Sorry, was I mad before?

[aesmael]

    Now I am mad.
    Am currently reading the document Becoming an Australian Citizen (1.1MB PDF), intended to help prospective citizens prepare for the citizenship test. It describes Australian citizenship as bringing with it certain privileges as:

1. Voting
2. Seeking election in Parliament
3. Applying for an Australian passport (a privilege they do not deign to extend to me)
4. To register children born overseas as citizens
5. To obtain full consular assistance overseas
6. Eligibility for the armed forces of public service

    This language makes me furious. Voting is a privilege? Having a voice in the government is a privilege? No. Privileges can be taken away. Those ought to be regarded as rights. Any language which frames the rights of citizens as something contingent makes me intensely suspicious.

    Of course, the list of responsibilities also includes voting. That is because people who are eligible and do not vote are fined. The other responsibilities listed are jury service and defending Australia "should the need arise".

    Following, a list of the values which have been selected as 'officially Australian' (note to self: find a way to distinguish irony quotes more clearly from actual quotes)

• respect for the equal worth, dignity and freedom of the individual
• freedom of speech
• freedom of religion and secular government[1]
• freedom of association
• support for parliamentary democracy and the rule of law
• equality under the law
• equality of men and women
• equality of opportunity
• peacefulness
• tolerance, mutual respect and compassion for those in need

[1] And yet the citizenship pledge reads:

From this time forward, under God
I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people
whose democratic beliefs I share,
whose rights and liberties I respect, and
whose laws I shall uphold and obey

    There is a note at the bottom, mind, which says the under God part is optional.

    The breakdown of citizens by religion accounts for only 68.8 percent of the population. Later notes that Christian holidays are public holidays. I 'like' the way the listing of holidays celebrates and commemorates Jesus Christ just as matter-of-factly as Labour Day celebrates the 8-hour day and ANZAC Day commemorates the landing of troops at Gallipoli.

    There is I believe a fair amount of awfulness glossed over by implication in the section about Indigenous Australians. Speaking of which, the frequent appellation of Australia as "an ancient land and a young nation" as if the indigenous population stands united behind us, as if we all support and maintain their traditions, as if Australia is any more ancient in history and population than any other nation, turns my stomach. The only sense I know of in which this continent can be described as ancient, exceptionally so relative to other places in the world, is geologically.

    I am going to stop now. Probably too much reflecting my own prejudices and, really, I do not know enough about history.

Comments

The Project.

[coniferous_you]

I believe your citizenship pledge has been changed to suit the times without your knowledge:

You've had your chance, now we've got the mandate;
If you've changed your mind, I'm afraid it's too late.

Re: Projectile

[aesmael.livejournal.com]

Much improved.

[lost-angelwings.livejournal.com]

I alway hate how many restrictions are placed on immigrants for voting. :\

Toronto is actually going to pass a law (our mayor wants it) to allow non-Canadaian-citizen residents of Toronto to be allowed the vote (in Toronto elections) which I think is fair since they live here and pay taxes and aren't allowed a say in what's going on. I think the fears of some large scary terrorist conspiracy immigrating into Toronto simply to vote against property taxes or something are pretty slim. XD

[aesmael.livejournal.com]

That is interesting. I think some British citizens are allowed to vote here but the mood at the moment seems more toward restricting who can vote.