FFS, don't believe everything you read!
There's been an awful lot of drivel about Lord Goldsmith's citizenship report in the news over the last couple of days, particularly about how kids will supposedly be "forced" to swear allegiance.
For a start, the idea of citizenship ceremonies is only one tiny part of the report, but it seems to be all the news coverage has focussed on. The rest of the report is a detailed look at the changing portrait of "citizenship" and what it means; how newcomers to the UK might gain citizenship; how to draw communities together; how to get people more democratically active; and so on.
For another thing, the report doesn't in any way say school leavers should swear an oath to Queen and Country. It says that amongst those polled, there was a lot of interest in the idea of citizenship ceremonies for school leavers, and that it's something we should think about and investigate further. It also talks about this in context of citizenship education in schools, and how the ceremony would only be the end point of a whole course learning about democracy, justice, legal and social rights and responsibilities, etc.
The "Oath of Allegiance" is mentioned very briefly in passing as an optional inclusion. A more important part of the ceremony would be formally joining the electoral register. There's also a lot suggesting that the format wouldn't be too prescribed, and that different communities could design their ceremonies to suit them.
The coverage seems to have whipped up a load of Republican feeling as well. It's symbolic. By swearing allegiance to the Crown, you'd be agreeing to abide by the laws and constitutional principles of the UK. You wouldn't be doing HMTQ's personal bidding.
On that subject, I'm always slightly boggled by how many people seem to honestly believe that the Queen sits around in idle luxury, contributing nothing to the running of this country. Ironically, it's ignorance of all this that makes me think yeah, actually Lord Goldsmith, you're right. We do need better citizenship education in this country, if only so people can make an informed decision.
Besides, isn't it a good thing that our Head of State is above the sleazy short-term power squabbles of party politics?
So, without further ado:
Poll Queen and Country
For a start, the idea of citizenship ceremonies is only one tiny part of the report, but it seems to be all the news coverage has focussed on. The rest of the report is a detailed look at the changing portrait of "citizenship" and what it means; how newcomers to the UK might gain citizenship; how to draw communities together; how to get people more democratically active; and so on.
For another thing, the report doesn't in any way say school leavers should swear an oath to Queen and Country. It says that amongst those polled, there was a lot of interest in the idea of citizenship ceremonies for school leavers, and that it's something we should think about and investigate further. It also talks about this in context of citizenship education in schools, and how the ceremony would only be the end point of a whole course learning about democracy, justice, legal and social rights and responsibilities, etc.
The "Oath of Allegiance" is mentioned very briefly in passing as an optional inclusion. A more important part of the ceremony would be formally joining the electoral register. There's also a lot suggesting that the format wouldn't be too prescribed, and that different communities could design their ceremonies to suit them.
The coverage seems to have whipped up a load of Republican feeling as well. It's symbolic. By swearing allegiance to the Crown, you'd be agreeing to abide by the laws and constitutional principles of the UK. You wouldn't be doing HMTQ's personal bidding.
On that subject, I'm always slightly boggled by how many people seem to honestly believe that the Queen sits around in idle luxury, contributing nothing to the running of this country. Ironically, it's ignorance of all this that makes me think yeah, actually Lord Goldsmith, you're right. We do need better citizenship education in this country, if only so people can make an informed decision.
Besides, isn't it a good thing that our Head of State is above the sleazy short-term power squabbles of party politics?
So, without further ado:
Poll Queen and Country