An independent Scotland?

[mistermack]

Still wouldn't you prefer that kind of hostile invective in our parliament rather than the anodyne 3rd rate university debating society pantomime that is our current parliament. Would it not be wonderful to hear someone say "Cameron, you don't half talk some fucking shite ya chinless prick, any mer a' it an am gonny reach oor this table an' rip yer jaw fur ye ya bam!" or "Shut the fuck up Milliband or I'll toe yer baws."

Even just once. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

Yeh right. But you'd soon cross the road, if you heard that stuff late on a saturday night in Glasgow.

It's funny when Rab and Jamsie come out with it, but that's top comedy written by an expert.

I actually prefer the quiet but deadly barbs, like Maggie Thatcher's "the honourable gentleman's windy rhetoric" or "like being savaged by a dead sheep" from Dennis Healy about Geoffrey Howe.
Classy stuff.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Years ago I talked with a gentleman who was demanding that the US return Puerto Rico to its "Rightful Owners". I replied, "You mean the Caribe Indians?" "Don't be stupid, I meant Spain!"

[Red Celt]

I'm sure that Spain wouldn't make Scotland's life difficult wrt EU membership, if we gave Scotland's share of Gibraltar to them.

And yes, I am joking.

[John_fi_Skye]

I'm sure that Spain wouldn't make Scotland's life difficult wrt EU membership, if we gave Scotland's share of Gibraltar to them.

And yes, I am joking.

I know a guy from Gibraltar. He's a plumber here, and married to a local woman.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I think all of Europe, including those small islands off the coast, should be returned to the Beaker People.

[Red Celt]

I think all of Europe, including those small islands off the coast, should be returned to the Beaker People.

The only thing that we know about the Beaker People is that they were buried with beakers.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I think all of Europe, including those small islands off the coast, should be returned to the Beaker People.

The only thing that we know about the Beaker People is that they were buried with beakers.

And they lived in Europe. Ta da.

[Cormac]

Years ago I talked with a gentleman who was demanding that the US return Puerto Rico to its "Rightful Owners". I replied, "You mean the Caribe Indians?" "Don't be stupid, I meant Spain!"

I think it is beyond time to apologise and give back the Chagos Islands though. After all, they've won all the court cases...

[Cormac]

My two cents on all this is that it is a decision the Scottish people need to take.

I doubt if things will be simple. Even if the answer is no, this will not be the end of this political movement. An interesting question arises - if the answer is yes, and full independence is achieved, will those who oppose it simply accept it, or will there be a Northern Ireland scenario...

[ronmcd]

My two cents on all this is that it is a decision the Scottish people need to take.

I doubt if things will be simple. Even if the answer is no, this will not be the end of this political movement. An interesting question arises - if the answer is yes, and full independence is achieved, will those who oppose it simply accept it, or will there be a Northern Ireland scenario...

Yes or no, people will accept the result. There is no Northern Ireland scenario possible in Scotland, there is no sectarian correlation between the two sides in the independence debate. And there are no claims of different communities being - or feeling - oppressed.

[Cormac]

My two cents on all this is that it is a decision the Scottish people need to take.

I doubt if things will be simple. Even if the answer is no, this will not be the end of this political movement. An interesting question arises - if the answer is yes, and full independence is achieved, will those who oppose it simply accept it, or will there be a Northern Ireland scenario...

Yes or no, people will accept the result. There is no Northern Ireland scenario possible in Scotland, there is no sectarian correlation between the two sides in the independence debate. And there are no claims of different communities being - or feeling - oppressed.

It is a side point.

But it should be noted that the sectarian divide is Northern Ireland was politically created. The 1798 Rebellion was led primarily by Protestants and Dissenters - Paisley's antecedents. To prevent this union arising again - the Orange Order was created, and sectarianism solidified as a political tool in Ireland.

We should note that there is a very strong sectarian divide in Scotland. As an outsider who lived in Edinburgh and Glasgow for a cumulative 4 years, I was shocked by it.

It is not impossible that this could be conflated with the union question, if it became politically expedient - as it did in Ireland.

[Svartalf]

I think all of Europe, including those small islands off the coast, should be returned to the Beaker People.

You find'emm, I lobby for'em

[ronmcd]

My two cents on all this is that it is a decision the Scottish people need to take.

I doubt if things will be simple. Even if the answer is no, this will not be the end of this political movement. An interesting question arises - if the answer is yes, and full independence is achieved, will those who oppose it simply accept it, or will there be a Northern Ireland scenario...

