THE FUNDAMENTAL CASE FOR FREEDOM
Alf Baird
‘It was just like old times’, said George Kerevan in The National in reference to the first Alba conference in Greenock last weekend. He was referring to SNP conferences of 20 years ago, no doubt amidst the excitement of Scotland then being ‘granted’ a limited-power devolved assembly and ‘Executive’, which soon reflected precisely what it is – a subordinate colonial administration. There were many familiar faces from that joyous time, people who had witnessed that the New SNP had now morphed into just another British political party content to manage the colonial ‘shop’ on behalf of our betters. Had George harked back a further 20 years to the 1980s he would no doubt recall himself attending Labour Party conferences with his contemporaries Darling and Brown and talking about ‘home rule’, however defined.
This first Alba conference of course re-affirmed the quest for independence as being the main priority. Thereafter the emphasis rather reverted to type, however, with energy focused on a wide range of the usual aspirational policy areas; alleviating poverty, removing nuclear weapons, developing clean energy, managing social security payments better, and so on. Whilst important, it might be argued these are all symptoms of the real illness, which relates to the fact that people in another country are still making most of the big decisions on our behalf.
Alex Salmond talked eloquently of Alba’s priority ‘to inform our fellow citizens of the case for independence’. He declared that: ‘what wins people to the independence cause is the arming of the people with information’. He talked here about giving people ‘the facts and figures illustrating the fundamental case for freedom’ and referred to Wing’s Wee Blue Book which he believed helped shift significant numbers of people to the cause last time round, and the need now for a similar publication.
But, is the matter of Scottish independence really that simple? Will presenting a few ‘facts and figures’ really convince people of ‘the fundamental case for freedom’? And was that ‘fundamental case for freedom’ really defined or explored by the first Alba conference? We talk about independence but do the Scottish people really understand what independence means and why it is necessary?
Neither the leader of Alba nor any of its speakers discussed what Gareth Wardell (aka Grouse Beater) termed our ‘colonial reality’, as he addressed what he called ‘the indigenous people of Scotland’ at the Alba conference. Gareth is the first person to be honoured by Alba for his contribution to the cause as one of the leading thinkers and yes, philosophers on Scottish independence; so, let us duly consider his message.
According to the UN, independence and decolonisation represents the ending of the scourge of colonial oppression over a downtrodden indigenous people; is this not then the real justification and hence ‘the case for freedom’ of any people seeking national liberation? In this context Gareth reminded Alba delegates of a key feature of colonialism, primarily that ‘the people who make decisions for us Scots are not in Scotland’; so long as that remains the case, our people will continue to feel culturally inferior and, moreover, internationally we will remain, as Albert Memmi said, ‘out of the game’.
So, fundamentally, we must address our colonial reality, and that begins by first acknowledging and understanding the deceitfu an mankit naitur of our colonial subjugation in the quest towards what Gareth rightly described as ‘reinstating Scotland’s liberty’; for that is what independence means.
In addition to listening to politicians, we really ought to listen a bit more to what is a rapidly developing intellectual wing of the independence movement, which decolonisation environments always tend to produce; and not least because this is where many of our best ideas, concepts, theoretical perspectives and hence our deeper level of understanding comes from. It is no accident that an astute Alba leadership laud the excellent work of leading indy bloggers, for their ongoing intellectual contribution is crucial to the cause of independence.
Like many other former colonies this intellectual wing cannot come from inside Scotland’s elite universities which are arguably the most status-conferring and conservative institutions promulgating a British and Anglophone cultural hegemony, and in which barely one tenth of the academics nowadays are Scots anyway. Rather, the intellectual ‘wing’ of the independence movement is epitomised by the extensive online writings and discussions of indy bloggers such as Gareth-Grouse Beater, Iain Lawson at Yours for Scotland, the now imprisoned for his journalism Craig Murray, Roddy MacLeod at Barrhead Boy, and several more.
It is these intellectuals, their guest writers and btl commentators who are the essential radical intellectuals and it is they who, to use the revolutionary metaphor, are ‘standing on street corners handing out leaflets to an oppressed people’ – whilst state police stand close by in dark alleyways. Why do we think it is this group and other leading independence campaigners who are being so targeted by the forces of colonialism, and through legislation coming out of the Holyrood colonial administration?
