MichaelMcGuire
MichaelMcGuire's JournalBurn's Day
Scotland's Favourite poet
A Man's a Man for A' That
Is there for honest Poverty
That hings his head, an' a' that;
The coward slave-we pass him by,
We dare be poor for a' that!
For a' that, an' a' that.
Our toils obscure an' a' that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The Man's the gowd for a' that.
What though on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hoddin grey, an' a that;
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine;
A Man's a Man for a' that:
For a' that, and a' that,
Their tinsel show, an' a' that;
The honest man, tho' e'er sae poor,
Is king o' men for a' that.
Ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord,
Wha struts, an' stares, an' a' that;
Tho' hundreds worship at his word,
He's but a coof for a' that:
For a' that, an' a' that,
His ribband, star, an' a' that:
The man o' independent mind
He looks an' laughs at a' that.
A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, an' a' that;
But an honest man's abon his might,
Gude faith, he maunna fa' that!
For a' that, an' a' that,
Their dignities an' a' that;
The pith o' sense, an' pride o' worth,
Are higher rank than a' that.
Then let us pray that come it may,
(As come it will for a' that,)
That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth,
Shall bear the gree, an' a' that.
For a' that, an' a' that,
It's coming yet for a' that,
That Man to Man, the world o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that.
The Canadian man behind the Scottish independence movement
{Snip}
Scotland has announced that in 2014, it will hold a referendum to decide whether to quit the United Kingdom. It turns out the Scottish National Party’s chief of staff, a man dedicated to tearing the U.K. apart, isn’t Scottish at all, though. He’s Canadian—not even fully Scots-Canadian, but equal parts English, Polish and Scottish—and arrived in Scotland all of six years ago. At first, the Kincardine, Ont., native admits, he felt funny trying to make the case, but he’s grown comfortable in the role, leading the charge for a free and independent Scotland. And yes, he’s acquired a wee Scottish brogue.
{Snip}
Q: When did your political awakening to the national question occur?
A: I did a stint working in the European Parliament [in 2005], as a paid intern for one of Scotland’s members, Alyn Smith. I’d spent time in Scotland, then in Brussels, and I saw countries like Sweden, Estonia, Finland, countries that are actually quite close to Scotland—they’re smaller but have similar populations— and they were there negotiating and getting the best deal for their people. I thought, “Why is Scotland so uniquely incapable of doing that?” And I’d obviously spent enough time in Scotland at that point to feel a connection with it as well.
Q: Tell me about Scots’ new-found assertiveness, and desire for independence. Why now?
A: I think the Scottish people are on a journey, although it’s been quite a long one. With the advent of the Scottish parliament in 1996, for the first time considerable decision-making powers were transferred from London to Edinburgh. When people came to see that institution as doing things that made their lives better, they felt a reawakening of that identity; that gradual process culminated in a very historic election in 2011 [in which the SNP won its first majority over the traditionally dominant Scottish Labour Party].
Q: Why do you think regular Scots are joining your campaign?
A: A lot of the case for independence in Scotland is an economic one. It’s one of the head, and not necessarily the heart—it’s how will Scotland be better off? That’s the case that we’re taking to the Scottish people. [With independence], decision-making simply shifts from London to Edinburgh, and with that switch we’re better able to tailor our policies and create Scottish growth. So I think it’s very much an economic argument.
{Snip}
Q: But there are historical grievances, and some segments of Scotland do feel anger toward England, no?
A: I think, yes, Scotland joined in a political union with England 300 years ago. Are there people that focus on that? I suppose there are. But the SNP doesn’t. The SNP needs to make a modern case about independence and civic nationalism. I think Scottish nationalism is inclusive and open.
I’m a good example of that, I’m a Canadian working for them. Our leader at Westminster, Angus Robertson, MP, was born in England and is half German. We’ve got Scots-Asian members, support from immigrants in the EU, from new Scots. That sort of grievance of battles long past is something that, while it hasn’t faded totally from people’s memories, is not what they think about day to day.
Q: You talked about the idea of Scottish devolution, which began in 1997 when Scotland’s parliament was established and given limited powers to enact laws. The irony is devolution was supposed to have the opposite effect and discourage independence, was it not?
A: That’s correct. There’s an infamous quote from Lord George Robertson [who in 1995 was shadow secretary of state for Scotland]. He said devolution would “kill nationalism stone dead.” It very clearly hasn’t. The Scottish people accept the parliament, they are proud of it, but they want more.
{Snip}
http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/01/23/on-independence-whisky-and-why-dcotland-isnt-another-quebec/
The mystery of Scotland's secret sculptor
{Snip}
A graffiti artist called Banksy became famous around the globe in the 1990s after secretly leaving his art work on walls across London. Now Scotland has its own secret artist.{Snip}
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/fast_track/9680129.stm
Renewable Energy in Scotland
A nice wee 12min video on the subject of renewables in the Scottish Highlands and Islands.
Nae limits
BBC censorship?
UK BBC exposes the decision by BBC Scotland to close down their political blogs for comment. BBC Scotland refuses to answer critics on air.
