As Gayle implies, Scots will have to cast out the ‘colonial mindset’, and there is always only one way to do that – via independence/decolonisation. In postcolonial literature, colonialism is considered as a ‘disease of the mind’, which in many ways is what allows the economic and other forms of external exploitation and oppression of a people and their land to continue. The people are beginning to better comprehend the root of our longstanding oppression, and hence what independence really is about.
If Scotland’s pro-independence political representatives continue to follow the British nationalism’s anti-Scottish laws Scotland will never regain its independence. Laws must be broken.
Can’t say that often enough, Gayle and Roddy: domestic ACTS cannot supersede INTERNATIONAL laws. English laws that have never been enacted in Scotland are NOT British laws. What is wrong with people? With our politicians who are so uninformed that questions should be asked as to their capability of representing us? Westminster and the Lords know perfectly well that the Treaty is crucial to maintaining the Union because it is the entire basis of the Union. If we never mention, tyre going to sneakily renegotiate it into a domestic ACT, out of our control.
Let’s not call the likes of Mridul a trans woman: he is a trans identified MAN (a TIM). Both males and females who are trans should be called what they are: TIMs and FIMs. As for each sex wanting to speak about problems that pertain to that sex, both men and women require that as a basic need.
I have to say that I am afraid that Alba will end up the same way as the SNP because, yet again, we have a crowning without challenge. Much as I know that Alec Salmond is not Nicola Sturgeon, the people around him are pushing him forward as leader. It just is not healthy in a democratic state.
Your summing up of NS’s role in the November conference was priceless. Our politicians are exactly as you say: round ‘O’s. Useless. They have worked extremely hard at keeping Westminster on-side. They are even worse than New Labour: Blair and his acolytes at least did a few good things – the Good Friday Agreement, for example, that still stand out, even if Johnson is quite prepared to trundle right through it. The pusillanimous science-deniers will never stand up for us. Never. Not as things stand. Strangely enough, I don’t believe it will just all fizzle out. I think we are going the way of Ireland in the early years of the 20th century, but differently. It is going to erupt. That is certain. Any politician who has the gall to call her/himself our FM should have understood that from 2014. The GRA reform will be the catalyst.
Just wanted to say how wonderful it was to hear Gayle speak so clearly to what the Treaty if Union is – a trading agreement that has grown arms and legs in London.
Also, I remember that scene in Trainspotting, and the gut-punch it was to see all the characters get on a train to “the Highlands” slag them off and then slag of Scots as a crap people inferior because we are dominated by an inferior people. Not stuff that was in the extraordinary book and just sheer cinematic gut-punch for extra drama.
I know the roots of Trainspotting… Having lived in Edinburgh since before it was discovered to be the aids capital of Europe, and was appalled to see Danny Boyle play that cross-reference between drug addicts and Scots worthlessness put out as a rank philosophy.
End rant.
But it is a cultural trope now.
Very, very sorry to hear Iain talking about leaving Scotland. But, if it’s to a better place, Iain, then, definitely a good idea. If you do go, Ian, you will be sadly missed. Not least of all, for your diplomacy.
Anyway, great to see such thoughtful, articulate people thrash out matters of complex politics in compelling language.
And, my goodness, what a job of work Professor Alf Baird has done.
I’m sorry, to demur, Tom, but the Treaty is, indeed, partly a trading Treaty, but much, much more: it is the founding document of the UK of GB – The Union. That was its primary purpose – to establish the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The trading Articles flow from that principal Article of establishment.
If it was just a trading treaty, it would have little efficacy in constitutional matters. The truth is, that, in both constitutional matters and in trade matters, it has been breached shamelessly and flagrantly time and time again by our large overbearing and overweening neighbour that takes too much upon itself.
It is an international disgrace that England is allowed to get away with what it does under the umbrella of the UK. That is quite simply because it has never, ever been called out for its outrageous and illegal behaviour towards Scotland. At least there was some (pretty weak) excuse for the Unionist parties in power in Scotland, but the SNP? A total dereliction of duty towards its own people’s best interests.
Three things spring to mind. That the UK was told by the EU that the amount of democracy Scotland had was less than that show to small, Soviet States during Gorbachev’s time
That England went out of their way to poison the possibility of success of the Darien project. Forbidding help for, or, investment in, the company. And that this economic union, a sharing of the benefits of the empire, was a way to say sorry.
And third, that nobody that I know of has ever asserted Scotland’s political rights and expectations as afforded by the Treaty of Union. It’s as if no political party has ever sought to genuinely know the will of the Scottish people, and then to exert that will on their behalf.
Even if they did, Anne, they could not make the law retrospective. Well, they could, but the mess would be insurmountable and the cases suing the government would reach the heavens. If Marion’s case is not thrown out as a waste of the court’s time, we are lost as a nation after the Murray sentencing. If the jury had any backbone it would throw it out and open up the opportunity for Marion to pursue the idiot who dumped this rubbish on her, in the civil court.
Roddy and Gayle speaking truth and common sense today in Scotland is essentially unlawful, you both should know better.
God (or what ever deity you believe in) help us all.
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Thanks Roddy. I thoroughly enjoyed your Prism this morning and I look forward to next week’s programme.
An awfu guid discussion, Roddy and Gayle.
