A Guest post by Colin Burnett
First published in The National last weekend.
The painful truth ae Scotland it hus five million voices and yit it seems as if naeboady kin hear us. A land where speakin in oor native language is oaftin viewed as a social disability. A nation ae ‘scroungers’ who’s only meaninful offerin tae the world came through the construction ae a hert stoappin deep fried Mars Bar. At least, that’s how wur viewed by Westminster. Ah mean, these Tories and their like are quick tae hoap oantae a podium tae annoonce that wur ‘’better together’’ or ‘’equal partners’’ when the moment comes fur thum tae pit a rifle in the hands ae Jocks in times ae war. When the opportunity arises tae fight fur a square fit ae sand in some distant foreign land. Aw in the name ae King and capitalism. But make nae mistake aboot it. A Scottish vote in the context ae the wider UK is aboot as valid as Rishi Sunak’s top ten tips oan how tae survive the coast-ae-living crisis. You only need tae consider the Brexit vote in order tae witness first hand that the will ae the people ae oor country is eroded when it fails tae fall intae line wae the agenda ae the British government.
Aw journeys begin wae a first step, of course. And ah fur yin um wholeheartedly convinced that wae John Swinney at the helm. When July 4th arrives, and voters are encouraged tae heid fur the ballot boax. A vote fur the SNP is a vote fur Scotland, and, perhaps, maire importantly. It wid be a statement ae intent that we will regain oor rightful status as an independent nation yince again. A reborn sovereign state free fae Westminster tyranny. Where bein Scottish and proud is a three hundred- and sixty-five-day occurrence rather than jist permitted yin day ae the year oan Burns Night. Ah mean, ah’m no gonnae sit here and pretend that ah’ve been happy wae every SNP policy in recent times. But yin important question which the Scottish electorate needs tae ask thumselves is ‘’Do ah really want a conservative government that’s driven by its desire tae create a society maire divided along class lines than ever before? Or a Labour party who endorses mass genocide in Palestine and who’s leader labelled Thatcher as a visionary? Wid ah no be better wae an SNP led Scotland who hus a proven track record in deliverin positive social change?’’
Critics ae the Scottish government and the independence movement oaftin cite that an independent Scotland is an unknown entity. Yit a free-spirited Scotland stood tall and proud well before The United Kingdom wis even in the womb. But when yae realise the known is a British state where poverty hus become a birthright fur maist. And the explosion ae foodbanks remains yin ae the fastest growin industries. Then surely an independent nation should be identified as a breath ae fresh air.
There comes a time in every nation’s story where you either rise as yin and speak wae a single voice. Failing that, you sit back doon and spend the nixt three hundred years wonderin ‘’What could huv been if only ah dared tae dream beyond a British state that’s governed tae serve the interests ae the powerful and the rich’’. The Act ae Union (1707) may huv marked the strange death ae oor yince free land. But the General Election ae 2024 could be a defining moment where Scotland rises up as yin and a chorus ae Scottish voices fillae hope and dreams announces tae the world that we kin stand alain. The issue remains that some Scots who oppose independence possess the view that oor history as bein a hing ae an irrelevant past. This is why they never gee it a thoat ae makin it in their ain right as an independent nation and so they fail tae confront their ain alienation. A sentiment captured perfectly in sociological theorist Paulo Freire’s memorable quote ‘’ ’The oppressed, having internalized the image of the oppressor and adopted his guidelines, are fearful of freedom’’
You see, it’s in oor DNA tae come up shoart when oor big moment arrives. It’s the price you pey fur bein Scottish in a UK that huds us back fae reachin oor full potential. Bein able tae make oor ain choices and decide the future ae oor land should be a basic right fur aw countries. But if history hus taught us anyhing it’s that rights are never given freely, they’re taken. That’s why ah implore aw Scottish voters come July tae vote SNP as the time hus come fur us tae cut the apron strings ae Westminster and show the world that wur ready tae dream yince maire as a united nation.
Ah write fiction aboot working class Scotland and ah dinnae shy awey fae highlighting the harsh social realities fur maist created by the British government. So, if you really want a groond level look at what a British led government hus created fur the masses in Scotland AND why it’s essential that we regain oor independence. You should check oot ma latest novel titled Who’s Aldo? it’s available fae Waterstones, Amazon and many bookshops. Who’s Aldo?: The Sequel to A Working Class State of Mind: Amazon.co.uk: Burnett, Colin: 9781913836351: Books
Ye Ken whit Coalin?
It widnae maiter a doakin if yer SNP won ilka seat. The loon yoons in Westminster still widna harken.
As fir yer SNP they havnae been harkenin tae the 5 million folk aither. They’re a bigsie croud, a’ fou o’ lees an’ bluist an’ self sikkin. Cushy leevin an’ a fouth o’ arles is whit they’re efter.
If it’s independence we’re sikken it’s the e’endoun parties ye’re needin tae gie yer vote tae. Indys4Indy, ALBA, ISP, Sovereignty.
Dinnae waste yer vote ony other wey. If there’s nane o’ them, ye need tae screive ‘not my parliament’ or ‘end the union’ on yer paper. The coontin chiels hae tae tak tent o’ them an coont them tae.