Reflecting the importance of this online intellectual community, we are told that a new ‘Wee Alba Book’ will be written by Robin McAlpine and edited by Stuart Campbell. This will presumably contain a range of ‘socially just’ mainly left-wing policies on this and that, much of which I and many others would agree with, though to be sure many Scots and others will not. This booklet will tell us what Scotland is missing out on, presumably mainly in economic terms, as our resources continue to be plundered and our people remain exploited. It might also tell us about preferred currency and other essential arrangements after independence.
But is this really what independence is about? Is national liberation and ‘the case for freedom’ not about rather more than political policies on this and that, some ‘facts and figures’ about the economy, the poond in oor pocket, or how we might better use our resources – if and when we ever get control over them?
Of course, we are doing the right thing here in exploring policy options for this and that and aw thing else for ‘efter’ independence; however, this is not the same thing as presenting the real ‘fundamental case for freedom’ and independence, and especially the ‘why’ of independence, as well as the ‘how’ of independence. In other words, we need to ensure the Scottish people really do understand why independence is necessary and how independence may best be delivered, in addition to how they might benefit personally and collectively afterwards.
Arguably the vast majority of the Scottish people today do not yet know what independence really is, what it actually means, or even why it is necessary. This results in ongoing confusion and misapprehension which a few ‘facts and figures’ may help, but not necessarily overcome. Many Scots appear to think independence is merely about a change in governance and in political ideology and policies, and perhaps a wee shift from right to left.
The people do not yet understand that independence is about a downtrodden people removing an oppressor and reclaiming their culture, their land, thair ain braw langage, their very soul and hence their very being; in other words, yes, reclaiming their ‘freedom’. Independence is also about preventing a people from losing their national identity and their right to exist through ongoing colonial exploitation, oppression and the cultural assimilation, the latter facilitating our domination, and breaking our natural development, and with that creating and perpetuating structural societal inequalities.
Alba appear to be going about setting up its organisational structure in much the same way as that of traditional political parties. We see created a ‘youth’ wing, a ‘woman’s’ wing, and an ‘ethnic/Asian minorities’ wing. Whilst admittedly this represents an important feature of today’s politics, we should not forget that independence is fundamentally about the liberation of an entire oppressed minority ethnic group and nation – i.e. the Scots and Scotland – a people currently constrained within the context of a ruling British state and Anglophone hegemony.
The SNP has previously gone down the route of prioritising, elevating and legislating for the ‘rights’ of numerous minority interest groups, and we see where that has gone – shifting the independence movement in a very long diversion away from the core aim, and arguably resulting in the replacement of that core aim, in addition to often questionable legislation being brought forward to ‘protect’ the interests of minority groups (and lobby groups!).
The next part of Alba’s development strategy is to contest local government elections. Whilst again this is a normal feature of traditional political parties, the reality is that no matter how many Alba councillors may be elected this will not secure independence either. Some may say the experience as councillors stands people in good stead to become career politicians, but do we really want or need career politicians to secure independence?
The Alba strategy and structure therefore appears similar to the development process of any other mainstream political party. However, securing national independence is not about mainstream party politics, nor is it about political ideologies of left or right. Independence is far more important than this, being primarily about the national liberation of an entire people. The quest for independence therefore requires and depends on a different approach to the standard party political strategy or organisational structure.
An independence movement does not need another political organisation that thinks and behaves like a mainstream political party; we saw what happened with the SNP as it followed that same developmental process. What an independence movement requires is a political leadership, a focus, a strategy and an organisation structure that reflects and can deliver on the fundamental goal, which is independence and the liberation of an entire people.
In this respect there are clearly questions to be asked on Alba Party strategy and structure, which are matters that link back to the vision and strategic planning that takes place in any major organisation. In the context of national independence, that primary objective is often confused by mainstream party political factors and influences and the perceived need to focus attention on a range of other factors and priorities. Here Alba to some extent seems to be mirroring the old SNP approach, an approach which admittedly got close but failed to deliver independence, and an approach which also arguably failed to convey to most Scottish people the real reason for independence. The fundamental philosophical rationale for independence remains a political void because the people still have limited understanding about what independence really is about and why it is necessary.
