Jacaranda Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Parleycross,will all due respect,its none of your business! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt Agatha Posted October 24, 2014 Author Share Posted October 24, 2014 (edited) From this time forward I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I will uphold and obey. None of those things are compromised by me living abroad for a while, just as they wouldn't be for a born-here Aussie who chose to live and work overseas. No doubt you'll jump on the word "loyalty" but I believe you can be loyal to a number of things as the pledge itself suggests - the country and its people - and in my case, my family. ETA I don't mind Melza. I get the sense the question wasn't ask in the spirit of information shared/genuine interest but that's okay. I 100% believe that being both an Australian and a British citizen is a good thing and that moving between the countries as my family's needs change is the absolutely right thing to do, my conscience is completely clear and I believe I am acting with integrity as I have always done. Edited October 24, 2014 by Aunt Agatha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parley Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Well I hope you meant it when you said it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy1982 Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Can you tell us what was the oath you swore ? oh my god...GET OVER YOURSELF!!!!!:policeman: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt Agatha Posted October 24, 2014 Author Share Posted October 24, 2014 Well I hope you meant it when you said it. Ha! Just as I thought! I meant it then and I mean it now. You can't seriously think that loyalty to Australia means you can't leave the place?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parley Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 No. but I question it if you don't plan on coming back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark 1234 Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I was born and raised in the UK. I took advantage of the free education, healthcare, and tax-free profit from the sale of several properties. I left England in 2004. Does that make me a traitor to my country? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt Agatha Posted October 24, 2014 Author Share Posted October 24, 2014 No.but I question it if you don't plan on coming back. I don't know if I'll be coming back. Question away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parley Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 It doesn't sound like you are committed to Australia at all, so I wish you hadn't got citizenship. But what is done is done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt Agatha Posted October 24, 2014 Author Share Posted October 24, 2014 It doesn't sound like you have a clue what you are talking about so I wish you hadn't posted in this thread. I know that you love pushing people's buttons but rest assured you haven't pushed mine. I know my level of commitment to this country, the UK and to my family. Your completely misguided opinion makes me even more pleased that I got citizenship so thanks! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parley Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I'm just giving my opinion. I hate it when people get citizenship and then immediately leave the country. I would never do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt Agatha Posted October 24, 2014 Author Share Posted October 24, 2014 No you weren't you were attempting to judge me for my choices. I've had citizenship for over a year so I didn't leave "immediately" but the truth isn't convenient to your argument so you have chosen to ignore that. I would never try to embarrass/upset people on a random forum but it doesn't seem to impact on your moral code. Each to their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy1982 Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I wish you hadn't got citizenship And remind us all again how this affects you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy1982 Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I hate it when people get citizenship and then immediately leave the country.I would never do it. Hero.....:notworthy: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parley Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 And remind us all again how this affects you? Does it have to affect me to give an opinion. You are not shy in giving your opinion to Jase and others in various threads. Posting in a thread invites opinions. But to answer your question, I don't like it because so many people would so love to be citizens, commit to the country and live here forever, that it seems wrong when people play the system, get the citizenship but don't want to live here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt Agatha Posted October 24, 2014 Author Share Posted October 24, 2014 But to answer your question, I don't like it because so many people would so love to be citizens, commit to the country and live here forever, that it seems wrong when people play the system, get the citizenship but don't want to live here. But that's not what I am doing so why are you using that line to have a go at me, sorry, express your opinion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy1982 Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Does it have to affect me to give an opinion.You are not shy in giving your opinion to Jase and others in various threads. Posting in a thread invites opinions. But to answer your question, I don't like it because so many people would so love to be citizens, commit to the country and live here forever, that it seems wrong when people play the system, get the citizenship but don't want to live here. Neither you or your opinions are worthy of a response...BUT....how has she 'played the system'? The criteria is 4 years here...shes done that, end of...it really is that simple! Shes lived here 11 years lets not forget, and 1 year ago, was she meant to predict that her mother would get cancer therefore not apply for her citizenship? I dont think anyone (you already have and no doubt will continue to do so) would criticise her for choosing to move back home to spend time/look after her sick mother..even if that does mean 'playing the system' and not staying in Australia...heaven forbid! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parley Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I must have missed the post about the sick mother as I didn't see that in this thread and did not know about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt Agatha Posted October 24, 2014 Author Share Posted October 24, 2014 I mentioned that I didn't know my mother in law would be diagnosed with breast cancer at our citizenship ceremony (which took place last year). So I didn't know then that we would be leaving in Feb 2015. MBTTUK has always been a possibility though (we didn't consciously emigrate for life) so I won't claim sainthood just yet. But the fact that I love it here and I love it in the UK and we have Australian children means there's a good chance we'll return one day. I'm very grateful that my duel citizenship makes that possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I can see where Parley is coming from in that there are many that say they hate Australia but then wait to get citizenship before naffing off back then constantly slag off Australia. Clearly AA isn't one of them though but there are many that are . I understand the concept of just in case though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katie22 Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 (edited) Hypocrisy can work both ways though. There are plenty of Brits that slag off Britain constantly and vow they're never go back but more than happy to keep renewing their British passport and then getting them for their kids and grandkids and because it opens doors when travelling - they do that because they can. I will be completely honest and admit I got my Australian citizenship and passport years ago only because I could, not because I wanted to live here forever. My main reason for citizenship was the right to vote in a country I live permanently in and pay taxes. However if I wasn't allowed dual citizenship then there's no way I would have got it. Be interesting to know how many of us would sacrifice our UK passport for our Australian one? Congratulations on getting your passport Aunt Agatha! Edited October 24, 2014 by Katie22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearlythere1 Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 I'm quite excited to see 'Australian' under the 'nationality' section - makes me feel all exotic! LOL Can't wait to use it for something - even just ID. Congratulations AA, got 5 years to go myself. Hope everything works out ok in the UK for you. It's difficult having family so far away from you, especially in times of need and sickness. I lost my mother and father in law to the Big C, in the same year (not saying that this will happen to you, obviously) while we were living in Germany, never made it back in time to see either of them. In hindsight, I think we should've gone back, I'll always regret not being there. You have to make decisions that are best for you and your family at the time. We have made a decision that we will stay in Australia until we get citizenship whatever happens (don't intend leaving at all, but you never know what life has in store for you, it's very easy to criticise someone's decisions from a comfy armchair), simply because it makes it so much easier to return, if we had to leave for a while, for whatever reason. Best of luck for the future, whatever you decide to do.. :smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickyplum Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 You don't HAVE to give your opinion. It's not a mandatory action that you have to take, every time someone has happy news they want to share. I'm just giving my opinion. I hate it when people get citizenship and then immediately leave the country. I would never do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt Agatha Posted October 24, 2014 Author Share Posted October 24, 2014 Thanks guys, appreciate the support and the congratulations. DH lost his Dad to cancer, my Dad is in remission and now DH's Mum has it, shocking disease. Sorry you lost your Dad and MIL @Nearlythere1, it must have been very hard to have been living away at that time. I am happy about my Australian passport for all the right reasons and it has really pretty pictures (though not the one of me sadly!) to boot :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silencio Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 There's nothing wrong with Aunt Agatha's decision getting a Australian passport after 11 years. To the contrary, she's not only committed to Australia, she's also committed to her family and in-laws! To be honest I don't know if I would be able to the big sacrifice Aunt Agatha is planning to do and leaving Australia because a parent/parent-in-law is terminally ill! Not everyone would consider this even when family ties are close and strong. I wish her mother-in-law all the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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