You appear to have some keyboard issues.
First read this poem last night. Maybe appropriate enough for sundry outgoing SNP MPs.
THE MASTER IS DISAPPOINTED IN HIS DISCIPLE
by Najwan Darwish
As I was emerging from the rubble
I caught a glimpse of you leaving
on the traitors’ train.
You weren’t in one of the first-class cars.
Even in betrayal
you couldn’t make the grade.
(From ‘Exhausted on the Cross’, NYRB / POETS, New York Review Books, 2021. Translated into English from the Arabic by Kareem James Abu-Zeid.)
———
BRISEADH-DÙIL A’ MHAIGHSTIR MUN DEISCIOBAL
le Najwan Darwish
Is mise ag èirigh às an lèirsgrios
fhuair mi fàth dhìots a’ fàgail
air trèana nam brathadairean.
Chan e carbad ciad inbhe a bh’ann.
Fiù ’s nad fheall
cha do ràinig thu àrd-ìre.
Please delete the above poem contribution! Formatting completely wrecked.
Ye ken whit Coalin? It widnae maiter a doakin if yer SNP won ilka seat. The loon yoons in Westminster still widna harken.
An, forby, yer SNP didnae mak ony uise o’ the mandate we gied them in 2015.
Aye an as fir yer SNP – they havnae been harkenin tae the 5 million folk aither. They’re a bigsie croud, a’ fou o’ lees an’ bluist an’ self seekin. Cushy leevin an’ a fouth o’ arles is whit they’re efter.
If it’s independence we’re sikken it’s the e’endoun independence parties ye’re needing tae gie yer vote tae. Indys4Indy, ALBA, ISP, Sovereignty.
Dinnae waste yer vote ony other wey. If there’s nane o’ the leal anes – ye need tae screive ‘not my parliament’ or ‘end the union’ on yer paper. The coontin chiels hae tae tak tent o’ them an coont them tae.
The SNP are in wint o’ a shakkin an a guid redd oot. Then mebbe they’ll take tent an a’.
According to polling around half of SNP voters at the last election will not vote for that party at this election. There is a good reason for this, which the writer appears to have missed, as explained here:
https://yoursforscotlandcom.wordpress.com/2024/05/25/the-three-phases-of-decolonization-lessons-for-scotland/
Onybody wantin tae screed in Scots micht wiss tae hiv a wee leuk aforehaund at the guid auld Scots dictionar:
https://www.scots-online.org/dictionary/english_scots.php
I hate to be a party pooper, Colin, but voting for the SNP is never, ever going to bring in independence for the very simple reason that they have not the slightest intention of bringing it in – ever. They are now the party of devolution, and even that is questionable. I, personally, could not vote for them if my life depended on it. They have betrayed us at every turn, especially the women of the party who have been sold out, just as the Scots, in general, have been sold out.
Yes, if they lose, Labour is likely to gain. So be it. Labour offers Scotland nothing in the way of independence either. I think all this is necessary to clear away the deadwood so that we can see clearly what requires to be done. Once that is done, we have to work out how it can be done, and we are getting there, too. By 2026, and the SE, we will have the answers. If the SNP is not part of the answer, then it is part of the problem. Again, so be it. Any party that has not worked out that it needs to be on board will be left behind. A backbone is called for now. The SNP of the past ten years has been an invertebrate, and they must now stiffen the spine of the party, or go and leave the field open to those who are willing to lead their country.
The latest likelihood announced by the party that yet another gender clinic for Scottish children is to open shows their utter contempt for the ordinary people of this country who never voted for any of this nonsense. It is just another way in which the SNP will try to subvert independence. If you care about Scotland and about your fellow Scots – the females as well as the males – then you will think hard before YOU place your vote for this party of cruelty and perversion. End the Union. Repeal the GRA 2004.
Unfortunately this guys deluded exhortation to vote for the Scum Nonce Party to get independence is on a par with MEN can become WOMEN if they have a wee bit of paper that says so , despite having aw thir tackle intact . Colin have you been out of Scotland for the last 10 years of snp corruption , GROSS incompetence in government , and promising indy repeatedly and FAILING MISERABLY in any attempt to go for it , Sturgeon DELIBERATELY put the indy question to the UK supreme court , I’ll say it again Colin in case you were SLEEPING , The UK supreme court DELIBERATELY to sabotage any chance of Indy , so TBQH I HOPE the SCUM NONCE PARTY are DESTROYED the same way the Scum Nonce Party destroyed unity
The premier independence Party that we knew is gone, utterly gone. What now masquerades as the SNP is hostile blocker to independence. It needs to be gone.
Letting it limp on will only further delay independence. The SNP is a Vichy Westminster establishment tool.
And so come the 4th of July 2024 all independence supporters, however nostalgic for what once was should not vote SNP. They must be removed, wiped out so that progress anew can be resumed and our sovereignty returned.
Westminster, not my parliament. Time to go!
I have ‘re- purposed ‘ my ballot paper and will never vote for the bunch of devious chancers again.