Souvy

I found it a bit odd to take the oath. I thought it was a given, considering my place of birth.

It will disappear eventually, as will any constitutional links. That's be a bureaucratic pain (money, passports, just about every piece of official paper...).

Not to mention flags. Over half the provincial ones could do with changing, not to mention Montreal's flag!

BeenTrainingDogs

Just cross your fingers and toes and it means the opposite!

BristolUK

I hadn't realised it was a British thing to swear an oath to the queen. I'm pretty sure I didn't (even with her pinning one on me ) and I'm almost certain that the overwhelming majority of the population hasn't.

I imagine it's something similar in Canada. Even in this province where schoolkids sing Oh Canada every day in some schools. Unless there's a line in it where the oath is sworn and that counts.

withabix

I meant people immigrate to Britain and then object to British custom and practice.

withabix

They all look fine to me...

Some people seem set on changing history though.

Although they should all probably change to something associated with the pre-European pre-'Canada' era, or something associated with how each Province is now.

Alberta could have a plain black flag with a sinking ship in the middle, or maybe an oversize truck with a 12 inch lift and a man with a small penis...

BC Could have something with a Pine Beetle on it, or the motto 'Mortgaged Till I Die'

etc

BristolUK

I wouldn't disagree on much of the "other stuff" - that's where the pledge comes in - but I don't see why one can't want to move somewhere, be productive, responsible and all the rest of it but just not want to swear an oath to anybody.

BristolUK

New Brunswick could have one with a snow shaker, but two-thirds of it solid snow.

scotty1974

I, personally, find it strange that in order to obtain Canadian citizenship you have to swear allegiance to an old lady(head of state or not she is a foreign non-resident head of state) living thousands of miles away in London, England.
Surely it would make more sense to swear allegiance to Canada and the people who live here?

But in saying that until it changes, which I think it has to at some stage in the future, then people will just have to live with it

SchnookoLoly

I did my British Citizenship ceremony in December 2013, and I definitely had to swear allegiance.

As long as the Queen is Head of State, I think the swearing should be there. These people are already PR; there's no hard requirement to become citizens... and right now, becoming a citizen means taking that oath. Don't want to take that oath? Don't become a citizen. Simples.

Partially discharged

Totally agree. Whenever I go to the Post Office I make a special request when buying stamps for any stamp that doesn't have the Queen on it. How is this country ever going to free itself of the shackles of the Commonwealth if we keep on hanging on to the outdated idea of the Queen being the monarch here.

Jericho79

I don't want to become a citizen, but as a point of principal, and I whilst I accept it's largely symbolic, I wouldnt pledge allegiance to anyone.

BristolUK

Or to Tim Horton's.

I wonder if Mohammed Emwazi swore an oath to the queen. Can we sue?

Not even to Sidney Crosby? Shame on you.

stuabroad

I'll swear allegiance to our German head of state when she removes the part about hammering rebellious Scots from her national anthem:

"...Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush.
God save the Queen!..."

The idea that someone has "Royal Blood" and should be worshipped is mideval and should be outlawed in any modern inclusive society. It's a ridiculous notion. Pledge your allegiance to your country by all means and the values which it represents...not to the person wearing the silly hat. Having a Class system is why many of us enjoy living outside the UK away from it, Royalty continues to represent this idea that there is someone "better" than you. Anyone defending it is a blind sentimentalist, or works for the London Tourism Bureau.

orly

You're not a "Loyal Scot"? Oh dear

sharkus

Exactly!
Though I thought swearing allegiance to the Queen was odd, seeing as I'm a British citizen, I wanted citizenship, doing this was a condition of that, so I did it. I don't see that it has caused me any problems, and don't suspect it ever will.

I fully expect that no matter who or what you had to pledge an oath to these people would still complain. Some just like to kick up a fuss.