There is a special atmosphere at any big sporting event just before the teams take to the field.
The crowd although they don’t know the exact second the teams will appear out the tunnel sense the moment is close.
A certain song belting out the huge speakers the flag holders at the end of the tunnel waving the flags with a bit more vigour.
The fans in the stand opposite the tunnel getting to their feet as one cheering even louder let’s the other stands know they can see the teams lining up.
The crowd sensing this tend to raise their voices a little louder rising to a crescendo as first the officials then their favourites enter the arena.
Then the noise levels reach fever pitch in anticipation of the contest beginning in earnest.
All the pre-match predictions by pundits, ex-players and casual observers, journalists now count for naught.
We are down to the wire it is now our favourites against the foe.
We know that on the day the team that is better prepared, fitter, hungrier and has the best game plan will prevail.
We hope that of course, is our team.
We from the sidelines have our role to play our job is to cheer our boys to victory while booing and hissing the other lot.
Our job is to demoralize the opposition fans and team and invigorate our players.
We have all had the guy beside us that thinks he is a better manager than the present incumbent.
He would have played Wee Jimmy instead of Big Bertie.
He would have played a different system his team would definitely win the day.
All of us have been known to suggest that our 3 year old granddaughter would have burst the net with the one our £20 million striker just hit past the post.
The entire game is the full gambit of emotions.
At the end of the contest all the ‘experts/fans’ can tell you exactly why they won or lost.
The losing side depart to lick their wounds till the next time.
The victors savior the moment and enjoy the bragging rights.
There are a lot of similarities between that and the pending independence referendum.
The difference being in this coming referendum we must win or in our lifetimes there is unlikely to be a rematch.
We are the fans waiting in anticipation of the big kick off.
We can sense by the mood music of our leader and the elected representatives that the time is fast coming.
There are major differences, in a sporting contest the media give fair coverage to both sides.
This, of course, is not the case in our referendum or politics.
We have a corrupt foreign owned media that is blatant in its unquestioning loyalty to the English Parliament.
They will lie and distort the truth in favour of the union at all times.
The saddest part in this is that most of those writing the lies and distortions were born in Scotland.
They have no conscience whatsoever when it comes to telling lies for London.
Their biggest crime in all of this is not the lies or bias it is the omissions of information so we are not in full possession of the truth.
Maybe if the Scottish people old and new have the truth in front of them they would need to weigh the Yes votes, not count them.
The Brexit fandango is reaching the end game all the avenues of escape for Teresa May are one by one being closed off.
The moment the Anglo-Brits make their final Brexit position known we can make our move.
The Party made its position crystal clear in the 2016 manifesto.
There are many amongst us that are anxious to just get on with it.
Whether we like it or not we have made a rod for our own back with the phrase “taken out of the EU”
Till all possibilities of us remaining in the EU are exhausted we cannot defer to our manifesto pledge.
I know that doesn’t sit comfortably with many of you however it is the reality.
Our opponents are trying to use this as a way of dividing the movement.
They are trying to use the Alex Salmond situation as another way of sewing division.
The corrupt media are even inventing stories of whispering campaigns and plots against Nicola.
There is not anything too dishonest for these corrupt scribes to use in keeping Scotland an English colony.
Like the expert at the football match we have many amongst us that think they are better tacticians than our First Minister and her advisors.
There are many that think it is obvious we should just declare UDI, dissolve the union, just walk out.
Wonderful as these may sound we do not have any instant easy fixes that can magically be deployed.
We have to have the confidence that the SNP who brought us this close have a plan ready for implementing.
They have the tactics, formation and commitment that is required to take the final step.
Close your ears to the foreign owned media and broadcasters they only want to break your resolve.
Be wary of those on social media that are attempting to sow division and place doubt in your mind.
Our cause is right, our cause is just, our time is coming they know it and they are very afraid.
In the very near future the referendum date will be announced and the end game will begin.
We all need to be ready to do our bit we all have a part to play.
They are scared of us because they know the days of union are fast drawing to a close.
They are scared of us because they have no answers to our questions.
They are scared of us because they do not have a single positive for their Union with England.
You will hear terrible lies and smears over the coming weeks be ready for that do not be shocked or deterred by it.
This time their lies, smears and distortions will not work.
