A citizenship oath is a legally binding commitment. If you become a citizen, and then do what is prohibited to citizens, you could face some serious consequences that you could reasonably know about ahead of time. When you take a citizenship oath, the nation officially takes on the obligations and responsibilities it is required to perform on behalf of any citizen. You'd be voluntarily making this choice as an informed adult. It would show your desire to become part of the mainstream of society, and to accept the authority of the nation's political system.
The Pledge of Allegiance has no legally binding consequences. It promises nothing to you from the Flag, the Republic, God, or the principles of liberty and justice. Children are required to recite it in a coercive environment where opting out is never stated as an available choice, and trying to opt out is made difficult and seen as highly disruptive action of a disreputable troublemaker objecting to the authority of the nation and being an antisocial troublemaker. When included as a ceremonial ritual of other groups, they make no promise to you on behalf of the Republic, and may be unlikely to kick you out if you politely abstain.
These are two very different circumstances!
The questions for you, it seems to me, are:
Do you intentionally want to have this King and Royal Family, and whatever next laws or rules or traditions might come along in their line, in a position of authority to which you humbly submit and subordinate yourself as their dutiful subject? If so, no problem!
Do you see the commitment language as problematic if literal, but also ceremonial only, meaningless verbiage of linguistic curlicues without actual force of legal power over you? If so, you could sign on for the citizenship package that happens to include a free useless historical doodad in every box!
Do you see Canadian citizenship as otherwise valuable and important, the most reasonable, appropriate next step in your life? Would being kept from it be a major setback? If so, you could perhaps think of the personal loyalty oath element as an imposed condition term that you accept but only under duress.
You could ask if there's a version of the Canadian oath that would make you a Canadian citizen yet not swear a promise of personal fealty to a King. Perhaps you might say that doing so would put you in conflict with the U.S. Constitution, if that's what you came to believe. Or, maybe you could become a Quaker and get their help with the matter.
Re: Geomancy on dual citizenship
The Pledge of Allegiance has no legally binding consequences. It promises nothing to you from the Flag, the Republic, God, or the principles of liberty and justice. Children are required to recite it in a coercive environment where opting out is never stated as an available choice, and trying to opt out is made difficult and seen as highly disruptive action of a disreputable troublemaker objecting to the authority of the nation and being an antisocial troublemaker. When included as a ceremonial ritual of other groups, they make no promise to you on behalf of the Republic, and may be unlikely to kick you out if you politely abstain.
These are two very different circumstances!
The questions for you, it seems to me, are:
Do you intentionally want to have this King and Royal Family, and whatever next laws or rules or traditions might come along in their line, in a position of authority to which you humbly submit and subordinate yourself as their dutiful subject? If so, no problem!
Do you see the commitment language as problematic if literal, but also ceremonial only, meaningless verbiage of linguistic curlicues without actual force of legal power over you? If so, you could sign on for the citizenship package that happens to include a free useless historical doodad in every box!
Do you see Canadian citizenship as otherwise valuable and important, the most reasonable, appropriate next step in your life? Would being kept from it be a major setback? If so, you could perhaps think of the personal loyalty oath element as an imposed condition term that you accept but only under duress.
You could ask if there's a version of the Canadian oath that would make you a Canadian citizen yet not swear a promise of personal fealty to a King. Perhaps you might say that doing so would put you in conflict with the U.S. Constitution, if that's what you came to believe. Or, maybe you could become a Quaker and get their help with the matter.
Christopher from California