Originally Posted by Blokeonabike

Woofer, you clearly have little time for the great nation in which you live (I make an assumption that you live in the UK). In common with those who would attempt to introduce sharia law here, I invite you to piss off to somewhere more agreeable to your senses. Might I recommend Russia. They once had a fine tradition of Monarchy but overthrew it!

If you did take the oath but didnt mean it then you have a peculiar understanding of, or complete lack of honour. I would challenge you to a duel but, quite frankly, cant be arrsed.

I can be arssed and would accept your challenge.

What are you finding difficult to understand? I love my country and would defend it without question. I have difficulty being a 'subject'

Germany too had a monarchy. They seem to be doing okay.

You say you love your country. But words are cheap.

Originally Posted by Kalle_M

Sincerity? Are you having a laugh? I was one of those "Commonwealth sowjaz" and this "sincerity" you're talking about was the very last thing on our minds. Maybe you should re-examine your own reasons for joining.

MsG

You must be at least 80 yrs old then, to have joined whilst Ireland was a member of the Commonwealth.

Was chatting to a Yank army national guard type in Iraq. He told us a tale of him and a couple of his bezzers drinking in a bar in Germany. After having a couple of jugs each, his mate decided to stand up and in a loud voice proclaim "Queen Elizabeth is a whore!".

He says he doesn't quite remember what exactly happened next. Both his mates were unconscious on the floor, and a very tall and wide Welshman was decending upon him with cocked fist. He managed to say "but it wasn't m-" before everything went dark. They came to outside, barred from the bar in question.

Originally Posted by Woofer829

I have difficulty being a 'subject'

Luckily you aren't, apparently. From wikipedia:

On 1 January 1983, upon the coming into force of the British Nationality Act 1981, every Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies became either a British Citizen, British Dependent Territories Citizen or British Overseas Citizen.

Jeez..if you don't like the rules..dont fukcing join up, It's not hard to work out is it.

When i took the oath I was just coming up to my 16th birthday. I was a kid who was joining the army to get away from a council estate and a life of crime that i had stupidly dipped my toe into. I was handed a card by a crusty old Major and told to put my right hand in the air and read from it. He looked bored, i didnt take in what I was reading, I just read. Now looking back, would I have took an oath to God, Queen and Country? No. Those things didnt matter to me, but my Section, my Troop and my Squadron did, and so did the great friends I made. Now as I've got old...er, I dont believe in the christian god, I'm neither here nor there about the Queen, but I quite like the Royals and the Country I've spent my life serving is being systematically destroyed by greed and unelected foreign officials. Now, I'd still take an oath, but it would have to be slightly re-worded ;)

Originally Posted by HHH

You must be at least 80 yrs old then, to have joined whilst Ireland was a member of the Commonwealth.

I believe you must be mistaken, mucker. My Greatgdranda and my Granda joined when Ireland actually was a member of the British Empire and the Commonwealth. My Da, I myself and our oldest son joined when there was no "Commonwealth" as such. That's five generations of my family who've served in the British Army, all Irishmen. Any other questions, gobnuts?

MsG

Originally Posted by buggrit

When i took the oath I was just coming up to my 16th birthday. I was a kid who was joining the army to get away from a council estate and a life of crime that i had stupidly dipped my toe into. I was handed a card by a crusty old Major and told to put my right hand in the air and read from it. He looked bored, i didnt take in what I was reading, I just read. Now looking back, would I have took an oath to God, Queen and Country? No. Those things didnt matter to me, but my Section, my Troop and my Squadron did, and so did the great friends I made. Now as I've got old...er, I dont believe in the christian god, I'm neither here nor there about the Queen, but I quite like the Royals and the Country I've spent my life serving is being systematically destroyed by greed and unelected foreign officials. Now, I'd still take an oath, but it would have to be slightly re-worded ;)

Like HRH QE2 and Phil the Greek?

Anyways, you can't get rid of the Monarchy. Lets face it, you ask anyone what defines Britain, the Monarchy would be very high (if not top) of the list. It's as much a part of our cultural identity as our geography, religion or language (seeing as how our language has changed with the different Royal bloodlines coming and going). Plus the monarchy is benign and uncorruptable, unlike the fecking politicians...