American Nightmare
"Bob Gould always thought he was an American.
Born in Canada 62 years ago, he immigrated to San Diego with his parents when he was 6. His parents eventually became citizens, and he remembers going with them later to the federal building to file his own naturalization paperwork.
Gould went to American schools, fought with the American Army in Vietnam, voted in American elections, did American jury duty, paid American taxes.
But after he retired from his county government job this year and applied for Social Security benefits, he learned that as far as the government is concerned, he's not an American."
JOHN WILKENS in the San Diego Union-Tribune.