As Gayle implies, Scots will have to cast out the ‘colonial mindset’, and there is always only one way to do that – via independence/decolonisation. In postcolonial literature, colonialism is considered as a ‘disease of the mind’, which in many ways is what allows the economic and other forms of external exploitation and oppression of a people and their land to continue. The people are beginning to better comprehend the root of our longstanding oppression, and hence what independence really is about.
If Scotland’s pro-independence political representatives continue to follow the British nationalism’s anti-Scottish laws Scotland will never regain its independence. Laws must be broken.
Can’t say that often enough, Gayle and Roddy: domestic ACTS cannot supersede INTERNATIONAL laws. English laws that have never been enacted in Scotland are NOT British laws. What is wrong with people? With our politicians who are so uninformed that questions should be asked as to their capability of representing us? Westminster and the Lords know perfectly well that the Treaty is crucial to maintaining the Union because it is the entire basis of the Union. If we never mention, tyre going to sneakily renegotiate it into a domestic ACT, out of our control.
Let’s not call the likes of Mridul a trans woman: he is a trans identified MAN (a TIM). Both males and females who are trans should be called what they are: TIMs and FIMs. As for each sex wanting to speak about problems that pertain to that sex, both men and women require that as a basic need.
I have to say that I am afraid that Alba will end up the same way as the SNP because, yet again, we have a crowning without challenge. Much as I know that Alec Salmond is not Nicola Sturgeon, the people around him are pushing him forward as leader. It just is not healthy in a democratic state.
Your summing up of NS’s role in the November conference was priceless. Our politicians are exactly as you say: round ‘O’s. Useless. They have worked extremely hard at keeping Westminster on-side. They are even worse than New Labour: Blair and his acolytes at least did a few good things – the Good Friday Agreement, for example, that still stand out, even if Johnson is quite prepared to trundle right through it. The pusillanimous science-deniers will never stand up for us. Never. Not as things stand. Strangely enough, I don’t believe it will just all fizzle out. I think we are going the way of Ireland in the early years of the 20th century, but differently. It is going to erupt. That is certain. Any politician who has the gall to call her/himself our FM should have understood that from 2014. The GRA reform will be the catalyst.
Superb, again, Roddy.
Just wanted to say how wonderful it was to hear Gayle speak so clearly to what the Treaty if Union is – a trading agreement that has grown arms and legs in London.
Also, I remember that scene in Trainspotting, and the gut-punch it was to see all the characters get on a train to “the Highlands” slag them off and then slag of Scots as a crap people inferior because we are dominated by an inferior people. Not stuff that was in the extraordinary book and just sheer cinematic gut-punch for extra drama.
I know the roots of Trainspotting… Having lived in Edinburgh since before it was discovered to be the aids capital of Europe, and was appalled to see Danny Boyle play that cross-reference between drug addicts and Scots worthlessness put out as a rank philosophy.
End rant.
But it is a cultural trope now.
Very, very sorry to hear Iain talking about leaving Scotland. But, if it’s to a better place, Iain, then, definitely a good idea. If you do go, Ian, you will be sadly missed. Not least of all, for your diplomacy.
Anyway, great to see such thoughtful, articulate people thrash out matters of complex politics in compelling language.
And, my goodness, what a job of work Professor Alf Baird has done.
I’m sorry, to demur, Tom, but the Treaty is, indeed, partly a trading Treaty, but much, much more: it is the founding document of the UK of GB – The Union. That was its primary purpose – to establish the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The trading Articles flow from that principal Article of establishment.
If it was just a trading treaty, it would have little efficacy in constitutional matters. The truth is, that, in both constitutional matters and in trade matters, it has been breached shamelessly and flagrantly time and time again by our large overbearing and overweening neighbour that takes too much upon itself.
It is an international disgrace that England is allowed to get away with what it does under the umbrella of the UK. That is quite simply because it has never, ever been called out for its outrageous and illegal behaviour towards Scotland. At least there was some (pretty weak) excuse for the Unionist parties in power in Scotland, but the SNP? A total dereliction of duty towards its own people’s best interests.
Nicely said, Lorna.
Three things spring to mind. That the UK was told by the EU that the amount of democracy Scotland had was less than that show to small, Soviet States during Gorbachev’s time
That England went out of their way to poison the possibility of success of the Darien project. Forbidding help for, or, investment in, the company. And that this economic union, a sharing of the benefits of the empire, was a way to say sorry.
And third, that nobody that I know of has ever asserted Scotland’s political rights and expectations as afforded by the Treaty of Union. It’s as if no political party has ever sought to genuinely know the will of the Scottish people, and then to exert that will on their behalf.
Isn’t that sad?
Respect.
Are they holding back Marion Miller’s trial so the Hate Crime Bill will be law?
Even if they did, Anne, they could not make the law retrospective. Well, they could, but the mess would be insurmountable and the cases suing the government would reach the heavens. If Marion’s case is not thrown out as a waste of the court’s time, we are lost as a nation after the Murray sentencing. If the jury had any backbone it would throw it out and open up the opportunity for Marion to pursue the idiot who dumped this rubbish on her, in the civil court.
Roddy and Gayle speaking truth and common sense today in Scotland is essentially unlawful, you both should know better.
God (or what ever deity you believe in) help us all.