The Scots must first begin to understand the root of their inequality, their subordinate status (within the UK union charade) and their oppression. The people must also understand why they still hold and value a Scottish ethnic identity – though it is ebbing away – and why they exhibit a Scottish national consciousness which is what provides the primary motivation and desire for independence and national liberation. This national consciousness, as with any ethnic group, is based on our Scottish culture and Scots language – a langage oor bairns dinnae e’en lairn in schuil – such is the inferior regard for a native mither tongue under colonialism, despite being a fundamental part of who we are.
As Gareth Wardell reminded us, an oppressed people are lacking in confidence and opportunity from a young age which affects their entire life chances; this is because their culture and language and hence their ethnicity is rendered an inferior status under colonialism. The scourge of colonialism is not predicated only on class but on status which reflects an ethnic and cultural division of labour, and hence institutionalised ethnic oppression, i.e. racism. And here we can be sure that colonialism always involves racism.
The Scots must therefore first understand that independence is about decolonisation, which reflects the desire and human right of any people to bring to an end their colonial domination by another people and another culture, and its language and ‘values’. They must understand that colonialism involves: racism, prejudice, and worse; that colonialism depends on force and lies at the root of fascism; that colonial oppression involves ethnic discrimination which is culturally and linguistically driven; and that colonialism is the root cause of inequality among a subjugated people in a bountiful though economically exploited and plundered land.
Here, inequality is reflected in an ethnic and cultural division of labour which favours the dominant culture and language, which is Anglophone. In Scotland the indigenous Scots language is intentionally marginalised, is not taught, and is considered invalid; yet most Scots remain ignorant of their cultural oppression and the critical importance of language in the context of national identity.
As Gareth Wardell said at the Alba conference: ‘it wasn’t until I came into contact with the people who made decisions, and they weren’t in Scotland’. This in large part reflects an imposed ethnic and cultural division of labour that lies at the root of inequality and the lack of opportunity too many Scots still face, and will always face under colonial and cultural domination.
Independence is inevitably about a people taking control (and from whom must control be wrested from other than the colonial usurper?) over their nation’s affairs, as well as its land, seas, borders and population. Independence is necessary to ensure and maintain the sovereign integrity of a people and their nation which may all too readily be diminished and ultimately extinguished through imposed cultural and population change. Colonial driven demographic change can and does result in the loss of a peoples’ sovereignty – as reflected by major changes over time in the national identity and sense of belonging of a population; this process may continue to occur as each year passes under colonial domination.
The wholly negative effects of colonialism are not therefore well understood in Scotland, yet this is a fundamental aspect of nationhood and a key determinant of independence which was not even discussed during the Alba conference, and is never explored in any SNP conference. This reflects an institutional and political failure by national parties to understand and appreciate even the basic desire and motivation for independence and the critical importance of protection of a peoples’ sovereignty, the latter arguably the highest political priority. If those advocating independence never mention, never mind analyse the C-word – colonialism – then how do we hope to ever address our predicament and the rationale for independence and hence decolonisation?
The ‘why’ of independence is always the same – which is to bring about decolonisation and the ending of the oppression of a people. Yet Scots never talk about independence in this way, despite repeated and blatant disrespect and deceit by the colonial power, Scotland’s enforced Brexit and rejection of successive electoral mandates in favour of holding another independence referendum being merely the latest examples.
The ‘how’ of independence is another vitally important matter. A National Party with the aim of national liberation must plan and set out its proposals to liberate the people. Instead, with Alba and also previously with the SNP what we see is much discussion and debate of policies on this and that, which may or may not be developed and implemented after independence. This focus on policy factors as rationale for independence is largely superfluous and premature and often assumes the main challenge – which is to secure independence – will somehow be achieved at some point in time. Such focus also still ignores the lack of essential comprehension by the people of what independence really is and why ‘their’ independence and liberation is necessary.
In this sense the proposed ‘Wee Alba Book’, while no doubt informative, is primarily going to tell folk how better off the less well-off sections of society might be in an independent Scotland and how life might look in a ‘socially just’ society; but it will be unlikely to expand on or explain the fundamental truth of the matter behind our longstanding institutionalised inequality and oppression, which is to do with our colonialism and the forceful subjugation and exploitation of a people, their culture and language, and the ongoing theft of their resources. Neither will it explain to the people the fundamental purpose of independence nor the reasons why independence is necessary in the first place.
