History Main / ImmigrantPatriotism

* ''Series/TheNewsroom:'' MacKenzie McHale, executive producer of the nightly news broadcast the show focuses on, is a British immigrant who is absolutely in love with her adopted nation and wholeheartedly embraces all of its corniest patriotic traditions. Her (American) colleagues all tease her for it.

Most countries in the world throughout almost all of recorded history have been what is now called "ethnic nationalist", which is unsurprising given most modern nations developed from tribal groups.[[note]]The very word nation comes from the Latin ''natio'', whose meaning encompasses both race and birth. Meanwhile ethnic comes from ''ethnos'', which in Greek denotes nation/ethnicity, the two concepts being identical, as they are in most cultures.[[/note]] However a few countries that have only been created comparatively recently - primarily Europe's New World colonies - have been argued by some to instead be constituted on the basis of "civic nationalism", a concept invented in the 19th century, in which belonging to a nation is determined by one's feeling of belonging to it, rather than by actual descent. [[note]]Although it's important to note that a) this assertion is highly debatable, even today, and more so the further back in history you go, when even the national identity of the young settler colonies of Britain had a strong ethnic and racial component--even in America, popularly considered to be ''the'' prime example of Civic Nationalism, citizenship/immigration was originally restricted to White North-Western Europeans, then in the Early 20th Century to Southern and Eastern Europeans, and only in the late 20th century was it opened up to people of any race.[[/note]]

* In Wrestling/{{WWE}} this was Japanese wrestler Kenzo Suzuki's gimmick for a time. He once interrupted an interview with Wrestling/ReyMysterioJr ([[{{Irony}} who is a native of San Diego]]) in which he used GratuitousSpanish by saying "[[YouNoTakeCandle You in America now. You speak English!]]"

* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode "[[Recap/FuturamaS4E5ATasteOfFreedom A Taste of Freedom]]" starts on Freedom Day, which is the Fourth of July for the entire planet. Zoidberg eats "Old Freebie" the Earthican flag, which he meant to be a demonstration of the liberties Earth allows but gets put on trial for it. He winds up starting a war between Earth and his home planet of Decapod 10, and in the end picks Earth over the Decapodians because of the death of his human lawyer, one of the ''very'' few humans who was willing to stand up for him. At the conclusion, he muses that he wishes that they valued freedom as much on his home planet, before realising that ''Earth '''is''' his home planet'' now, and he is honoured at the White House by being given a free pass to take a bite of the flag by President Nixon, [[ThrowheDogABone as he'd earned it]].

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* The ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' episode "A Taste of Freedom" starts on Freedom Day, which is the Fourth of July for the entire planet. Zoidberg eats "Old Freebie" the Earthican flag, which he meant to be a demonstration of the liberties Earth allows but gets put on trial for it. He winds up starting a war between Earth and his home planet of Decapod 10, and in the end picks Earth over the Decapodians because of the death of his human lawyer, one of the ''very'' few humans who was willing to stand up for him. At the conclusion, he muses that he wishes that they valued freedom as much on his home planet, before realising that ''Earth '''is''' his home planet'' now, and he is honoured at the White House by being given a free pass to take a bite of the flag by President Nixon, [[PetTheDog as he'd earned it.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'': Hank Hill is as proud of a Texan as a Texan can get, I tell you [[VerbalTic hwat]]. However, one episode has him discover -- to his shock and horror -- that he was actually born in New York, specifically in the women's bathroom at Yankee Stadium. His discomfort is put to rest by seeing the flags of other states hanging in the Alamo (none of the men who died at the Alamo, being among the original American settlers, were native Texans).

--->"You couldn't do it. That stretch between [[UsefulNotes/JamesKPolk Polk]] and [[UsefulNotes/JamesBuchanan Buchanan]][[note]]If you're curious: [[UsefulNotes/ZacharyTaylor Taylor]], [[UsefulNotes/MillardFillmore Fillmore]], [[UsefulNotes/FranklinPierce Pierce]].[[/note]] wipe you out. You ever heard of [[UsefulNotes/JamesGarfield Garfield]]? He more than [[ComicStrip/{{Garfield}} a cartoon cat]], you know. He part of history of ''my'' country."
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In one episode, Apu studies to become a naturalized American citizen when a new Springfield ordinance threatens to have him deported. He passes the citizenship exam when he gives a detailed explanation of the causes of the Civil War (when he could have just said 'slavery'), showing his devotion to becoming a citizen. After the ordinance passes anyway...
-->'''Homer:''' When will people learn -- ''democracy doesn't work!!''\\
'''Apu:''' Hey, don't knock the land that I love. ''(opens a piece of mail, then gasps)'' JuryDuty! I am truly an American citizen now! ''(tosses it in the trash)''

* PlayedWith on ''Series/TheNewsreader''. Gerry Carroll is an Irish immigrant and popular comedian on Australian television who has lived in the country for over a decade. He's tasked with helping the News At Six team cover the 1987 Australian election and later the 1988 Australia Day celebrations, and is even called an "adopted Australian" on air. But off air, he's not particularly patriotic at all, and isn't even registered to vote[[note]]Australia has compulsory voting, which means you are legally obliged to vote if you're a citizen[[/note]] suggesting he might not have citizenship.