Scotland is ready to retake its place amongst the other nations of the world.
Our English friends and neighbours have to find their own purpose.
They cannot keep trying to feel good about themselves by making others feel bad about themselves.
The irony in all this is that it has not been Scottish Nationalism that has caused the union to fracture.
The reason is simple it has been English Nationalism that has finally killed off this accursed Union.
But it doesn’t just say “taken out of the EU”. It says “…or if there is a significant and material change in the circumstances that prevailed in 2014, such as Scotland being taken out of the EU against our will.” You can’t pretend those words aren’t there just because it suits your argument.
And you can’t escape the import of those words. Unless you wilfully distort it by excluding a big chunk of the text and even more of the context, that paragraph sets down two separate and non-mutually exclusive situations in which the Scottish Parliament “should have the right to hold another [independence] referendum”. Those two situations are –
(a) “if there is clear and sustained evidence that independence has become the preferred option of a majority of the Scottish people”
AND/OR
“if there is a significant and material change in the circumstances that prevailed in 2014”
Being “taken out of the EU” is merely given as an example of “significant and material change”. The clue is in the words “such as”. Unfortunately, those who come to this section of the SNP manifesto having already made up their minds what it says tend to be oblivious to the bits that contradict their preconceptions.
It could easily be argued that it was a mistake to include that example. It may be maintained that by doing so the SNP was inviting precisely the kind of distorted interpretation presented in this article. That British Nationalists would twist the words to suit their malign purpose was to be expected. The fact that so many in the Yes movement are happily parroting this British Nationalist propaganda is one of the reasons I have lately come to despair for the cause of independence.
Another reason is glib utterances such as “we do not have any instant easy fixes that can magically be deployed”. I am not aware that anybody has ever suggested any “instant easy fixes”. So this is, essentially, nothing more than a rather silly straw man deployed in preference to actually addressing the alternative process implied by the hashtag #DissolveTheUnion. The attitude seems to be that, if you don’t understand an idea and can’t be bothered making the effort, then simply dismiss it with some trite phrase.
But, a couple of days ago in the course of a near day long series of exchanges on Twitter, a realisation gradually dawned on me. It wouldn’t matter if there was an “instant easy fix”. Or, at least a relatively straightforward process by which we could advance the independence cause. It wouldn’t matter because what certainly seems to be the entire Yes movement has convinced itself that the process must be complex and convoluted in order to be ‘real’.
This notion is, I think, closely associated with the notion that the process must be ‘legal’. By which is generally meant, in accordance with whatever laws, regulations and rules devised by the British state are deemed to be relevant. The British political elite make hoops and we must jump through them. Once we have jumped through all the hoops, we’ll have completed a process that is ‘legally watertight’.
There is an obvious problem with this which, for all that it is so obvious, seems to elude those who insist on accepting ‘British’ as the definitive standard in all things. There is no limit to the number of hoops the British state can set up for us to jump through. So long as we meekly accept that we must jump through their hoops, they will always produce another one.
There is no route to independence which does not pass through a point at which there is direct and possibly unpleasant confrontation with the British political elite. If you are trying to contrive some ‘legal’ device by which to bypass that point, you are wasting time and resources. If you are not prepared to face that point, then you are not committed to the cause of independence.
There is also a less obvious issue with this notion of ‘legality’. The relevant standard by which the process whereby Scotland’s independence is restored is democratic not legal. So long as that process by which Scotland’s people exercise their right of self-determination is wholly and transparently democratic, then it cannot be ‘illegal’.
I am now resigned, however, to the fact that this fundamental truth is not going to gain anything like the required traction in the Yes movement. I don’t know how many times I’ve explained what that passage from the SNP manifesto actually says. Even though it’s written in English plain enough that you’d have to be motivated to misunderstand it. Nobody is listening! Likewise, the point about democratic legitimacy being more relevant than legislative compliance. Nobody is listening! Also the exploration of bold and decisive action to resolve the issue of Scotland’s constitutional status. Nobody is listening!
Another thing occurred to me in the course of that Twitter exchange. I’ve found myself in a place where Yes supporters frustrate and annoy me more than British Nationalists. That’s not a place I want to be.
