tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719459558369549533.post6105179373232300349..comments2023-07-28T11:57:04.354+01:00Comments on Malc in the Burgh: Guest Post: What price t'union?Malchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18191161151984519900noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719459558369549533.post-2640885853716948802009-10-22T08:47:26.100+01:002009-10-22T08:47:26.100+01:00Arnie
Why not ask Malc for another post, setting o...Arnie<br />Why not ask Malc for another post, setting out exactly why you think the Union is such a good idea (for Scotland) - other than " I just feel Britain is greater than the sum of its parts".<br />Or put in on your blog.Cruachanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12247076776969308931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719459558369549533.post-31260780204458574862009-10-21T22:46:09.411+01:002009-10-21T22:46:09.411+01:00Thanks for the feedback guys. I did want to say a ...Thanks for the feedback guys. I did want to say a lot more about maintaining the union, but you have to be very careful with blog posts, mine was pretty much as long as you can get before a lot of people think 'too long, wont read'.<br /><br />Jeanne: I completely agree. Arguing against a referendum is absolutely absurd. If I were a Scot, it would push me towards the SNP.<br /><br />Oldnat: Like I said above, I wanted to say more, but didn't want it to become a mini-essay. I do fully accept your point. But I would argue that the civic nationalism created by shared institutions increases the feeling of togetherness, so the social union derives from the political union. And for what its worth I found Douglas very strange.<br /><br />Cruachan: There is an element of not liking the change. But I tend to believe Britain is stronger than the sum of its parts. What I don't like the most, though, is now independence would place a dividing line between two parts of Britain. I appreciate British nationalism is very unfashionable (and with a certain Mr Brown pushing it, I can fully understand why), but as much as England and Scotland are two seperate nations, Britain is also one nation. National division just seems like a bad idea.Arniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15544953656578828535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719459558369549533.post-91459588006883306742009-10-21T21:09:08.416+01:002009-10-21T21:09:08.416+01:00Arnie
Thanks for a good post.
The minute we star...Arnie<br /><br />Thanks for a good post.<br /><br />The minute we start to see and hear Unionist parties making a coherent and positive case for the Union, then those of us who support independence have something to worry about.<br /><br />The fact is that the London-controlled parties, and Labour in particular are in a daze about how the nature of the debate about Scotland and the future of the current UK has shifted, particularly since 2007.<br /><br />The game has changed and they just don't get it. (Or they do get it and don't want to play!)<br /><br />I respect the points you make and that you are in favour of the Union because:<br /><br />1. We've got some things in common<br />2.Edinburgh feels like home.<br />3.You hope it doesn't change.<br /><br />What you haven't done is to set out your views on the positive benefits (for Scotland)of the Union.<br /><br />Independence is coming. Whether it is in 2 years, 5 years or 20 years, it will happen. <br /><br />It seems clear that you also realise it is inevitable. Why not embrace that,and actively engage with the debates about a new post-UK order for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Think of the possibilities and new choices to be made.<br /><br />I am sure that you (and I, who currently live in England) will still be very welcome in Edinburgh or Berwick or Lochgilphead. But the welcome will be from a country that has taken responsibility for its own affairs and its own decisions.Cruachanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12247076776969308931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719459558369549533.post-33604486189218781902009-10-21T18:47:01.998+01:002009-10-21T18:47:01.998+01:00Arnie
Interesting post. On the BBC's "Bl...Arnie<br /><br />Interesting post. On the BBC's "Blether with Brian" we keep asking people to come on and argue for the Union. For you it seems to come down to not wanting to feel a stranger in Edinburgh.<br /><br />Do you feel a stranger in Douglas, or St Peter's Port? Neither of these have ever been part of the UK. It's not political union that seems to be the issue for you.oldnathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14472618583129398722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719459558369549533.post-30294793550086163062009-10-21T18:45:46.783+01:002009-10-21T18:45:46.783+01:00An intelligent and interesting post. As an America...An intelligent and interesting post. As an American, I am always relieved to see that because the bile on the internet and in newspapers/ BBC from the unionists toward Scotland has alarmed me.<br /><br />However, let me mention this. I could say exactly the same thing that you did about Scotland and I happen to be from Portland, OR.<br /><br /><i>Sure, our accents are a bit different, and yes we do slightly different things at Christmas. But we are the same people, really. When I am in Scotland, do I feel like I am in a foreign country?</i><br /><br />No. Does that mean that Scotland should become a 51st state? I think you would, correctly, argue no. <br /><br />Mind you, I think that is, indeed, at least part of the best argument for the union and one that unionists seldom bother to make. The Scots and the English and the Welsh have lived, worked and fought side by side in a union since 1707. Many feel that they belong together in the same country. <br /><br />It's not a question that any outsider has a right to put forward an answer to, most especially a pushy American. However, it is time and past time that the Scots were given the chance to decide their constitutional status for themselves. (But then I'd say the same for certain parts of the US although most Americans disagree. =) )<br /><br />I think that <i>may</i> be something with which you agree. I hope so.J. R. Tomlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01109874615059334200noreply@blogger.com