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Torvalds Becomes an American Citizen

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the i-did-that-34-years-ago dept.

netbuzz writes "Having brought his open-source work and family to the United States from Finland some time ago, Linus Torvalds has marked an important personal milestone by attaining US citizenship. A casual remark on the Linux kernel mailing list about registering to vote led to the community being in on the news. Torvalds has acknowledged being a bit of a procrastinator on this move, writing in a 2008 blog post: 'Yeah, yeah, we should probably have done the citizenship thing a long time ago, since we've been here long enough (and two of the kids are US citizens by virtue of being born here), but anybody who has had dealings with the INS will likely want to avoid any more of them, and maybe things have gotten better with a new name and changes, but nothing has really made me feel like I really need that paperwork headache again.' In that post he also expresses dislike for the American style of politics in which he will now be able to participate directly."

13 of 654 comments (clear)

  1. So what? by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's his own business.

    --
    Drill baby drill - on Mars
    1. Re:So what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It's his own business.

      Don't you know anything? His name is known among some people so they have to pretend to understand him on a personal level and act like they personally know him and are very concerned about the most trivial and personal details of his life. That's what we do with celebrities.

      Hey, did you know that some woman you've never met is having relationship problems with some man you've never met? Who gives a fuck? Oh yeah, one of them can act/sing/dance so that makes it really really important! Let's not do this with programmers. Please.

      Epictetus said something about how talking about the affairs of others leads to small-mindedness. He couldn't have been more on the money.

  2. WOAH WOAH WOAH by moogied · · Score: 4, Insightful

    He has TWO kids here? And he had those while NOT being a full american citizen? He had Anchor babies? Someone call FOX news please. We cannot have this filth just coming here and knocking out brats!
    Wait what? He is a constructive member of society? Hes already contributed to the American culture before he was a citizen? The entire idea of making immigration more difficult is crazy bullshit? *mind explodes*

    --
    So basically, -1 troll/offtopic is really slashdots way of saying "I hate that you thought of something before me."
    1. Re:WOAH WOAH WOAH by Midnight's+Shadow · · Score: 5, Insightful

      He has TWO kids here? And he had those while NOT being a full american citizen? He had Anchor babies? Someone call FOX news please. We cannot have this filth just coming here and knocking out brats! Wait what? He is a constructive member of society? Hes already contributed to the American culture before he was a citizen? The entire idea of making immigration more difficult is crazy bullshit? *mind explodes*

      I realize you are being sarcastic but I would like to point out that he was here legally to begin with. Weird isn't it how some people can actually navigate the Byzantine immigration process instead of just sneaking across the boarder?

      --
      "God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh. " -Voltaire
    2. Re:WOAH WOAH WOAH by StikyPad · · Score: 4, Insightful

      This is just one more reason we need to repeal the 14th Amendment! Nevermind the parts about Due Process and Equal Protection, or the fact that we're ALL immigrants; we have to quash further immigration at any price!

      --
      https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere
    3. Re:WOAH WOAH WOAH by AltairDusk · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Considering that he dealt with it enough to come here legally, remain here legally, and now become a citizen here legally despite his apparent frustration with the process I don't find it hard to blame those who just sneak across. If someone isn't willing to do it the right way perhaps they should reconsider how much they want to be here.

    4. Re:WOAH WOAH WOAH by Pharmboy · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Chances are high that the only lawn he's mowed since arriving is his own.

      Chances are even higher than the guy mowing his lawn now doesn't have the same paperwork that Linus had before he became a citizen.

      --
      Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!
    5. Re:WOAH WOAH WOAH by causality · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Perhaps the "right way" is unavailable to some people.

      Then they can stay the fuck out! How hard is this to understand?

      I may disagree with a foreign country's immigration policy. I might really, very strongly, in the most heartfelt way disagree with a foreign country's immigration policy. I might think they're a bunch of jackasses for having such a policy. None of that gives me the right to break their laws.

      I would imagine the process of getting a green card was a lot easier for Linus Torvalds than it would be for some random Jose Gonzales with not so much as a high school degree.

      Coincidentally, highly educated and highly skilled people from Finland aren't causing the USA's illegal immigration problem.

      You might as well complain that people who have not so much as a high school degree have a really difficult time becoming brain surgeons. Horrible discrimination, that is.

      --
      It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. - Einstein
    6. Re:WOAH WOAH WOAH by Attila+Dimedici · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Excuse me, I am unaware of any group that has a problem with legal immigrants. Most of the people I have seen who have a problem with illegal immigrants favor reducing the difficulty of legally immigrating into this country while increasing the enforcement against illegal immigration.

      --
      The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
  3. Re:Welcome Aboard by LWATCDR · · Score: 4, Insightful

    1. Comments like this wish that this was filed under politics.
    2. Dude he is from Finnland. I doubt that he feels the US is rushing toward socialism.

    Other than that welcome to the list of great Americans that includes Albert Einstein and Alexander Gram Bell.

    --
    See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
  4. Re:Welcome Aboard by rotide · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Right, it's "socialism" that's hurting our county. Not the constant erosion of citizens rights, nope. Not the constant and gratuitous government spending. Not the off-shoring of nearly all our industry because we'd rather have a cheaper item regardless of the human cost overseas. Not the constant War-State mentality where we have to fight "Terrorism", "Drugs", "Copyright", etc, etc, and again, pay for it. Not the fact that our country is basically being run _by_ corporations _for_ corporations (heavy lobbying).

    No, it's the thought that maybe, just maybe, some of the spending government does should actually help _citizens_ that's hurting us.

    Seriously?

    P.S. Sorry for the OT comment. I just get so tired of hearing this BS Glenn Beck inspired bullshit.

  5. Oh stop by Sycraft-fu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You are trying to make an issue where there isn't one. Torvalds was here legally, he had his green card. You can live in the US permanently and never get citizenship, legally, if you wish to.

    Thus far I have yet to encounter someone trying to make an issue of people who are legal permanent residents. You seem to be building a straw man ot pick a fight where there is not one.

    When you start shouting and being absurd just to start a fight you are no better than those you are trying to attack.

  6. Re:More importantly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The nice thing about the Left is that they keep their loons on the fringe. The Right is currently embracing theirs.