So far everything went smoothly. On November 12, shortly after his 74th birthday, Canadian singer and songwriter Neil Young actually wanted to become an American. The reasons were obvious: "I live here, I pay my taxes here, my wonderful family is here - they are all Americans," said Young almost two weeks ago the "Los Angeles Times".
Ergo, he also wants to express his opinion about the United States - and in 2020 to participate in the US presidential election. He has already completed a survey on citizenship, the 73-year-old wrote on his website. However, the procedure is now complicated. Reason is his cannabis consumption, to which he is to be interviewed again.
US Naturalization Authorities may, in case of doubt, insist on the "good moral character" of the applicant for re-examination. "Good moral character" means that in the past, the single claimant has not been criminal or otherwise conspicuous and "conforms to the standards of the average citizen of the community where the claimant wishes to live". Prostitution, gambling addiction, perjury or convictions for drug offenses are considered problematic in this context.
In his autobiography "Waging Heavy Peace" Young had admitted to smoking marijuana for decades, but now having given up on it. Reason had been a recommendation of his doctor, after he had been operated on in 2005 because of a life-threatening brain aneurysm.
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Neil Young 2014 at the book signing in New York City
He answered all questions of the naturalization authority truthfully, wrote Young on Friday on his website. "I sincerely hope that I have proven to be a moral person and can vote according to my conscience about Donald J. Trump and his American candidates."
The fact that Young Donald is not exactly a fan of Donald Trump is something you can imagine given his early lyrics. In songs like "Ohio" he criticized the brutal action of state security forces against Vietnam War opponents. Only last year, the musician Trump forbade to play his hit "Rockin 'the Free World" at election campaign events. The lyrics denounced poverty and social injustice among former US Presidents Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush.
The reason for wanting to vote is therefore also the misguided environmental policy of the Republicans. "We have a climate emergency and the governments do not object."