Allegiance
 

Shouldn't the Armed Forces swear allegiance to The Flag/The Nation rather than
to the person of an individual who is no different to the rest of us?
The present "Queen" has presided over the most spectacular decline of any great power to the humble insignificance of the present, whilst simultaneously maintaining her own vast wealth and privilege.
Isn't it time we grew up?

Why would any intelligent person swear allegience to the idiots who run this country? Hardly Betty's fault that we've been shafted by parliament.

Willard

Agree on all counts.

I am glad both my Aussie Citizenship papers, commission both refer to the Queen than some piss ant politician.


Stendec5
She is better than the rest of us, I don't know anyone who could have maintained composure at the same time as dealing with a bunch of dickheads for 50 years.

I agree with WW, looking at politicians of various strip in this country and around the world, I'm glad I swore allegiance as a former member of Aunty Betty's flying circus. I look forward to the day she asks nicely to see the prime minister who refuses and she sends for the palace guard commander to fetch the political wretch. Hopefully his only reply would be 'dead or alive Ma'am'

Well, great question, but I suspect for many a no brainer. The oath of allegiance we all swear when we enter our Armed Forces is to our Nation, and not to a political party, or government of that particular time. The embodiment of our nation is HM the Queen, or whoever serves the country as Monarch, and yes, I use the term "Serves as Monarch" deliberately, because, despite wealth and entitlement our royal family have given Great Britain stable rule and a unifying influence for many years, and all serve, as do our servicemen. It's been a long time since I was sworn in, I can guarantee that an insistence on swearing allegiance to a politician would have radically foreshortened my career. HM and her family might not sit well with the EU brigade, I'm afraid that old fashioned people like myself still keep our trust in what we know and are comfortable with.

Smudge

"HM and her family might not sit well with the EU brigade, I'm afraid that old fashioned people like myself still keep our trust in what we know and are comfortable with."

And younger people it would seem as well going by the polls, at least here in Aus.

OK, the wording on sign up and other things might have changed in the last few years but I think people prefer having someone stable who doesn't bend in the wind everytime things get hard.

HM Forces

or

Government (ie political) Forces

Don't write off HM when it comes to Alligance. I wonder if 'push came to shove' how many of current (and ex) serving members would ally themselves to a politician.

And as for

The present "Queen" has presided over the most spectacular decline of any great power to the humble insignificance of the present, whilst simultaneously maintaining her own vast wealth and privilege.

Thankfully, for HM Forces actions (past and present) you are allowed to post that opinion.

Replace "present Queen" with "Hitler", "Stalin", "Mao" etc and wait to see how long it takes for the knock on the door at night from the nasty guys.

I imagine recruitment would drop somewhat if you were asked to lay down your life for Cameroon, Millyband, Clegg "and Country".
Country OK but the rest ?
I would have chosen a different career.

The Queen (or more correctly, the Monarchy) represents stability and continuity. Looking back to 1952 (not that I was there) there's precious little else that has remained the same since then. It would be a sad day for this country should we ever replace HM with a president.

And 500N...a bunch of dickheads? Innumerable bunches of dickheads, surely?

I swore to serve the queen, not politicians. Totally disagree with the opening comments

My grand mother said that the Monarchy staying in London during WWII and the Blitz, like most other people did one hell of a lot for the people of London. (Even if the children did get sent away for a while).

I somehow doubt the Pollies or a President would do the same today.

HM staying in London, coupled with Churchill refusing to countenance beer rationing - two enormous boosts to morale!

There are so many inaccuracies and fallacies in the OP itself that I'm surprised you're all giving the author this much of your collective attention. Most successful bait casting post I've seen in a while, designed only to stir up the military forum regulars.

Quite right, shouldn't feed the trolls. Throwing bricks at them is fun, though.

Looking at some of his other posts I think he may be a grumpy fisherman from Grimsby, remember he probably married his cousin so he is entitled to be a bit grumpy sometimes.
I am not a great "royalty" fan although I like Harry and Her majesty and her batty husband, bless him but at least they have lead our country for quite a while .

Laarbruch72

Thank you. A deserved kick.

Appreciated.

Rgds

T

At the end of the day one serves the elected government of ones country, regardless of monarchy or other quirks. Herein lies the problem with all foreign policy: ultimately, the ethics - right/wrong/just necessary - or otherwise, are subordinate to the electoral process. "If we bomb/invade S***a and servicemen are harmed will we be re-elected?" "If we bomb/invade S***a and foreign civilians are killed, will our electorate care and will we be re=elected?"

Hence the dilemma over use of "drone=strikes." Not placing servicemen in harms way to achieve a tactical/strategic end is a no-brainer for military minded folk but acquires a new significance for a politician, intent on a long term career.

But its all ok cos Tony said it wasn't our fault......

Auda abu Tayi was an honourable man...

I received my Commission from the Queen, not some self seeking pillock of a politician.

That is as it should be.

'To our well beloved and trusted servant xxxx. We reposing especial trust in you...'

500N, it was certainly appreciated by the Londoners, although I do have a chuckle at this

:)

IIRC I have never sworn allegiance to anyone or anything. However I received the Queen's Commission which, as Ex Ascoteer pointed out, was a direct command from Her Majesty to one of her subjects. Did it for me.