Oath of allegiance to the queen.

[DodgyAgent]

Nuance is not your strong point is it? Read my post carefully - it suggests that some loyalty to the state is to be hoped for.

Sorry SAS, it was a toss up between reading the whole thread or topping myself

[cailin maith]

You can be Irish and republican and not a terrorist Cailin.

And in response to a couple of digs, I'm perfectly ok with the concept of being loyal to the state, it's the swearing an oath of loyalty towards the queen part of it I'm not ok with. I feel nothing towards the royal family, and certainly not respect (The queen seems like a good enough person, but there are plenty of other Britains I admire more), for many reasons - historical and current.

Snaw please do not patronise me... I AM Irish and I AM a Republican and certainly not a terrorist. My post indicated that to me it read like we all were.

[Cheshire Cat]

Wanders of singing..... Tomorrow belongs, tomorrow belongs........

off

[Cheshire Cat]

Snaw please do not patronise me... I AM Irish and I AM a Republican and certainly not a terrorist. My post indicated that to me it read like we all were.

I'm not.

[The Lone Gunman]

off

Bravo. That's the spirit.

[cailin maith]

I'm not.

Not what?

[HYpno27]

I am just having lunch while the concrete rests.

It seems to me that the right to live and prosper in the UK these days is seen as an inalianble right for those born here (and for many migrants too).
What I am saying is that with those rights come responsibilities and like it or not loyalties.

The permanence of the state is irrelevant. It still provides rights and protections.
It seems that you and others wish to avail yourself of those rights and protections without making any commitment to the state.

As I have said. Those of you who do not agree with being loyal to the state should give up all the rights and protections it affords, even to the extent of leaving.

The bit I'm having trouble getting my head around is why I should have to give up my rights and protections because I refuse to swear an oath of loyalty, when I contribute to society both in taxes, and by being an active member of my local community.

I am not a wishy washy liberal - if you threaten me or mine in any substantial way I'll do my upmost to stop you by any means necessary

Any oath sworn by people who do not mean it, has no intrinsic value. If you want people to be part of a community, do things that make them feel part of that community, imposing oaths is a sticking plaster over a much deeper problem.

My personal viewpoint is not to actively subscribe to any political structure. I'm not enough of a numpty to believe I can ignore it - I choose to minimise my interaction with it. I do vote, I believe in democracy, and I can always find things to vote against. (It also prevents the "well if you don't vote you lose the right to comment" crowd)

[Churchill]

Sorry SAS, it was a toss up between reading the whole thread or topping myself

Wrong choice...

[Cheshire Cat]

Bravo. That's the spirit.

Y'know, when in doubt, revert to pedantry.

[Cheshire Cat]

Not what?

A terrorist (either)