The Scottish Government

I am totally against independance, the devolved government was what the Scottish people wanted, and if it goes to a vote the Scottish people will vote to show the likes of Mr Salmond that we don't want to go it alone. United We Stand,Divided We Fall..

Thoughts on why independence is not separation !

I think I can understand Unionist fears around independence. Their fear springs from the philosophy underpinning their view of what it is to be British.

The best way to illustrate this is to tell of a personal experience I had many years ago, when I was just 14. At that time I had an English teacher who also originated in the South of England. I was just developing a political awareness and decided to write an essay in support of Scottish Nationalism - and at the end I said, that this essay would be marked down because my teacher was English.

This got me into deep trouble, but not because my teacher took this as a personal attack on him, because he was himself a Scottish Nationalist. I was being anti-English and xenophobic, and this was no part of nationalism.

It took me along time to get my head round this - how could an Englishman be a Scottish Nationalist. But the answer was simple - Scottish Nationalism is more than where you were born, in fact this is the least of it. It is far more about an underlying philosophy of tolerance and respect for others.

All his life this teacher had been subjected to the British xenophobic propaganda - 'the british are the best in the world', 'britain is best', 'they're just wops,wogs,frogs' (take your pick). This was the British identity.

The British Empire and conquering other countries carried with it a corrosive philosophy that being British was to be 'better' and somehow more entitled to respect than ever other nation.

Coming to Scotland and supporting nationalism gave him the freedom to support a new identity free from xenophobia and the need to be 'superior'. Supporting a Scottish identity through nationalism meant being able to treat all peoaples and nations with respect again.

Now for Unionists -given they have this attitude of superiority:the classic attitude of the bully - they believe that Scottish nationalists will behave as British imperialists before them. In other words to use political power to enforce 'superiority'; hold witchunts of Unionists,subjugate the English, treat other nations as inferior etc.

While in practice through our nationalism, the Unionists would not be persecuted but would find themselves freed from their insane superiority complex, able to treat all nations and people with respect again. To judge people by the quality of their character rather than provenance of their old school ties.

So you Unionists have nothing to fear except perhaps a few sessions of therapy to help you to aclimatise to your new found freedoms in a more civilised world...

Go On Scotland!
Get your independance!
I am Irish and living in the UK for 25 years. I visit Ireland regularly. When I left Ireland half of the children of all familes of my parents generation had to emigrate. Now the situation is reversed with Ireland a popular destination for imigrants.
The UK has declined as a quality place to live, It is becoming an uneducated, squalid, impoverished police state.
If you guys have any sense you will pack your bags and get out from under the yolk.
You are a big country from the Irish point of view.
Instead of having to pay for the Royal family you can charge them rent.
Every chance you get to take a little power from Westminster take it!
The pound will decline with the dollar. Scotland in the Euro zone would have an immediate benefit to the Scottish economy.
Remember how the act of Union was established at the point of a sword!
So Come on Scotland!
There is a lot of support from your neighbours.

In answer to Craig Crook,missive 108

Hello Craig

You keep coming back to the fact that you are both Scottish and British;that I am confusing national identity with political inequality - but surely national identity is expressed through political institutions ?

If the national identities, whether Scottish or British are not affected by political representation, then surely it would be OK if the Scots re-established full political control over Scotland.

You would still be Scottish and British, but political control would have switched completely from Westminster to Holyrood. All it would mean is that you celebrate your Britishness in the same way you have hitherto celebrated your Scottishness, that is in a non-political way. All we are talking about is a slight realignment of your identities - your political identity would now be Scottish and you cultural identity British.

I am sure you can make this adjustment. Maybe wearing a bowler hat and cracking British jokes at parties. Playing a bit more cricket. Going down to your club in London a bit more often to share anecdotes with fellow Unionists, sneer at other nations fo not being 'as great as the British', that kind of thing.

You also say that independence would lead to divergence of policy etc. But surely you are not arguing that it is a good thing for Westminster dictated policy to overrule the will of the Scots ? You appear to be saying that the Scots are too inadequate or ignorant for their will to be as important in Scotland as the will of Westminster. Your argument would only hold if we were a region of England, and you have already conceded we are not.

You are unable to adequately define when the Union would be under threat, so how can you possible defend what you cannot identify and articulate.

I do sense you are getting at a 'feeling' or 'sense' of separateness and I would like to discuss this in a separate missive.

Ironically, I think the real turning point will come when the tories curtail Scots MPs voting rights at Westminster, as they have pledged to do. At that point I think the pressure for full independence may become unstoppable.

