English to French translation

Becoming British

May 9, 2005

I found it very frustrating to not be able to vote in the latest elections; I knew that in my constituency (Hove), it would be a close battle between the Labour and Tory candidates and that every vote would count. In the end, just 420 votes separated them. So I've been looking at becoming a British citizen, and I was astounded to learn that in order to do so, I have to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen during a citizenship ceremony, which would cost me a mere £288. The word "allegiance" comes from liege, "A vassal or subject owing allegiance and services to a lord or sovereign under feudal law".

I have lived in this country for ten years, during which time I have worked, paid my taxes, invested time and efforts in my local community, and not once got into trouble with the law. Isn't that what being a good citizen means? Am I the only one to find very odd that, in order to be able to participate fully in the democratic processes of this country, I have to swear allegiance to the head of a feudal system which, originally, denied any kind of power to its subjects?

Comments

Hi,

I had to swear allegiance to the Queen of England to become Canadian. Figure that out !
As a French woman I found ot hard to do but well I wanted to be Canadian too.

Is that all? Just £288 and an oath? I have been living here in Germany all my life, but if I wanted to become a German citizen I would need much more than that, not only in terms of money but also in terms of patience: it takes between 1 and 2 years to become a German citizen.

I think the best attitude is to consider it quaint and charming and simply do it. To be offended by the absurdity of the requirement surely amounts to the same thing as taking it seriously. After all, many people in this country are natural-born citizens and don't have any respect at all for their civic duties, unlike you. These ancient and absurd concepts make up this country's amusing identity. Change is more possible from within that from without.

Ha, you must be joking! I was going to look into that as well, exactly for the same reasons...
And also, I completely agree with your assessment of this 'oath'. It repels me ideologically as a republican to swear allegiance to a system I do not believe in....

Besides, my other concern is - would you not need to repudiate your other nationality (ie- French in my case) ? - personally, I want to have my bread, my cake, and eat both of them* (if possible with jam, thanks very much!!!)
I am proud of my French heritage, and my son is both British & French!

I was just reading the other day (wish I could remember where!) that in France, you need to take a language exam and now you also have to take a sort of 'civic duties' test: ie. learn about the customs that are deemed inacceptable in France. Probably the republican equivalent to the allegiance thingy here!

*ou en français "le beurre, l'argent du beurre et la crémière" (ou le crémier si on fait dans le politiquement correct!)

Its certainly ridiculous, I'm proud of being British but I think the Royal family is a joke. That said I recommend gritting you teeth, pledging allegiance then once your a British citizen become a committed republican. If anyone questions this do what all politicians do when they've got what they want and then completely changed their view, say your just responding to changed circumstances!

Irene: Exactly! how absurd and outdated.

Sonja: Ok, ok, you win.

Ricard: I do struggle to find monarchy quaint and charming, I must admit, but yours is the right attitude. After all, it's not like the Queen has any real power, I might has well see her and the institution she represents as an amusing tradition and not the take the "ceremony" too seriously.

Lise: I don't think you'd have to repudiate your French nationality, you can have dual citizenship. And I LOVE your twist on the "beurre et argent du beurre" expression!

Dave: Well I suppose sometimes you have to forget about what you truly believe in and think practical. I still think the whole thing makes no sense.

Maybe you could do what Tommy Sheridan did when he was sworn in as an SMP. He raised a clenched fist and said his first allegiance was to the people of Scotland, but then he took the oath of allegiance to the Queen. He later admitted it was hypocrisy but couldn't see any way round it.

Hmm, strange that. I'm Dutch and I lived in England for nearly nine years. I never concidered taking on the British nationality, and meanwhile I'm back in Holland again. However (but perhaps through an anomaly), the last 5 years I was in England my name was on the electoral roll in the council where I resided and was able to vote. Which I did.

You mean you were able to vote in local elections? So am I, it's national elections foreigners aren't allowed to vote in.

No, both. I have voted nationally as well. In 1995 I voted for the first time and was very pleased to be able to kick out the Tories out of government.

My austrailian friend hass been living here for 6 years, he says that because it's been so long he is a naturalised british citizen. Don't know if that helps.

Rob and Jon, thanks, this is all very odd but I'll definitely look into it.

I am a brit but My mother is German and she got joint citizenship (English and German) conferred on my in 1977 when I was 9 years old. The upshot was a letter that arrived in London on my 18th Birthday requiring me to report to Bremerhaven docks for Military Service!

Why bother to change citizenship at all?

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