Without this basic understanding of what independence is, and why Scotland is not independent, or what independence really and actually means and why it is necessary, we will always be left with a mostly mis-informed people and a confused cause lacking strategic direction. It is this lack of focus which then gives rise to a reliance on inappropriate traditional political party structures and strategies, as was and remains the case with the SNP, and stands to be so with Alba unless a different approach is considered.
So let’s think about this, about how we can better communicate to the people what independence really is about and why it is necessary, as Gareth Wardell outlined. Once we tell the people the true story of their wretchedness, their exploitation and culturally enforced inferiority they will surely move to support the cause, which is a just and right cause that must prevail. And let’s develop a political party – Alba or otherwise – that is structured and focused only on delivering that essential message and objective – to return sovereignty and yes, freedom, to the Scottish people.
Fantastic read Alf and so true, it saddens me when I hear our cause for independence reduced to “what currency will we use”, “what about our pension”, “what about the border”, and on it goes, there are solutions to all these so called problems and more,
The case for independence runs much deeper than that because we have nothing if we don’t have self respect.
We are a browbeaten and downtrodden people, and somehow we have to ignite the spirit of William Wallace & Robert Bruce and start believing in ourselves again and self respect will soon follow.
Can I suggest you write your own pamphlet called The Colonized Scot or some other attention grabbing title and with the help of Grousebeater, Roddy, the Paisley Mowhawk & that grumpy guy from Dundee etc and start a fundraiser and get it out to as many people as possible,
For me the case for independence is not about economics, borders, Europe or pensions, it’s all about self respect.
Here a wee video I made to show what we can do when we believe in ourselves
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cq06w42a95mo1in/Stand-Together.mp4?dl=0
An excellent summary.
All the issues to improve people’s life’s are critical and worthy of discussion but they are all at the end of branch lines on which we are not allowed to travel at present.
We are hitched to the Westminster train travelling on tracks with the points controlled by the Westminster signalmen.
We are permitted to elect a carriage leader to oversee the heating and lighting controls but the carriage still remains firmly attached to the train on a route decided by others.
Time to pull that communication cord and decide where WE want to go.
Independence above all else is the right to choose from infinite options.
If we keep focusing on debating the merits of alternative stations we may forget we are still sitting in that carriage.
A very appropriate analogy and very descriptive Geoff
So just after that wonderful lift of excitement via the Alba Conference, comes the slump.. However after reading what Alf has to say here, I agree with Him. The message for Independence has to be stronger, and it should not include another referendum. We ARE a colonised country, anyone who says or thinks we aren’t is kidding themselves. Alex & Alba SHOULD get the message out, vote for us and we shall start negotiations immediately with the UN as a colonised country who has just voted for an Independence Party once again. While at the same time sending a clear message to WM, that Scotland is ending the Treaty, a treaty WM has never in truth recognised anyway.. I hope the wee Alba Book includes much of what Alf Baird says we need to get out to the nation..
Thank you, Alf. You bore down into the heart of our problem.
A superb essay Alf.
The fundamental reason for restoring Scotland’s full self-governance is not about how much money we’re all going to make or lose, how much richer or poorer we’re going to be, whether society is ‘fairer’ or not etc. Did the Irish or the Indians ask these questions when they struck for freedom?
No they did not.
And the reason is that ending Scotland’s effective colonial status is about freeing our minds, doing things our way, having self-esteem and regaining our dignity.
Excellent Commentary Alf.
When folk wake up in the morning, and embrace their Scottishness by default, instead of the dull misery of english colonialism, then we shall have our independence.
That’s our target. Re-instill our pride of culture, compassion and natural intelligence in the minds and hearts of Scots, to exclude all else.
A good argument, that maybe we are getting ahead of ourselves and also being forced into political norms which ultimately suits the status quo.
The question is a good one, what is Independence and why do we need it? I’m not hearing or seeing an answer just yet, and unsure how we approach it and arrive at one. Sovereignty and decolonisation go hand in hand. Do the downtrodden – for hundreds of years – realise or even care that they are colonised and their sovereignty usurped? Bread and circus prevails, and most are governed by basic needs, what’s in it for me – short term mostly, how will I benefit. This all suits the coloniser, as they continue to and accelerate their rape and pillage.