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The Courier {snips}
A Fife man has called on BBC Scotland to explain its decision to suspend comments from its political blogs as the country enters its biggest constitutional debate for century
John Thomson, from Freuchie, is one of several people who have complained directly to the broadcaster about the matter, suggesting the opportunity to engage in discussion in one of the most important periods in the nation's history is apparently being closed down by a publicly funded body.
Mr Thomson was on the BBC's media watchdog programme Newswatch last week. He believes BBC Scotland could soon have a very public protest levied against it in the coming weeks and months if it does not answer questions over impartiality and censorship he insists lie unresolved.
No one from the BBC returned The Courier's requests for a response, but Daniel Maxwell, BBC Scotland's news online editor, previously released a statement which defended the recent move.
It said: ''We believe that by determining which particular issues might best be explored by the inclusion of public comment online, we will allow a more flexible and a more adaptable approach to be taken to how we cover the main issues in Scotland.''
read in full here
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Politics/article/20395/bbc-scotland-told-closing-blog-comments-leaves-it-open-to-accusation-of-censorship.html
Rebellious Scots to shush
English parties gang up to save the UK from greatest-ever threat of democracy
Last night PM Dave Cameron called on his counterparts to set aside their differences to face down the threat of freedom happening via a referendum on Scottish independence.
Cameron held a conference call with Nick Clegg and one of the Millibands and told them: “Never mind jobs, benefits and public services – we’ll get rid of all that later.
“If voters are given to believe they can vote for what they want and expect to get it, well, we’re all fucked aren’t we.”
A leading civil servant told the Crucible: “We’ve come as close as we dare to making democracy illegal with PR and all that shite. We don’t know what we’ll do if people begin to expect us to do what they want us to do.
“That’s not the Big Society. That’s not in the instructions Maggie left us.
“It’s not even an anti-Scotch policy. We’re not racists. We hate everyone who isn’t us.
An SNP insider stopped quoting Ghandi long enough to say: “So a government no one voted for is trying to shut up a government lots of people voted for. Bring it.”
http://scottishcrucible.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/rebellious-scots-to-shush/
US adviser hails Scots way to help homeless
Scotland’s “groundbreaking” commitment to ending homelessness is a model for other countries on how the problem can be tackled, a White House adviser said today.
However, Dr Dennis Culhane said the success of Scotland’s 2012 commitment could only be measured by the number of people given not just the legal right to a home, but a “real chance” to live in one.
Dr Culhane, who has advised United States President Barack Obama and his predecessor, George W Bush, is a key speaker at a conference in Edinburgh next month.
The event is taking place as the deadline approaches for councils to meet the commitment, enshrined in legislation, to end homelessness by the end of 2012.
Speaking ahead of the conference, which is being organised by the housing and homeless charity Shelter Scotland, Dr Culhane said: “Scotland’s groundbreaking commitment to end homelessness is serving as a model for how many other countries view homelessness solutions
continue reading: http://www.scotsman.com/news/health/us_adviser_hails_scots_way_to_help_homeless_1_2058672
MoD drawing up plans to withdraw Trident from Scotland
{SNIP} Officials at the MoD were yesterday reported to have started planning for a new multi-billion-pound nuclear base on the English east coast, with locations near Plymouth or Portsmouth being considered. The moves come amid fears that the MoD would be left with nowhere for the fleet if Scotland becomes independent.{SNIP}
However the unnamed reporter needs to note Plymouth or Portsmouth aren't on the east coast of Engliand
link:http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/politics/mod_drawing_up_plans_to_withdraw_trident_from_scotland_1_2058677?commentspage=2
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Anyway welcomed news
Side note: SNP (current Scottish Government),SSP, Greens, (other parties) most MPs, and MSPs (across parties), the Scottish public, trade unions, and religious organisations are against nuclear weapons being in our country, which I wholeheartedly agree with.
I bet your kicking yourself for leaving it
The so called 'Scottish' media is in decline, most are London owned and poorly reflect Scottish life, politics or culture. The BBC is far from impartial, which wouldn't normally bother you. As if I don't like I just don't watch.... The stinger is that your TV license pays for it, and the states media will always tow the line.. especially when the current state, its power and influence are at stake.
The BBC political blogs there originally meant as a means in which the rusty old BBC could catch up in believing peoples comments on political subjects was important but to their horror. Rather than the BBC Scottish commenter's getting comments for towing the line of 'darrrrling THAT was Fabbbbulous' they learnt that people just aren't that daft when it comes to Scottish politics. Comments that questioned where simply deleted. Strangely we can comment in other BBC blogs elsewhere just not Scottish ones go figure
The tact of the 'too small, too poor, too stupid' is what most dying powers do, when they know the game is up.. in many ways it reflects their attitude towards us as 'uppity Scots', you only need to look at the posts on DU for the last few days, from the BritNat echo chamber 'operation saving-face'. Where I was even asked 'how' Scottish I was, as if it has any bearing on Scottish statehood.
Closer to the 2014 vote we'll realise that were shackled to a corpse, and remove its dead hand. And they'll realise the insulting and arrogant talking points of the 'too small, too poor, too stupid' in this day and age it just doesn't cut it.
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Member since: Sat Nov 12, 2011, 02:37 PMNumber of posts: 1,684