* PlayedWith on ''TheNewsreader''. Gerry Carroll is an Irish immigrant and popular comedian on Australian television who has lived in the country for over a decade. He's tasked with helping the News At Six team cover the 1987 Australian election and later the 1988 Australia Day celebrations, and is even called an "adopted Australian" on air. But off air, he's not particularly patriotic at all, and isn't even registered to vote[[note]]Australia has compulsory voting, which means you are legally obliged to vote if you're a citizen[[/note]] suggesting he might not have citizenship.

* ''Webcomic/{{Avania}}'' Junior Warrant Officer Rhys O'Shaughnassy is ''very'' proud to be Avanian.

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** Philip was largely following in the footsteps of the Mountbattens and particularly his maternal grandfather, Louis Mountbatten. Born Prince Ludwig von Battenberg in Austria to a morganatic junior line of the sovereign ducal house of Hesse, Louis was raised in Germany and Italy. Despite that, he decided to join the British Royal Navy at the age of 14, and proudly identified himself with Britain. He rose through the ranks despite considerable opposition based both on his foreign-born status and his royal ancestry (there being a perception at the time that too many princes were embarking on military/naval careers, crowding out the other gentlemen trying to rise through the ranks), eventually reaching the rank of First Sea Lord (the professional head of the Royal Navy). When World War I hit, despite being forced out of his job as First Sea Lord by vicious anti-German sentiment, Louis remained loyal to his adoptive country, renouncing his German princely status and proclaiming himself "Louis Mountbatten" ("Mountbatten" being a part-translation of "Battenberg"). The King (Louis' cousin by marriage), in consultation with the Government, gave Louis a marquessate in the Peerage of the United Kingdom as compensation. The King actually wanted to make his cousin a duke (and the Government agreed), as befitted a man of Louis' royal ancestry and steadfast service to Britain, but Louis—who had little usable property in the UK—was living primarily off his naval salary and asked to be a lower-ranked peer so he could avoid the great expense of living in the manner expected of a duke. The King obliged but insisted on giving Louis the highest possible non-ducal peerage out of respect for the man's ancestry, devotion to Britain, and service in the Navy.

* Former Massachusetts Governor UsefulNotes/MichaelDukakis[[note]]whose campaign adopted the Music/NeilDiamond song "America" mentioned in the Music folder as its theme song[[/note]] emphasized being the son of Greek immigrants during the first Presidential debate between Dukakis, the Democratic nominee for President in 1988, and Republican Vice-President UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush when Dukakis - in response to the Bush campaign attempting to paint Dukakis as weak on patriotism due to his having vetoed a bill that would have required Massachusetts schools to begin their day with the Pledge of Allegiance - retorted by saying "Well, I hope this is the first and last time I have to say this. Of course, the vice president is questioning my patriotism. I don’t think there’s any question about that, and I resent it. I resent it. My parents came to this country as immigrants. They taught me that this was the greatest country in the world. I’m in public service because I love this country. I believe in it." Not that this helped Dukakis in the long run. A combination of Bush appealing to those who supported outgoing President UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan and hoped to be seen as his heir apparent, attack ads such as the "Willie Horton" and "Tank Ride" ads, and Dukakis' opposition to the death penalty being highlighted by a poorly-received response to Creator/{{CNN}} anchor Bernard Shaw's opening question in the final debate on whether he would support the death penalty in a hypothetical situation where Dukakis' wife Kitty was raped and murdered contributed to Dukakis losing the election [[LandslideElection in a blowout]].

* ''FanFic/AllAmericanGirl'': Daisy "DJ" Jo/Sandalwood is a pony raised on Earth by her adopted family and who, despite making contact with her own kind as a teenager, refuses to acknowledge her heritage as being part of herself, and makes it a point that she '''is''' an American, right-wing, Catholic woman.

* ''Fanfic/SeventhEndmostVision'': Tifa became this for Shinra. While Shinra isn't a country, [[OneNationUnderCopyright it's damn close to being one]], and in the War with the Western Alliance, Tifa explicitly fought against her former people in Shinra's service. The fact that Shinra [[EqualOpportunityEvil didn't make any real distinctions]] about Tifa's TokenEnemyMinority status, and the amazing benefits working for them provided- in particular her fame and wealth- seems to be what initially secured Tifa's loyalty.

* ''Fanfic/PacificWorldWarIIUsNavyShipgirls'': A defining trait of U-213, aka "Lorelei", as she was pretty much forced out of her home country thanks to the UsefulNotes/ColdWar, and is grateful to call the United States her new home.

* ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'': Hank Hill is as proud of a Texan as a Texan can get, [[CatchPhrase I tell you]] [[VerbalTic hwat]]. However, one episode has him discover -- to his shock and horror -- that he was actually born in New York, specifically in the women's bathroom at Yankee Stadium. His discomfort is put to rest by seeing the flags of other states hanging in the Alamo (none of the men who died at the Alamo, being among the original American settlers, were native Texans).

