observer Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 Know the first verse of God Save the Queen? The date of the battle of Trafalgar etc etc? Problem is, none of us can become "citizens", as we are all "subjects" of HM Queen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted July 1, 2012 Report Share Posted July 1, 2012 According to my passport I am a Citizen of Ireland. No problem for me, or many others then :grin: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 If they had asked for the last verse of God save the Queen, we would all have been non citizens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 If we can't be citizens how come we have 'citizen cards' (which are endorsed by the government) and we also have the 'citizens advice bureau'?  And the UK Border Agency says  "If you were born in the UK before 1 January 1983, you are almost certainly a British citizen. The only exception is if you were born to certain diplomatic staff of foreign missions who had diplomatic immunity.  If you were born in the UK on or after 1 January 1983, you are a British citizen if at the time of your birth one of your parents was:  a British citizen; or legally settled in the UK."  and  "If you have a British passport issued on or after 1 January 1983, it will say whether you are a British citizen"  Am I missing something here Obs.....is this another of your odd topics where we have to search for some odd news story instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted July 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 Nope, Teresa May is changing the exam for immigrants to qualify for "citizenship", by an emphasis on history and culture. But what happens if they fail the exam? Do they get sent back? If not - what's the point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 If they had asked for the last verse of God save the Queen, we would all have been non citizens  last verse??? you mean there is one..... I thought it went "dah dah dah dah de dah...dah dah dah dah de dah.... dah dah dah dah.... dah dah didy dah dah dah dah de dah.... etc...." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 Me too Baz :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 last verse??? you mean there is one..... I thought it went "dah dah dah dah de dah...dah dah dah dah de dah.... dah dah dah dah.... dah dah didy dah dah dah dah de dah.... etc...." Â Is that the Connolly version to the tune of the Archers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RingoDave Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 Isn't the last verse the one Billy quotes about smashing the Scots? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleopatra Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 From every latent foe, From the assassins blow, God save the Queen! O'er her thine arm extend, For Britain's sake defend, Our mother, prince, and friend, God save the Queen! Â Not many, if any (other than myself), british citizens know the last verse. Indeed I don't think many know there is more than the first verse so how the hell could they expect any immigrant to know it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RingoDave Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 I was thinking more of the infamous sixth verse; Â Â Lord, grant that Marshal Wade, May by thy mighty aid, Victory bring. May he sedition hush and like a torrent rush, Rebellious Scots to crush, God save the King. Â added around 1746. By the way, Encyclopedia Britannica states that there are only three verses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleopatra Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 And if the EncyBrit can't get it right there's no chance for foreigners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 By the way, Encyclopedia Britannica states that there are only three verses!  And the official Royal websites says there are only two ........  "The words of the National Anthem are as follows:  God save our gracious Queen! Long live our noble Queen! God save the Queen! Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the Queen.  Thy choicest gifts in store On her be pleased to pour, Long may she reign. May she defend our laws, And ever give us cause, To sing with heart and voice, God save the Queen."  Have all the other 4 verses been dropped and made redundant then ?  http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchUK/Symbols/NationalAnthem.aspx  All very confusing but not to worry as it's only the first verse that the foreigners need to know as that's the one that gets sung on official occasions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleopatra Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 God Save the Queen  God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen! Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the Queen!  O lord God arise, Scatter our enemies, And make them fall! Confound their knavish tricks, Confuse their politics, On you our hopes we fix, God save the Queen!  Not in this land alone, But be God's mercies known, From shore to shore! Lord make the nations see, That men should brothers be, And form one family, The wide world ov'er  From every latent foe, From the assasins blow, God save the Queen! O'er her thine arm extend, For Britain's sake defend, Our mother, prince, and friend, God save the Queen!  Thy choicest gifts in store, On her be pleased to pour, Long may she reign! May she defend our laws, And ever give us cause, To sing with heart and voice, God save the Queen!  Only 5 verses in this version. Whatever!  I think they shortened it to try to stop the people dashing out of the cinemas before the national anthem was played at the end of every screening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 IMO asking a non-existent entity to rescue someone who has never had a moment's peril in her life just makes us look silly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted July 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 So how does this "test" impact on immigration? Illegal Afghani arrives under a truck, gets caught and is sent to a detention centre. HR Lawyers swoop in and start proceedings for assylum on account of his/her mortal danger from IEDs back home. After £thousands of tax payer's money has been consumed in legal aid, let's assume the Afghani wins the appeal and is given leave to stay. Then s/he decides to become a British citizen and takes this test, but fails - so what happens? Perhaps it would be easier to just start a family with an existing UK citizen and thus win the right to a family life and permanent residence in the UK; or just have a scam marriage to a Pole? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfie Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 let's assume the Afghani wins the appeal and is given leave to stay. Â And if the Queen dies, allowed to stay for another month while they learn the new words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleopatra Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 So how does this "test" impact on immigration? Illegal Afghani arrives under a truck, gets caught and is sent to a detention centre. HR Lawyers swoop in and start proceedings for assylum on account of his/her mortal danger from IEDs back home. After £thousands of tax payer's money has been consumed in legal aid, let's assume the Afghani wins the appeal and is given leave to stay. Then s/he decides to become a British citizen and takes this test, but fails - so what happens? Perhaps it would be easier to just start a family with an existing UK citizen and thus win the right to a family life and permanent residence in the UK; or just have a scam marriage to a Pole?   Or just buy a cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Obs back on subject again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Only 5 verses in this version. Whatever! Â Â But Ringo was right when he mentioned the 6th and posted it ...... Â Yeah I hear you saying 'whatever' again Cleo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 And if the Queen dies, allowed to stay for another month while they learn the new words. Â Â I may have read it wrong but it seems to me they wants to replace the bits regarding 'how to claim benefits' and also 'HR Laws and rights' with history and the national anthem. Â First thought was that it sounds like a good idea as why should we ensure they know about claiming from our benefit system or how to push their human rights rights.... but then again they probably already all have the equivalent of a masters degrees in that before they set foot over here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleopatra Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 But Ringo was right when he mentioned the 6th and posted it ......  Yeah I hear you saying 'whatever' again Cleo   You're hearing things then Dizzy, go get your hearing tested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted July 3, 2012 Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 .... can you put that in bold so it's a bit louder please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted July 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2012 Think Diz, by now, they have a well oiled network to process immigrants through the system! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleopatra Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 You're hearing things then Dizzy, go get your hearing tested Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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