Yes or no, people will accept the result. There is no Northern Ireland scenario possible in Scotland, there is no sectarian correlation between the two sides in the independence debate. And there are no claims of different communities being - or feeling - oppressed.

It is a side point.

But it should be noted that the sectarian divide is Northern Ireland was politically created. The 1798 Rebellion was led primarily by Protestants and Dissenters - Paisley's antecedents. To prevent this union arising again - the Orange Order was created, and sectarianism solidified as a political tool in Ireland.

We should note that there is a very strong sectarian divide in Scotland. As an outsider who lived in Edinburgh and Glasgow for a cumulative 4 years, I was shocked by it.

It is not impossible that this could be conflated with the union question, if it became politically expedient - as it did in Ireland.

We would deserve to sink to the bottom of the North Sea if we in Scotland let that happen.

[mistermack]

My two cents on all this is that it is a decision the Scottish people need to take.

I doubt if things will be simple. Even if the answer is no, this will not be the end of this political movement. An interesting question arises - if the answer is yes, and full independence is achieved, will those who oppose it simply accept it, or will there be a Northern Ireland scenario...

Yes or no, people will accept the result. There is no Northern Ireland scenario possible in Scotland, there is no sectarian correlation between the two sides in the independence debate. And there are no claims of different communities being - or feeling - oppressed.

It is a side point.

But it should be noted that the sectarian divide is Northern Ireland was politically created. The 1798 Rebellion was led primarily by Protestants and Dissenters - Paisley's antecedents. To prevent this union arising again - the Orange Order was created, and sectarianism solidified as a political tool in Ireland.

We should note that there is a very strong sectarian divide in Scotland. As an outsider who lived in Edinburgh and Glasgow for a cumulative 4 years, I was shocked by it.

It is not impossible that this could be conflated with the union question, if it became politically expedient - as it did in Ireland.

We would deserve to sink to the bottom of the North Sea if we in Scotland let that happen.

I was mocked when I said that the worst of the nationalists might even start a bombing campaign, if the vote was lost.
Dunno why, because morons are everywhere, and Scotland of course has it's share.
There was a tv news program the other day, about the threats and violence surrounding Rangers football club. Including attempted intimidation to some of the Scottish FA people who dealt with the Rangers situation.

But similar stuff happening over the vote is unthinkable, apparently.
I'm not so sure. Of course, I would agree that it's not highly likely. But I wouldn't want to bet too much on nothing happening.

[ronmcd]

My two cents on all this is that it is a decision the Scottish people need to take.

I doubt if things will be simple. Even if the answer is no, this will not be the end of this political movement. An interesting question arises - if the answer is yes, and full independence is achieved, will those who oppose it simply accept it, or will there be a Northern Ireland scenario...

Yes or no, people will accept the result. There is no Northern Ireland scenario possible in Scotland, there is no sectarian correlation between the two sides in the independence debate. And there are no claims of different communities being - or feeling - oppressed.

It is a side point.

But it should be noted that the sectarian divide is Northern Ireland was politically created. The 1798 Rebellion was led primarily by Protestants and Dissenters - Paisley's antecedents. To prevent this union arising again - the Orange Order was created, and sectarianism solidified as a political tool in Ireland.

We should note that there is a very strong sectarian divide in Scotland. As an outsider who lived in Edinburgh and Glasgow for a cumulative 4 years, I was shocked by it.

It is not impossible that this could be conflated with the union question, if it became politically expedient - as it did in Ireland.

We would deserve to sink to the bottom of the North Sea if we in Scotland let that happen.

I was mocked when I said that the worst of the nationalists might even start a bombing campaign, if the vote was lost.
Dunno why, because morons are everywhere, and Scotland of course has it's share.
There was a tv news program the other day, about the threats and violence surrounding Rangers football club. Including attempted intimidation to some of the Scottish FA people who dealt with the Rangers situation.

But similar stuff happening over the vote is unthinkable, apparently.
I'm not so sure. Of course, I would agree that it's not highly likely. But I wouldn't want to bet too much on nothing happening.

It won't happen because there is no correlation between the two sides in the independence argument, and religion. There is no suggestion of sectarianism in the referendum campaign except from outside Scotland. Mostly oddly angry ranting idiots on the Daily Mail or Telegraph websites, or angry ranting unionists in Northern Ireland ...