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Post by Cobra on Jan 28, 2013 21:40:25 GMT 1
Well I'm also a mongrel, My mum is from Leicester and My dad is German. My dad went to the UK after the war to look for his Dad who was a POW working on a farm in Burton on trent. My dad and his brother and My grandparents stayed and settled in the UK as they had nothing to go back to, long story but they were kicked off their farm by the Russians. ( My uncle wrote a book about their life if anyones interested) They were given no help from the state and just worked their way. which was bloody hard being german just after the war. He still lives in England and still has a german passport. and loves everything german. I consider myself British but now I live in France. My wife was scottish and hence my daughter has a mix of English, Scot and German.... which gives her plenty of teams to support at the Six nations, world cup etc
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Post by Em on Jan 29, 2013 7:53:08 GMT 1
HHmmm well I was born in the UK both sides of my mothers family orriginally came from part of France, my fathers side who knows, the little I could find indcated from the UK. There is nothing that interests me in the UK, I am not royalist, I do not like to be squashed into a tiny living space with every one on top of each other, and the school system in the main is going down hill............. That being said I can not change my place of birth, I can change my citizenship or nationality. It is on my list of things to do. My daughter is for all purposes now French she does not like to speak english, she has only french friends, and she wants to take french nationality!
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Post by littlemouse on Jan 29, 2013 8:50:20 GMT 1
Before you make sweeping statements about it being easy to obtain citizenship,you should read the border agency's web page www.gov.uk/becoming-a-british-citizen/check-if-you-can-apply Just a part of it You must also have: lived in the UK for at least 5 years before the date of your application (unless your spouse or civil partner is a British citizen) spent no more than 450 days outside the UK during those 5 years spent no more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months been granted indefinite leave to stay in the UK, ie there’s no specific date that you have to leave had indefinite leave to stay in the UK for the last 12 months (unless your spouse or civil partner is a British citizen) not broken any immigration laws while in the UK Time spent in the UK when you’re exempt from immigration control (eg as a diplomat or member of visiting armed forces) can’t be included as part of the 5 years. Now add to that the difficulty in obtaining any sort of visa !Plus the cost etc . Your statement makes no sense what so ever.
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Post by judith on Jan 29, 2013 14:03:05 GMT 1
"I think it is too easy to obtain British citizenship these days, that is what I am trying to say. If it were more difficult you would maybe get new citizens who were genuinely interested in the country and had something to offer instead of those who are only interested in gaining access to the social welfare and healthcare system."
Looking at it the other way round, it was very easy for Gérard Depardieu to be granted Russian citizenship, mainly because he wanted to avoid the French super tax, and others may well follow. Does Depardieu have so much as a clue about Russian history, law, culture or the language? In his case, money talks, but that is just as corrupt and farcical as people learning their answers about another country from a book.
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Post by bisdu on Jan 29, 2013 16:06:55 GMT 1
"I think it is too easy to obtain British citizenship these days, that is what I am trying to say. If it were more difficult you would maybe get new citizens who were genuinely interested in the country and had something to offer instead of those who are only interested in gaining access to the social welfare and healthcare system."Just out of interest.......before coming here how many of us who have moved full time actually said to themseves, "Now before I emigrate, what is it can I do for France? Perhaps we should stop putting expectations on others that we would not want for ourselves
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2013 18:37:05 GMT 1
The essential nature of 'Britishness' has been changing since WWII, hasn't it JohnP?
That it continues to be 'cheapened' by immigration (your view, not mine) doesn't make it any worse, because the Britishness you want no longer exists.
Your Englishness does, though, and that of your forefathers. Ethnicity you can take pride in. Wherever I am in the world I'm seen as an 'English Gentleman', as you must be.
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Post by JohnP on Jan 30, 2013 8:04:06 GMT 1
I am going to delete my input into this post. I am not managing to get my point across(my fault) and all I am doing is getting people's backs up which is not my intention. I don't feel I am in a good place at the moment and that is reflected in my inability to explain myself properly and maintain my usual tongue in cheek banter. Sorry
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2013 9:24:50 GMT 1
Ok John. Best wishes.
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Post by judith on Jan 30, 2013 15:07:38 GMT 1
Sorry to hear that John. I always think you open up some interesting discussions. Best wishes to you and the little pup.
Judith
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Post by Elkay on Jan 30, 2013 20:13:10 GMT 1
I am going to delete my input into this post. I am not managing to get my point across(my fault) and all I am doing is getting people's backs up which is not my intention. I don't feel I am in a good place at the moment and that is reflected in my inability to explain myself properly and maintain my usual tongue in cheek banter. Sorry Big hugs from here, John, I KNOW you didn't mean offence but it was hard growing up with a mum with a Swiss accent not so long after the war!!
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