I speak to so many Scots around me – young and old – who actually sneer and say, you’re for Indy, how can you afford that, and go back to their head down acceptance of their lot – their entrenched colonial mindset. May be a minority, may be not, but we are up against the media lies and spin, now from the SNP as well, and these people soak it up. How do you break through that? How do you make these people respect themselves or even see that they need to?
I think the wee Alba book is a good idea. Someone above said, we can be anything we want after we get free, but infinite choice is also scary for most people, and that’s why we need to frame it up into the benefits that might accrue. Pensions is an obvious example there, certainly for the older generation, whereas for a young person that will not mean anything just yet.
Like others here, I think the referendum route is not a good one – possibly doomed to failure. As someone said, why is Boris saying no, he should press ahead, set the franchise and agenda and do a 2014 all over again. They would probably get away with it again.
So, a step back required, even after a successful Alba launch, and let’s face it, they are just another political party – formed in a vacuum and to fill the gap that the SNP moved right away from. The UN route and facing up to our colonial status has to be the way to go?
The De-colonisation of Scotland. Perhaps that is a better focus for the project, rather than Independence.
So, what makes us a colony, what are the implications of that, on all Scots, on the Treaty of Union, and what would a decolonised and free Scotland look like, be like for all of us. The economics are never far away though and must be in there somewhere. Where’s the vision we can sell our fellow colonists, of a Scotland that is governed here, with full control of our economy, our land, our waters, our borders, and what would we do with full control of the vast resources that our colonisers take for granted and take away. To me, these things are all intertwined.
What does a free decolonised Scot look like, think like and what will they be able to do in the future that they can’t do now? We can’t blame Alba for making progress on the political structures and post Indy positions and not having the bandwidth, perhaps even the expertise, to attack all of this and pull it all together. Who should be responsible? remembering that we have had so many groups and think tanks and so on. Where are they all now – spread to the four corners? Where does a Constitution fit into all of this – another question not addressed recently.
One thing for sure is that waiting for the SNP, or even ALBA, to address and sort this out is not the way to go. Where are the legal experts that might help with the UN case and in putting some of the required information together. All good questions perhaps, but what is the answer.? We are Sovereign we say, so perhaps it is up to us collectively to find a way to move this forward, while Nicola waits on the golden S30 – aka poisoned chalice from Boris, Gove or whoever else takes over colonial control down there.
A wonderful and very necessary read. For far too long independence supporters have been discouraged from engaging with the true meaning of independence; decolonisation, for fear of upsetting our oppressive neighbours to the south and being mis-labelled as racists or anti- English. I for one am delighted to see this school of thought gaining momentum and support. Not before time. Yes, we need the wee blue Alba book to answer the inevitable questions from unionists but alongside that we also have to have the courage of our convictions and persuade others of the why of independence.
Holyrood does not have a subordinate colonial administration. It has a Scottish administration answerable to the Scottish government who sit in the parliament of GB. The Scottish government’s abdication of responsibility for the governance of Scotland doesn’t make Scotland a colony. It makes Scotland weak and globally insignificant.
Scots need to purge themselves of the colonial mindset and place blame where it should be – at the hands of all Scottish governments and Scottish representatives who have and continue to abdicate responsibility for the governance of Scotland.
From the sound of it Alf attended a very different conference from the Alba one I went to on the 11th and 12th. Indeed, I myself, addressed the fact that Scotland is a sovereign nation state in an international Agreement with England and not a colony as he would have folk believe. Other speakers also recognised Scots sovereignty and the need to assert it though there were some, including Salmond, who continued to subjugate Scotland. Until Scots start recognising their own country’s true status and authority they will not free themselves from the Agreement. They will simply continue to seek permission from its partner and neighbouring foreign country’s government who are not obliged to acquiesce any requests made.
You’re 100% correct in your assertion re: Scottish sovereignty. What I fail to grasp, however, is your refusal to acknowledge, despite all the evidence, that Scotland has become, over the last 300 years, a colonial thus exploited possession of England. The very same England that once held and exploited a world-wide Empire of such colonies.
