Aug. 5th, 2007

steepholm: (Default)
Am I a citizen? Of Bristol, evidently yes. But of the United Kingdom? I'm not sure. I always understood that there was a distinction between subjects (of monarchs, however politically toothless) and citizens. As the UK is not yet a republic, presumably I am, pro tem, a subject and not a citizen.

And yet, my passport refers to British citizens. People take citizenship tests and become (at least in popular usage) UK citizens. Children take lessons in citizenship at school - whatever that means. Are these loose expressions, or is it possible to be a citizen of the UK and a subject of the queen at one and the same time? Is it possible to be the former but not the latter? Is there a way I can opt out of being a subject (I sure as hell didn't opt in)?

On the other hand, isn't there something strangely appealing about the idea of seeing children take mandatory lessons in Subjection?
steepholm: (Default)
Am I a citizen? Of Bristol, evidently yes. But of the United Kingdom? I'm not sure. I always understood that there was a distinction between subjects (of monarchs, however politically toothless) and citizens. As the UK is not yet a republic, presumably I am, pro tem, a subject and not a citizen.

And yet, my passport refers to British citizens. People take citizenship tests and become (at least in popular usage) UK citizens. Children take lessons in citizenship at school - whatever that means. Are these loose expressions, or is it possible to be a citizen of the UK and a subject of the queen at one and the same time? Is it possible to be the former but not the latter? Is there a way I can opt out of being a subject (I sure as hell didn't opt in)?

On the other hand, isn't there something strangely appealing about the idea of seeing children take mandatory lessons in Subjection?

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