinic group to come to a decision or to be identified with a decision.Take for example the current imbroglio with Malaysia where around 2 million Indians live[7%]Should they agree with Malaysia on their stand in respect of Kashmir issue.There are different ways of taking a stand:
    What is right,What is the stand of the country where you have settled or eking out your livelihood.,what is good for your motherland or support the strongest.It all depends on your personal safety,financial security,Freedom of expression and the ethnic group opinion.
    SLN
     
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  5. Thyagarajan

    Thyagarajan IL Hall of Fame

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    :hello: I can only say Sania Mirza Comes to mind. She answered it to an interviewer in channel or news reporter. No patience to google.

    Looking forward to fellow members with immigrant status answers your question.
    Thanks and Regards.

    God - would He reply?
     
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  6. Balajee

    Balajee IL Hall of Fame

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    THIS REMINDS ME OF THE TALE OF TRISHANKU WHO WAS TRAooed between heaven and earth and belonged to neither. Many NRS are like this, at least the first generation ones are. those who are actually born in the countries to which their parents have migrated are more rooted there and their loyalties remain firmly with the countries where they belong.
     
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  7. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    Discrimination as a group would indeed make the choice easier. The question is more about people like the well-to-do Indian or Chinese settled in a first-world country, facing discrimination once in a while, but mostly leading a happy life.
     
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  8. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    From what I remember, she said something like she supports India but also hopes her husband plays well for his team. Her situation is different from the question here. She has found the middle path quite easily - support her country India and also support her husband as a player. He can hit a century, but still India wins. : ) In the question of allegiance, there is no such choice. One side will be devastated.
     
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  9. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    I think you are on to something here. The decision can depend on those factors, and in the order listed too. Personal safety or least personal danger takes top priority. The other three line up behind it.
     
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  10. Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    True. If a stark dilemma like described in the first post ever becomes a reality for anyone, it will be for NRI's.
    As they should be.
     
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