Re: living evolution..

graham <g.stereo@xxxxxxx> wrote:

"Peter Ashby" <pashby@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1iaf4o0.1dgl90ta54vrN%pashby@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
mark <no-onehere@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I'm also starting out on a campaign to put an end to the requirement that
in
a Court of law (..in the UK, at least) one MUST swear an oath on a bible
to
give evidence. What absolute rubbish..

When I was a juror up here in Scotland we were told prior to selection
that anyone who wanted to affirm should tell the Clerk of Court, fine.
Except I was the lucky last to be selected, I had just walked over there
and put my bag down and the Clerk, standing at the other end of the Jury
line said: raise your right hand etc. Some choice, some chance. Lip
service at best.

About 35 years ago, a UK policeman (friend of my ex's family) emigrated to
Australia and applied to join the Victorian (apt name as it happens) police
force. They welcomed him with open arms until they found out that he would
refuse to swear on the bible. There was no provision then for affirming.
They even asked him to go ahead knowing that he was in effect lying!!! he
joined the customs instead and was very happy, especially working set hours!

That is one of the disagreeable things about the colonies, they tend to
be more conservative and reactionary in these things. From those of a
certain age you get a ridiculous degree of concern about what the queen
would think. Very little in reality.

IIRC when I took the oath to become a naturalised New Zealander back in
iirc '92 I affirmed. So things are changing.

Peter


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