There is only a UK Labour government now because of the Scots Labour MPs. If voting rights are curtailed then their political purpose becomes redundant.

Finally, the countries of the EU have political differences expressed through their respective governments. They are still all European with open borders etc. Having their own governments does not mean conflict, just diversity. There is no reason to believe the relationship between Scotland and England would be any differant.

Awrabest

In answer to George Steel,missive 113

Hello George

You appear to be really annoyed that heavyweight Scots like Sir Sean have entered the debate. He may be abroad, but he's made a bigger contribution to Scotland than your likely to make in a hundred lifetimes - so show a little respect.

As for your asertion Scots are in favour of the Union 2 to 1, perhaps you can explain why all the oppostion parties are currently meeting to discuss extending the powers of the Scottish parliament - they've all gone mad have they. In fact if you add the votes for the SNP,Liberal,SSP together at the last election there is actually a majority for much increased powers, All the opinion polls support this too.

If you must enter the debate at least do us all the courtesy of getting your facts straight first. You have the right to express your views but I really don't think your inferiority complex extends to the majority of your fellow Scots. The majority now, like Sir Sean, want to take responsibility for their own country again; they want change - whether you like it or not.

The point I'm trying to make is that i know for a fact that the Union is completely unfair to Scots. It has been good for us in the past but now i think its time for Scotland to leave the Union and Join the E.U like Ireland as an Independant State. (117. Ross - Edinburgh)

This is the only problem I have about Scotland going independent. We Scots do not need the EU and if we were to join them fully we will lose a hell of alot of Independence! already we require licenses for sporrans that are protected animals or what, thats in direct conflict with OUR! heritage. Alot of things will change, believe me... and what I know is way too much of a debate. Only when it happens you will see the idoitic choice we made if we joined the EU.

The mood in England is changing - their identity is becoming less British, the cross of St George is flown now with pride, the Union flag is losing favour. Indpendence for Scotland on Scottish terms before the English leave us!

As for Wales, I'm happy for them to have their independence too if that is their will.

There has been much discussion about ex patriot Scots having their say but the real issue is to create a Scotland that people want to stay in, working & contributing to an economically successful Scotland.
The reason a Labour Government gave Scotland limited devolution is not from the goodness of their hearts but from the arrogant assumption that they would always govern in Scotland, now the genie of independence is out of the bottle they, and the other unionist parties are, at last, forced to focus on Scotland and not their party political careers. There has been a lot of carping about the SNPs first 100 days in power but Labour are pretty quiet about the their lack of achievements when they held office. If they had been doing a good job we wouldn't be having this debate now.

I welcome the White Paper on the merits of a referendum on Scottish Independence. I believe that all Parties should be supporting a referendum with multiple questions to allow us to vote against independence but in favour of a devolution settlement with much more powers and fiscal autonomy.
Independence would be a disaster for Scotland. We are too tied to the United Kingdom by financial affairs such as pensions and benefits to ever be able to sustain the same standard of living as an independent nation.
I, however, am proud of the new assertiveness of politicians in advocating Scottish interests and would hope that we would encourage such cross party determination to stress Scotland role in a federal UK. We require many more powers to overcome the anomalies which reserve powers cause, when matters such as transport are dealt by both Holyrood and Westminster. Certain powers could be ceded from Westminster to allow us an opportunities to develop policy within Europe, such as fishing, and greater opportunities to develop projects abroad, such as Malawi.
It is absolutely essential that we develop more protocols for dealing with Westminster and enlarging relations with Wales and Northern Ireland.
I believe that the only fair way to hold a referendum is to offer us a question on whether we wish more powers for our Parliament as well as a question on independence. Let us settle the matter for a generation, to quote Alex Salmond, and hold a multi-question referendum with cross-party support.

Scotland should become Independant because the union of the U.K is unfair and unequal.

If you actually look at the U.K's coat of arms you will clearly see that the Unicorn which is scotlands national animal is chained round the neck and chained to the ground like slave.

Also there is 2 english coat of arms in the U.K coat of arms. Why??? Why doesn't Wales have the dragon in there, they should because they are not the same as England.

The point I'm trying to make is that i know for a fact that the Union is completely unfair to Scots. It has been good for us in the past but now i think its time for Scotland to leave the Union and Join the E.U like Ireland as an Independant State.

The only logical conclusion for Scotland's future lies in independence. However the process may take some time and further steps involving increased powers for the Scottish Parliament seem the most suitable way to proceed. In that way, the people can become more comfortable with increasing powers. However at the end of the day, I believe that Scots will take the ultimate decision and allow England to regain its independence as well as our own.