The Off Topic Topic

[The Larch]

Now seriously, are you for real considering becoming a British citizen?

[Tamas]

Now seriously, are you for real considering becoming a British citizen?

Yes, I'll be eligible to apply in less than a year.

[Valmy]

Considering the weird legal status of EU citizens in the UK, I think it is a sensible precaution.

[The Larch]

Now seriously, are you for real considering becoming a British citizen?

Yes, I'll be eligible to apply in less than a year.

Would you have to renounce your Hungarian citizenship for that?

[Tamas]

Now seriously, are you for real considering becoming a British citizen?

Yes, I'll be eligible to apply in less than a year.

Would you have to renounce your Hungarian citizenship for that?

No.

[derspiess]

Who knew there is an RV hall of fame museum in Elkhart, Indiana?

We get lots of local commercials for RVs and they are all in Indiana.  I guess it's the RV capital.

[Tamas]

Holy shit, Pakistan is paralyzed due to protests over NOT executing a blasphemer:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/01/asia-bibi-anti-blasphemy-protests-spread-across-pakistan

Even worse, this article seems to claim that the blasphemy for which this farmhand lady spent 8 years on deathrow for, was that she drank from the water she brought for Muslims on the fields.

[Tamas]

Or she said something nasty about Mohamed after she drank it's not clear for me, but still this is just stupid beyond belief.

[Habbaku]

Not sure if the article notes it or not, but there have been politicians assassinated by the populace for trying to defend her. Pakistan is a mad place.

[Grey Fox]

Religious people are insane, Pakistani sure does take it to an upper level.

[Valmy]

Religious people are insane, Pakistani sure does take it to an upper level.

It didn't used to be that way in Pakistan. The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan sent them off in a really bad direction. It brought all the Saudi money and Saudi schools and holy shit does Pakistan suck now.

Well I mean there was terrible shit in Pakistan before, they committed genocide against the Bengalis during the war and all that. I just meant this particular bad shit is now really bad.

I think of all those Christians who thought Pakistan would be better for them than Hindu India, that didn't work out too well.

[Valmy]

Or she said something nasty about Mohamed after she drank it's not clear for me, but still this is just stupid beyond belief.

Ok she is a Christian. They said she had to convert to Islam or stop using the well. She something like she preferred Jesus because 'Mohammed never saved anybody'. And for that she should die. The governor of the area was going to take it easy on her and tried to find a way out to settle things and for that he was murdered by his bodyguard. Then his bodyguard was executed for the murder and millions came to his funeral. So yeah now the nuts are demanding this woman be executed.

I mean even the Middle Easterners think that is crazy.

And I hear about problems religious minorities and atheists are having in places like Indonesia and Malaysia and I wonder how much mischief the Saudis have caused.

[mongers]

Religious people are insane, Pakistani sure does take it to an upper level.

It didn't used to be that way in Pakistan. The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan sent them off in a really bad direction. It brought all the Saudi money and Saudi schools and holy shit does Pakistan suck now.

Well I mean there was terrible shit in Pakistan before, they committed genocide against the Bengalis during the war and all that. I just meant this particular bad shit is now really bad.

I think of all those Christians who thought Pakistan would be better for them than Hindu India, that didn't work out too well.

It pre-dates that by some time, Pakistani troops were guarding Saudi Arabia in the 1970s and had years of significant military co-operation/alliance with them and other Arab countries.

I think to some extent Zia-ul-Haq picked up his enthusiasm for authoritarian Islam from then.

[The Brain]

Still though, let's say 10 years from now there's a referendum on whether to turn the UK into a republican system of government i.e. abolish the monarchy. My general political views of opposing legal differences based on birth would support that idea, but how could I possibly vote for that option after having sworn allegiance to the Queen?

The same way someone who thinks the US Constitution in its present form is problematic can swear the US oath. If the Constitution changes, so does the meaning of the oath, to accommodate the change.

The UK oath is predicated on swearing allegiance to the Queen "... according to the law". If the law says the Queen is now a meaningless symbol, then that's what the oath means.

There is nothing in the oath to prevent voting for a change to the laws. Quite the contrary - you give your allegiance to the Queen (according to the law), but your loyalty to the UK, and swear to observe its democratic values and uphold its laws.

In short, there is no possible conflict between the first and second halves of the oath, as one's allegiance to the Queen is conditional on the law. Thanks, English Civil War! 

" I (name) swear by almighty God that on
becoming a British citizen, I will be faithful and
bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth the Second, her Heirs and
Successors, according to the law.

I will give my loyalty to the United Kingdom and
respect its rights and freedoms. I will uphold its
democratic values. I will observe its laws
faithfully and fulfil my duties and obligations as
a British citizen."

Does Tampax believe in almighty God? And people of polytheist or dualist beliefs aren't welcome as citizens?

[The Brain]

Holy shit, Pakistan is paralyzed due to protests over NOT executing a blasphemer:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/01/asia-bibi-anti-blasphemy-protests-spread-across-pakistan

Even worse, this article seems to claim that the blasphemy for which this farmhand lady spent 8 years on deathrow for, was that she drank from the water she brought for Muslims on the fields.

You sound a smidgeon judgmental.