Josef, the evidence is not of Scotland being a colony but of the failure of Scottish governments asserting Scotland’s authority through abdication of responsibility for the governance of Scotland. Scotland is a sovereign nation state in an international Agreement and an equal partner with equal authority to the treaty. The problem isn’t the English government asserting its authority over Scotland though that is a consequence of the abdication of responsibility by Scotland’s governments but of the Scots refusing to hold their own government to account and to demand that their status is upheld and respected. As a result there is not a single Scot alive that has not been raised to believe the English continuator state narrative even though it is factually and legally wrong. This leads to the next point, Scots have a colonial mindset not through colonisation as Scotland is not and never has been a colony but rather as a consequence of Scottish governments consistently handing the reins of governance over to a foreign government despite having no need to ever do so. Since the English government are having to do the Scottish government’s job for them they simply make policies that reflect their needs regardless of whether it is detrimental to Scotland or not. The English government, its establishment and even their courts all recognise Scots sovereignty and their right to assert it. It is the Scots who don’t. It is the Scots who view themselves and their country as a colony and as being lesser than. It is the Scots who refuse to hold their own to account and instead seek a scapegoat in the form of the English government. But here is the thing, the buck stops here. As a sovereign nation state first and foremost it is the Scots who must assert their authority. No-one else is going to do it for them and if the Scots refuse to do so others will assert theirs.
Thanks Gayle.
We’ve discussed previously that a ‘colonial mindset’ can only come about through colonialism, which means colonialism must first take place if a people have indeed developed a ‘colonial mindset’.
Most pro-indy folks like us agree on the matter and fact of Scottish sovereignty and we are beginning to see with ALBA how that might best be democratically exercised to bring about independence. It then remains to be seen whether that democratic exercise or assertion of Scottish sovereignty is contested by the other signatory party in the UK alliance, and what a Scottish, UK or international court may say about that, if asked to opine on the matter, or indeed whether the UK would respect any such opinion. As most of us ken fine weel the UK does not always respect the law, UK or international.
Which then mainly leaves us with the UN C-24 Decolonization Committee route to liberation……
Scotland is a sovereign nation state in an international Agreement with England and an equal partner with equal authority to the treaty. The problem isn’t the English government asserting its authority over Scotland though that is a consequence of the abdication of responsibility by Scotland’s governments but of the Scots refusing to hold their own government to account and to demand that their status is upheld and respected. As a result of the abdication there is not a single Scot alive that has not been raised to believe the English continuator state narrative even though it is factually and legally wrong. Scots have a colonial mindset not through colonisation as Scotland is not, and never has been, a colony but rather as a consequence of Scottish governments consistently handing the reins of governance over to a foreign government despite having no need to ever do so. Since the English government are having to do the Scottish government’s job for them they simply make policies that reflect their needs regardless of whether it is detrimental to Scotland or not. The English government, its establishment and even their courts all recognise Scots sovereignty and their right to assert it. It is the Scots who don’t. It is the Scots who view themselves and their country as a colony and as being lesser than. It is the Scots who refuse to hold their own to account and instead seek a scapegoat in the form of the English government. But here is the thing, the buck stops here. As a sovereign nation state first and foremost it is the Scots who must assert their authority. No-one else is going to do it for them and if the Scots refuse to do so others will assert theirs. As for UK, it is the English government who refer to themselves as UK. So what England has to say is irrelevant. No state can be held in a treaty against its will especially a treaty that has been fundamentally breached and altered. So no, it doesn’t leave only decolonisation as a route. Scotland is not a colony. It simply needs to assert its authority and make a proclamation. The very thing English governments and their PMs have stated repeatedly over the years.
Gayle, the definition of colonialism and the way it works is well established and you may wish to revisit that: https://yoursforscotlandcom.wordpress.com/2021/07/18/determinants-of-independence-colonialism/
There is also plentiful postcolonial theory explaining colonialism, including how elements of the native population (the bourgeoisie in particular) embrace it and ally with the colonizer to help ‘haud-doun’ the people. This does not detract from the fact that there are always two main protagonists in the conflict: ‘the colonizer and the colonized’ (Memmi).
