"[To] me naturalization is just an obvious extension of what somebody in my position would desire anyway — the right to vote and to legally participate in society the same as any other citizen. I am already as entrenched as any other citizen: I have a house and land with a debt of a quarter-million dollars; with a thirty-year loan I really cannot leave Japan… Moreover, naturalization has knock-on benefits that suit a person with my personality. It will enable me to stand on my rights (yes, more than I do now!) with renewed vigor — because I will indeed have more rights, as well as a firmer ground to demand even more (I can except myself from, say, this 'as a foreigner, you are a guest in our country so shut up' bullshit). And — dare I say it? — I would be able to participate in politics as a candidate if I so choose)."
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Civil rights activistsAcademics from JapanActivists from New York (state)Activists from JapanActivists from California
Original Language: English
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Sources
Debito Arudou, "A Bit More Personal Background on Arudou Debito/Dave Aldwinckle," Debito.Org
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Debito_Arudou
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Debito Arudou
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