That was a helluva attack, Pete, and yes, you’re absolutely right, but what do you suggest? We have a pretty competent team who have led us to the very cusp of a successful second independence referendum, and whose leader most countries would give their right arm to have lead them. Should we agitate and doubt them (like now) or – dare I utter it – hold?
Are you suggesting either a) pressure the party to deliver the mandate ‘now’, or b) begin the revolt without the SNP, and with no dispensation to do so?
I’m not disagreeing with you, on the contrary, and I well-know about hoops presented by the British to be jumped through – I need no reminding – but if you have an approach then we need to hear it. If the SNP hierarchy are holding then you tell me? I can’t see the point in raising voices on ‘8 or 9 thousand-strong’ social media when a vast majority – a VAST majority – not using Twitter don’t even see us?
Alex Salmond took us to within a couple of hundred thousand votes of independence during a completely different, possibly simpler, political landscape. These are infinitely more complex times with many more variables and nobody is seizing any nettles, so what else do you suggest? Should we storm Holyrood at the precise moment Nicola Sturgeon is making a crucial, historical statement? We don’t know that statement isn’t imminent; tell me it isn’t?
And before you give me my character, I – just like you, Pete, and Roddy, too – am fully committed to the cause of independence.
What “attack”?
Attack?
Cool it guys. Not long now.
We are cool, TC.
Not long now? Nobody knows that.
It seems to be the fashion, every time a major political event takes place, that we barny among ourselves if the residue of the event doesn’t suit us – word-scraps.
It must be tough at the top? but if the top-brass in the SNP War Room can do it with civility, while we can’t, then maybe that’s why they’re making the important decisions on behalf of the country? However, it disappoints me that Mhairi Hunter (‘top-brass’?) has found it necessary to vent her spleen, publicly, towards a good and trusted comrade in James Kelly when a private word between like-mindeds would’ve been less sensational. Isn’t it bizarre, during a time when we’re busy scoffing at bogus, SNP civil war fairy-tales, that indy social media is almost guilty of just that? Mindful that Indy twitter ruled during the first referendum, I’d say we were close to falling into an elaborate trap.
Meant to say earlier; excellent opinion from both Roddy and Peter. Thank you, guys.
There will always be people who get frustrated and want to jump the gun…There are even those amongst us and l’ve read this recently…that believe Nicola and the SNP do not want independence…WTAF She and they have strived for it all their politcal lives…She was clear that when the brexit outcome was undeniable she would make an announcement…That time is fast approaching so yes we have to “hold” just a bit longer…but when the starting gun is fired and we begin the campaign we begin from a slight majority rather than the 23% we started from last time…Watch out for the establishment dirty tricks and lets make sure ballot boxes are secured all the way to the count this time.
At this point I think inactivity is becoming a huge problem in the Yes movement,
I can detect the frustration in both Roddy and Peters writing recently 2 guys I respect hugely, I see it on Wings that’s become nothing but a squabble chamber with posters accusing each other of being trolls or Britnats and all kinds of name calling,
it’s bordering on paranoia I myself (who only posts very occasionally) have found myself (along with others) on a list of possible trolls because none of the regulars who meet up from time to time have “Eyeballed” me it makes me wonder if all this prevarication is not a ploy by Westminster to create all this frustration and stall Indyref2 till after Brexit and inflict as much damage as they can in the meantime,
All this was supposed to be sorted out by October last year and here we are 3 months on and still no clearer.
This is physiological warfare and I fear it’s tearing the Yes movement apart , we need to hold it together and keep our eye on the prize, we’re winning and our chance will come, I don’t think it’s far away
Both the article and the comments all have well thought out valid points so there’s that anyway, but I’m saying cool it guys from the perspective that us all falling out over the when the where is the only real thing the BritNats can use against the Yes Mob.
Let’s not give them a stick to hit us with.
Let’s be honest here the only way we are going to fuse all the yes factions together again is to start a campaign, whatever shape that takes. For the life of me I don’t know why the SNP don’t go for the jugular now. The so called bickering is all it really is, there’s not to my knowledge anyone saying they will not vote yes again. I’m getting frustrated and my patience is wearing thin but I’m willing to bare it for now but the hied yins in the SNP better clamp down on the numpties that are shouting wait another 10 years or so or let this mandate slip for another mandate at a later time because there is no time left, get the fecking finger out now