Scottish Independence referendum, 2014

[afleitch]

Obviously I am for it.

I didn't used to be. I think there is something childlike in loving the country you are born in, just because you happen to be born there. I think any nation; and by nation I mean peoples, politics, ways of doing things etc has to prove itself to you as being worthy of merit to a person. There was a time in my life when Scotland was a very intricate and baffling nation. Had Scotland pursued independence or even devolution earlier in the 20th century it would have became a presbyterian, inward looking, conservative backwater. Even as late as 1999, it wasn't clear what sort of nation Scotland would become with a parliament. Before the parliament all we had was a grievance and it wasn't a productive one. It was certainly a very uncomfortable place to grow up in, especially in the west of Scotland where competing forms of Irish national expression, whether republican or unionist seemed to be more important in defining a community than any sense of being Scottish or not defining yourself by your religious community. It was a very powerful and often exploited division that was very helpful in distracting the working classes from genuine social problems. As late as 2001, Scotland had a horrible experience involving Section 28 which tested the parliament. When Donald Dewar died, we felt something had been lost.

But Scotland has positioned itself and moved at such speed towards an open, outward looking and liberal society that has surpised even me. For many Scots looking for work or escaping the green and blue tinted bigotry or seeking the freedom of sexual expression meant heading south, to England, to London to make a home and name for yourself. That isn't the case today. There is a feeling that Scotland's priorities are not those of our neighbours, that's Scotland's ethos is new and is distinctivly Scottish. Modern Scotland is what Scotland is about. Modern Scotland is what has driven this desire for independence more so than traditional nationalism.

Britain just doesn't represent me anymore. It doesn't matter who is in power; its much deeper and wider than politics.

[afleitch]

That and because my default position is always anti-nationalism. And I hate the SNP.

British nationalism is okay of course?