Yesterday a friend who attends the University of New England at Armidale (NSW) went to pay her fees up front. Imagine her surprise when she found that she couldn't get the usual discount for early payment because she is not an Australian Citizen.
She is a Permanent Resident and intends to become a citizen but has felt that accepting Citizenship should be something that one ought to do when one feels fully committed to being a citizen and not something that should be done other than for the best of motives.
She now feels that when she becomes a citizen that people would be able to say that she did so for monetary gain, and this troubles her somewhat.

Thoughts?

Samuel,

Who cares what other people think?

How could they draw the conclusion it was for monetary gain unless she told them the story of having to pay higher non-citizen rates?

People change citizenship because of benefits received. Big deal.

A friend of mine getting a divorce whined, "People will think I stayed with Joe when he had money and left him when he went broke." "Well, duh! That's what happened." "Well, yes, but that's not why I left." "That's a different issue."

I agree with the suggestion that she quit worrying about what other people think.

What do you think when you see the 24-year old beauty standing next to her 84-year old fiancee? Do you think, "Wow, that guy must be sensitive, and caring, and really great in bed," or alternately, do you think, "Wow, that guy must be rich." And, when all is said and done the 24-year old beauty can smile and say, "Now, I'm rich." Get over it.

Well, this situation highlights what I think is going to be the most important ethical dilemma of the 21st century. National boundaries are dissolving. People are not identifying as strongly with a certain race, geographical area, set of customs, etc., and are just seeing themselves as human! This change of attitude is in conflict with discriminatory policies of governments, for example citizenship, and ethical concepts, like patriotism.

It highlights the need for people to let go of their prejudices and for governments to let go of discriminatory policies, because our society can not hold on to these destructive policies as the rapid expansion of communication and transportation makes boundaries meaningless. Global travel and communication possibilities are uniting people and rendering the nation-state and family-clan systems of government obsolete.

We are faced with a conflict. Humanity can either gain from this or lose from it, but what is necessary at this point is for people to think in terms of what is good for all people and not just on what is good for the individual and his immediate tribal network.

But is it discrimination?
It seems to me that giving a discount to some and not to others based on their residency status is purely discrimination.

Imagine if it was the local service station where discounting of fuel is a commonplace.

I think all countries do discrimination. This problem must be petition to the authorities. What happen to your friend?