An August 2, 2021 Letter to the Editor (Letter) comments on an article authored by three of SEAT’s co-founders, “Should Overseas Americans Be Required to Buy Their Freedom?”
What is the best response to the Letter? Is it advisable to respond? The answers to these questions may initially appear obvious, but, upon reflection, are perhaps not so obvious.
The initial and most instinctive response for many is likely frustration and anger. That response could look something this:
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Open in new tab After frustration and anger, another response could be sadness and bewilderment. What explains the attitude that so many “homeland” Americans hold towards overseas Americans, as exemplified in the Letter? What is the source of their seemingly rock-hard and unmoveable belief that we are predominantly wealthy persons whose principal purpose in living overseas is to avoid taxation? Why are they seemingly impervious to all demonstrations to the contrary? Why are they equally impervious to all demonstrations of the devastating effects the current policies have?
I don’t know the answers to these questions. We can all speculate, but in the end, no one has the answers. Which leads to another response to the Letter: a feeling of loss and acceptance. There are people whose preconceptions about overseas Americans will perhaps never change. There is little choice but to accept that fact and move on to focus on those who are not impervious.
After processing the feelings of frustration and anger, of sadness and bewilderment, and of loss and acceptance, we can’t give up. We must keep fighting.
In the end, what is more patriotic: defending policies that force Americans to give up U.S. citizenship, or, instead, fighting for policies that enable Americans to keep U.S. citizenship? The Americans in question are not only ourselves and our children, but also all those who, while today they may be “homeland” Americans, may tomorrow seek to exercise their human right to live overseas.
Homelanders have a high capacity for brutal savagery. They are armed to the teeth with vitriol, fomented by government zealots like Warren who hate overseas Americans. Statesiders have no introspection about government policies that harm millions of citizens abroad daily.
Recall the country was founded on genocide and enslavement which continues under different venues. It also created a Constitution by and for white men and never bothered to author a new one to address past wrongs. As a result, historical institutional unfairness is firmly baked into common law.
Lastly, Homelanders have a vested interest in imperialism. Exploiting others for personal gain is an American foundational principle.