by Alistair Duff, Professor of Information Policy in the School of Arts and Creative Industries at Edinburgh Napier University.
Please, anyone eligible, VOTE YES for Scottish independence! I, despite being a Sassenach, will be. I outlined my reasons to the Oxford Union a few years ago, in case anyone’s interested. Here’s a transcript:
OXFORD UNION SPEECH
Emergency Debate May 12th 2011 on the Proposition: This House Believes Scotland Should Become Independent
’Thank you Chairman for giving me a special dispensation to speak. Although I am not a member of the Oxford Union I was a member a few years ago when I was a visiting fellow at the Oxford Internet Institute. Thank you for this opportunity.
I wish to speak in favour of the motion. Scotland is a totally separate nation and I believe that it has a right to independence, as every nation on God’s earth has.
You might think it odd that I with my BBC middle-class English accent should be in favour, but I had the fortune to emigrate to Scotland at the age of 21 and as an outsider it hit me so hard when I got there that Scotland is a separate country.
It has its own history, its own culture, its own legal system, a different economy, a different, more egalitarian political culture. Like every nation it has the right to self-determination. Scotland had a great history for hundreds of years before joining up with England. In fact, the Act of Union in 1707 was not the will of the people, it was a backroom deal between Scottish and English aristocrats…
[POINT OF ORDER from student in front row: ‘Why then not call a referendum now?’]Good question, that is what the Conservative Party and other Unionist parties are pushing for, because they know that Scotland would not vote for independence right now. They’re trying to rush it.
The SNP was returned with a huge majority, on the scale of Tony Blair’s victory back in 1990whatever. But this wasn’t a vote for independence, although it was for a party whose ultimate objective is independence. People were voting for the SNP because of its other policies and its competence. It had been in power for 4 years and had proved that it is moderate, competent and not anti-English. What it should do, along-with fellow-travellers, ”traitors” to England like myself, is make the case over the next few years, to have a full national debate and then call a referendum.
They need to secure a proper majority, not 51%, not a default, complacent, but something like 75% of the population. People need to be passionate about independence. But if they are, then they have the right to it.
It’s the same as the case for Indian independence, any country. Estonia with a population of 1.3 million is independent. Why can’t Scotland with a population of over 5 million be?
It’s not a question of economics or traditions though, it’s rooted in political justice, political philosophy, the right of autonomy, of national self-determination.
So, ladies and gentlemen, I speak in favour of the motion.’
[Lukewarm applause]Submitted by Alistair Duff
“A LAST MINUTE WAKE UP CALL”. “THIS IS FOR THE UNDECIDED,- AND THOSE INTENDING TO VOTE NO!”. Trying to leave this decision, for another 12 months, to think about it, is an absolute, “No Go”, ( like we did in our Rhodesia, to our everlasting detriment,- we lost our Country! ). You will always be regarded as the political and economic “Black Sheep”, of the family!, as from times of old! So “Wake Up Fast”, to political reality, and be Masters of Your Own House, Scotland, now! Never to be permanent, lifelong ,abused, political servants, in your own home, again! (In slightly lighter discussion, but just as serious, I think it was Frank Sinatra who sang,” Do it my way”, although not in a political context.) ( “Roamin in the Gloamin with a Lassie by My Side”, is wonderful for the Laddies and Lassies, but “Roamin in the Gloamin”, to a Dead-end-street, is a disaster trap! You won’t just lose the “Bonnie Banks of the Clyde”, You will lose all of the Clyde as well!, and your Country! )
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