A sovereign nation that is being treated like a colony, and will continue to be so unless we the people and the alba party speak out and inform and educate the ignorant masses.
Absolutely, Tony. The Scots really are their own worst enemy. They need to learn their true status as a sovereign nation state and equal partner with equal authority to the treaty because the Scottish governments and all of Scotland’s representatives will continue to treat Scotland as beholden to a foreign country’s government if they don’t.
Gayle, you appear to be under a misapprehension here. Alf is acknowledging completely that Scotland is a de jure Sovereign State. However, he is pointing out in great detail how de facto we have become and are in actuality a colony. In other words the representatives that have been elected by us have failed to defend or protect our legal status. They, as you point out, have betrayed us and by allowing a Devolved i.e. subordinate parliament to be established and subsequent Referenda pleas etc. are in actuality making us day by day even more subordinated and in reality a colony. Alf wants our status to be challenged as unlawful and illegal i.e. an attempt to invade and control our Sovereign state by England. Unless the Scottish people are taken out of the false consciousness of devolved i.e. colonial control, we will not succeed. We are prisoners of our leaders own making held in a cell that has no lock on it to prevent us leaving. Asserting something means nothing until you act. We have no leaders who are prepared to act in an effective way. The UN is a higher authority than any faux Scottish (Unionist) or English fabricated judiciary that will only block and obfuscate our rights. We need to appeal over the heads of the UK prisoners for validation of our Sovereignty, if our ‘leaders’ continue to fiddle around the edges.
Lochside, I know what Alf is saying and I fundamentally disagree with him. There are two camps of Scots. Those who believe Scotland is a colony and has no authority and those who recognise Scotland’s true status as a sovereign nation state in an international Agreement with England and an equal partner with equal authority to the treaty. It matters not whether Scotland abdicates responsibility to a foreign country. The fact is Scotland does so as an equal partner and a sovereign nation state not a colony of England. Scotland’s administration is not devolved from the English government but from the Scottish government who sit in the parliament of GB. It is the Scottish government that the administration requires consent from if it is outwith their remit not England’s. That is the difference. Scotland’s government abdicates responsibility for the governance of Scotland. It is not the English government and its establishment imposing its will on Scotland. The only folk holding Scotland back are the Scots who refuse to assert their authority and demand those representing Scotland do likewise. Yes, action needs to be taken but it is not against the English government who are only doing what the Scots permit. It is against the Scottish government and Scotland’s representatives who continuously fail to recognise Scotland’s true status and thus subjugate Scotland as a result.
Gayle I agree with both you and Alf , YOU are correct that Scottish citizens have the answer to independence at their fingertips , or more precisely in the voting booth , we do indeed have sovereignty in Scotland but it can also be said that every nation has sovereignty due to numbers , if the citizens of that country choose to flex their muscles in numbers
Alf is also correct in his assertion that we are and have been colonised , as I wrote down below we have been betrayed for decades by vichy collaborators working and lying on behalf of their masters , ALL unionist parties are collaborators working against the Scottish States freedom on behalf of the their english parties and on direct instructions from those parties who are the english establishment .
The unionist parties in Scotland are funded and controlled by the Westminster parties and act accordingly to ensure the truth is buried and the lies take centre stage
Many people don’t like the words collaborator or traitor but when you ACTIVELY work against your countries interest to the benefit of another country that is exactly what you are
Holyrood is a willinh partner in ongoing colonial subjugation. They were offered the Stirling Directive to get off their knees they did not.
It would be good to see this colonial propblem be the main topic for discussion at the next alba conference.
So all you alba party members out there get busy and mate this a major topic for alba, and all the indigenous Scots out there.
Bang on, excellent essay 5🌟✌️
The most important recent article I have read thus far on regaining our independence. The ruling elite have had since 2014 to up the ante, as it were. Yes, they have had longer, much longer, I appreciate that.
Scotland continues to remain an English Colony.
We can wail and moan on twitter etc, it may convince others to our cause, however we need a serious change of direction in the discussion. This is a very good starting point.
I wouldn’t normally recommend that anyone should read any particular book. On this occasion, though, it would be remiss of me not to suggest that you obtain a copy of Alf Baird’s “Doun-Hauden The Socio/Political Determinants of Scottish Independence.” You won’t find a copy in the usual outlets; to the very best of my knowledge, the book is only obtainable through Amazon.
