[threatofrain]

Put up a flag, and boom, you're an American? Will that persuade 2017 Americans as they discuss who's an American? Membership into the American group is not obvious, and most certainly not defined by mere citizenship, least of a decorative flag.

[rayiner]

In the U.S. right now, we are exploring the limits to the American accommodation of immigrants, but it's important to keep in mind that those accommodations as they exist currently are more generous than pretty much anywhere else in the developed world. The trend in the rest of the world (New Zealand, India) right now is to get rid of birthright citizenship. But here, only the right-wing nuts are even talking about that. In Germany, the U.K., France, etc., learning the local language is a pre-requisite for citizenship. Here, saying English should be a pre-requisite for citizenship will get you labeled a racist.

[galdosdi]

That said (nitpick) English IS a prerequesite for gaining naturalized citizenship, in most cases. IIRC it's required except for old age, disability, probably some other such exceptions, but most people who get naturalized _are_ required to show they know a certain amount of English