<p>beantowngal,
Your post is so interesting because it demonstrates what a changing world we live in. Jewish people, who were denied citizenship in most of the countries they lived, were granted only limited citizenship rights in some European countries until recently, and continue to be denied citizenship in some Arab countries today, also longed to become citizens in their host countries. America's readiness to extend citizenship to us as immigrants is one of the reasons for our community's love of this country.
The accusation of "dual loyalty" based on religion, however, was one of the large roadblocks to gaining citizenship. It was not perceived that Jews could follow the laws of the host nation when they had their own internal set of laws and rules for daily living, so they were held in suspicion. Religious tolerance is hard-won for others, even in America. FOr example, when the Roman Catholic, John F. Kennedy first ran for the presidency in l960, many accused that he couldn't possibly be loyal to America because in his heart he'd first listen to what the Pope told him to do, not the U.S. Constitution. NOnetheless, he was elected and became our youngest, also the first Catholic, President of the U.S.<br>
When you want to become a citizen, it has more responsibilities than rights and freedoms, in some cases. Countries expect you to support them in military endeavors, enlist your children (!) in their army perhaps. I am struck by your desire to become a citizen of China, thinking back to just 30 years ago when Americans could not travel there. It would have been comparable to today wanting to become a dual citizen of North Korea. Trade has certainly opened up new avenues for your generation. But the government policies of China, and human rights issues, still put us somewhat opposed as a nation to some of their policies.
As a U.S. born citizen (grandchild of immigrants), when we lived in Canada for awhile, we wished to add a second citizenship there. Very interesting process. The Canadians had no objection to dual citizenship with the U.S. In the U.S., there was a process of consideration where we had to give our reason for desiring the additional citizenship. Basically, it had to have a reason (in our case, based upon profession) plus we had to sign that we were not rejecting basic American democratic values by taking on this new citizenship. Had we wanted to become citizens of North Korea or Cuba, and thereby declare our loyalty to a Communist government, that would be viewed as antithetical to American values and rejected.
Time will tell whether our relations with China will progress so that you could add on such a citizenship someday, as you coudl readily do today for the UK. Of course, studying up on all their laws and jumping their bureaucratic hurdles is time-consuming, but interesting! The world is a changing place, that's for sure.</p>