Compare ForeignCultureFetish for immigrants who admire other countries in more of a [[TheThemeParkVersion theme park version]] sort of way. See also RediscoveringRootsTrip, where the descendants of immigrants travel to their family's old country.

** Philip was largely following in the footsteps of the Mountbattens and particularly his maternal grandfather, Louis Mountbatten. Born Prince Ludwig von Battenberg in Austria to a morganatic junior line of the sovereign ducal house of Hesse, Louis was raised in Germany and Italy. Despite that, he decided to join the British Royal Navy at the age of 14, and proudly identified himself with Britain. He rose through the ranks despite considerable opposition based both on his foreign-born status and his royal ancestry (there being a perception at the time that too many princes were embarking on military/naval careers, crowding out the other gentlemen trying to rise through the ranks). When World War I hit, he renounced his German princely status and proclaimed himself "Louis Mountbatten" ("Mountbatten" being a part-translation of "Battenberg"). The King (Louis' cousin by marriage), in consultation with the Government, gave Louis a marquessate in the Peerage of the United Kingdom as compensation. The King actually wanted to make his cousin a duke (and the Government agreed), as befitted a man of Louis' royal ancestry and steadfast service to Britain, but Louis—who had little usable property in the UK—was living primarily off his naval salary and asked to be a lower-ranked peer so he could avoid the great expense of living in the manner expected of a duke. The King obliged but insisted on giving Louis the highest possible non-ducal peerage out of respect for the man's ancestry, devotion to Britain, and service in the Navy.

** While Worf is obsessed with Klingon tradition--more even than most Klingons are--he is also completely loyal to the Federation to the point of fighting against the Klingon Empire. He also displays a great fondness for Earth, specifically Minsk, Russia, where he grew up with his adopted parents. Guinan even notes in one episode that when he looks out Ten-Forward's windows into the stars, he's not looking towards the Klingon Empire, he's looking towards Earth.

* Former Massachusetts Governor UsefulNotes/MichaelDukakis emphasized being the son of Greek immigrants during the first Presidential debate between Dukakis, the Democratic nominee for President in 1988, and Republican Vice-President UsefulNotes/GeorgeHWBush when Dukakis - in response to the Bush campaign attempting to paint Dukakis as weak on patriotism due to his having vetoed a bill that would have required Massachusetts schools to begin their day with the Pledge of Allegiance - retorted by saying "Well, I hope this is the first and last time I have to say this. Of course, the vice president is questioning my patriotism. I don’t think there’s any question about that, and I resent it. I resent it. My parents came to this country as immigrants. They taught me that this was the greatest country in the world. I’m in public service because I love this country. I believe in it." Not that this helped Dukakis in the long run. A combination of Bush appealing to those who supported outgoing President UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan and hoped to be seen as his heir apparent, attack ads such as the "Willie Horton" and "Tank Ride" ads, and Dukakis' opposition to the death penalty being highlighted by a poorly-received response to Creator/{{CNN}} anchor Bernard Shaw's opening question in the final debate on whether he would support the death penalty in a hypothetical situation where Dukakis' wife Kitty was raped and murdered contributed to Dukakis losing the election [[LandslideElection in a blowout]].

* ''Theatre/WestSideStory'' is well-known for the number "America", where Anita and the other Puerto Rican women sing about their love of America because they can make better lives and have more freedom than they could in their own country. Young Maria, likewise, though not in that number, is eager to be American and have more freedoms. Subverted by the Puerto Rican men, particularly in the film versions, who miss their home country and resent the racism they face. [[spoiler: Anita also becomes jaded after she is harassed and nearly assaulted by the white Polish-American Jets.]]

* The Australian Political System zig-zags this trope. Unlike in the US, one has to have only Australian citizenship to run for public office, meaning that even the highest political office have always been available to naturalised citizens. However, most of said naturalised citizens in high political office were born in the UK.

** Canada likewise only has a citizenship rule for public office: two of the last three Governors-General (the Queen's representative in Canada) were immigrants (born in Hong Kong and Haiti, respectively), and following the 2015 election there were 42 immigrants (out of 338 total members) elected to the House of Commons, with those members having been born in Afghanistan, India, Trinidad, the United States, Hong Kong, China, Poland, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Argentina, Haiti, Uganda, Germany, Portugal, South Africa, the UK, Poland, and Somalia.

* ''Series/LastWeekTonightWithJohnOliver'': Oliver is unabashed about being English (to the point of being a RunningGag), but he firmly identifies himself with his American audience and (both on-air and in his personal life) has made it unstintingly clear that he intends to be naturalized, to spend the rest of his life in America, and that he basically considers himself already American. Whenever the US does something good, he clearly shows his pride; whenever he covers the US doing something awful (which, given that the show specializes in investigative journalism on serious problems, is fairly often), he exhibits the same embarrassment and shame that someone born in the US would. It probably helps that he married an American woman, Kate Norley, who happens to be a veteran of the Iraq War.