I sent the following message to the laughable FirstMinister.gov.scot yesterday after being challenged to write to Sturgeon by a Sturgeon supporter.
“Scotland’s Continued Domination By A Foreign Power
It puzzles me that no action has been taken to withdraw from the Acts of Union of 1706 and 1707 between the Kingdoms of Scotland and England. Considering the many breaches of said Acts committed by England, Scotland is well within its’ legal rights to withdraw.
Can I ask when your administration intends to take this action in order for Scotland to avoid the effects of any other breach, and to then move forward in re-instating Scotland as an independent entity within the world community?”
I expect no reply but I think that this is what we should be asking our elected representatives here in Scotland.
As always Alf, you strike at the root of the problem we have. I’ve been thinking more and more that we are pruning twigs and branches in our approach. Thanks once again for a clear vision of where we should be directing our energies.
A great and truthful dissection we have ACCEPTED for far too long, unfortunately we have been ROBBED of the truth and betrayed for decades by those who were elected to serve US but instead worked for and on behalf of our oppressors , they were well rewarded for their TREASON with baubles and trinkets and it still continues to this day , many people will object at calling these people TRAITORS but in reality when these people are ACTIVELY distorting and DELIBERATELY HIDING information which is VITALLY important to the financial viability , stability and capability of a country to prosper , support and benefit the citizens of their mother country what else could you generously call them
I place no faith in politicians and the current ensemble at Holyrood of all the parties has to be a congregation of the biggest misfits , incompetents , lackluster parasites and corrupt liars to govern Scotland
We had no choice but to accept the franchise of voting rights put in place by Cameron for the 2014 indy ref because that is just the effect that hundreds of years of brainwashing and conditioning will achieve , that we are so grateful maister to even have this vote that we will even accept your deliberate gerrymandering of the voter franchise
One of the taunts used by the opponents of indy is that we cannot even convince enough fellow Scots to vote for independence , but following an investigation by Edinburgh Uni (i think) it was discovered that 53% of Scots had indeed voted for indy where 70% of new Scots or incomers had actually voted AGAINST indy taken in conjunction with Scots no voters THAT destroyed independence , it is called SABOTAGE
There was no reciprocal arrangement in place for the 2016 Brexshit vote where EU citizens were DENIED the ability to vote on their future , yet when Scots DEMAND a similar franchise they AUTOMATICALLY become RACISTS , BIGOTS , NATIVISTS , BLOOD AND SOIL NATIONALISTS , FASCISTS OR moon howlers , EH Andy,
The argument is always used that “no taxation without representation” does that mean that obviously no EU citizen was paying income tax to the UK govt so they were not entitled to a vote on their future
I personally believe that if I were a new Scot I would NOT consider myself entitled to determine if Scotland should become an independent state once more , that is up to Scots born people to decide , when Scotland is independent from the UK then I can decide whether to apply for citizenship or not
You hit the nail right on the head there Robert,couldn’t agree more.
Nail….hit on heid Alf…whack. Back in 2014 I felt we lacked the passion indy should have generated….the dignity of an honourable cause was never mentioned. But the campaign should have laid out in real terms what our sovereignty would mean….taking part in all the worlds forums Scots would no longer be invisible to the works….UN forums like IMO the International Maritime Organisation. The ITU which decides which part of the radio spectrum we would get. But policies like a Republic and joining EFTA will lay down a marker that we not content with colonial status.
Unquestionably an excellent article, and the need to fill Scotland with a clear sense of its status as a Colony is indisputable.
But there is an Independence learning-curve which cannot be speeded up. Evolution takes its own time and makes progress at its own pace, but rapid evolution ? If only.
Remember too that the progress of the Scottish Independence cause is severely hampered by an enormous and constant effort to prevent it, from both sides of the Border, not least of which is being denied access to broadcast media, as well as the wholesale hostility to Independence by all parts of the UK’s mainly Unionist mainstream media. Westminster has a firm grip on Scotland’s handbrake.
Scotland’s Independence is evolving, albeit unevenly and not without discord, disappointment and pain.
But it’s time of Independence is coming.
Scotland’s time as a Colony is coming to an end.