Canadian or American?

[NTRPRZ]

This may have been covered elsewhere, but I've not seen it, so I'm asking.

Has William Shatner ever become an American citizen, and if so, when? We know he originally was Canadian, but I'm wondering if he ever made the switch in citizenship.

 

[Christopher]

No, I'm fairly certain Shatner is still a Canadian citizen. I recall there was a half-serious suggestion a year or two ago that a campaign be organized to get him nominated for Governor-General of Canada, and I think it was stated that he's eligible as a Canadian citizen.

 

[Timewalker]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that he now has dual citizenship...?

But as for being Governor-General, any dual-citizen GGs have been asked (not sure if it's actually a legal requirement) to renounce their non-Canadian citizenship. Our last GG before the current one renounced her French citizenship (she was born in Haiti).

 

[Maurice]

Google it. I found this.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Well, it sounds like he's not an American citizen...but as far as his explanation of why, I'm once again impressed by his disinterest in giving a straight and serious answer to any question.

 

[Red Ranger]

He's definitely Canadian. I remember that silly movie Free Enterprise where two SF geeks try to get Shatner to do a project with them. One calls him the greatest American actor ever, and Shatner corrects him and says, "I'm Canadian."

 

[captain_fluffy]

i'm glad to have william shatner aboard as a fellow canadian

 

[Timewalker]

Well, it sounds like he's not an American citizen...but as far as his explanation of why, I'm once again impressed by his disinterest in giving a straight and serious answer to any question.

That is probably a more serious answer than you'd think. I've been reading his latest autobiography, and he talks candidly about how he remembers his lines, how he's trained himself to remember things. That's why he doesn't understand fans who can quote whole scenes 20+ years after they saw a particular TOS episode; to him it's over and done with and he needs to cram the next set of lines into his memory for whatever his current job is.

If he could take the citizenship test orally instead of on paper, I suspect he'd do much better at it.

 

[scotpens]

. . . That's why he doesn't understand fans who can quote whole scenes 20+ years after they saw a particular TOS episode; to him it's over and done with and he needs to cram the next set of lines into his memory for whatever his current job is.

Star Trek fans can quote whole scenes, even entire episodes verbatim, because they DON'T HAVE A LIFE!

 

[Timewalker]

I won't claim to be able to quote the whole episode, but I can quote most of the bar fight scene of "The Trouble With Tribbles" verbatim... even getting Chekov's accent correct.

And I do have a life, thankyouverymuch.


And I've been told I can do a frighteningly accurate portrayal of Stella Mudd...

 

[Ssosmcin]

That is probably a more serious answer than you'd think. I've been reading his latest autobiography, and he talks candidly about how he remembers his lines, how he's trained himself to remember things. That's why he doesn't understand fans who can quote whole scenes 20+ years after they saw a particular TOS episode;

But it hasn't been that long since fans had seen it. Only that long after Shatner performed it. Memorization comes with repitition and nobody watches a show over and over more than a Trek fan.

 

[Timewalker]

I know that. But William Shatner doesn't. According to his autobiography, he doesn't even watch his own performances - not even once. So to him it must seem awfully weird that people can quote whole scenes from an episode of a TV show that was cancelled over two generations ago!

As for me, I haven't seen "The Trouble With Tribbles" in years - but I still remember most of it.

 

[Captain Atkin]

He should become Prime Minister of Canada!

 

[Timewalker]

I'm afraid people might see him as another Michael Ignatieff (Canadian who spent most of his working life in the U.S. and came back to Canada to be Liberal leader and run for PM).

But he surely couldn't do worse than what we've got now.

 

[Gary7]

I think as far as taxes go, he pays the same as any US Citizen, so there's no financial advantage to staying a Canadian. But I think it gives him certain travel advantages, like going to Cuba or not being at risk as a US hostage. If I were him, I would stay with Canada.

 

[Stompy]

As a Canadian living in the US I can say that there are a lot of reasons to stay Canadian.

For me, I couldn't afford the Citizenship tests and education materials while I was putting myself through school.

There's also the oath of allegiance which I wasn't prepared to swear to. Read it some time-pretty spooky document.

On a more positive side, I am proud of my heritage and didn't want to say goodbye to that.

As far as Bill is concerned he has said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1CwZgb_iAI

 

[Nerys Myk]

Cant he be a Canarican or an Ameridian?

 

[Timewalker]

As a Canadian living in the US I can say that there are a lot of reasons to stay Canadian.

For me, I couldn't afford the Citizenship tests and education materials while I was putting myself through school.

There's also the oath of allegiance which I wasn't prepared to swear to. Read it some time-pretty spooky document.

On a more positive side, I am proud of my heritage and didn't want to say goodbye to that.

As far as Bill is concerned he has said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1CwZgb_iAI

I think I prefer the original Rant.

 

[Captain Robert April]

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1CwZgb_iAI[/yt]

 

[scotpens]

As a Canadian living in the US I can say that there are a lot of reasons to stay Canadian.

For me, I couldn't afford the Citizenship tests and education materials while I was putting myself through school.

There's also the oath of allegiance which I wasn't prepared to swear to. Read it some time-pretty spooky document.

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of_Allegiance_(United_States)#cite_note-0

Not meaning to get too political or too far off-topic, but how is it "spooky"? Apparently Charlize Theron, Anthony Hopkins and Jane Seymour don't think so.