Christine Grahame is SNP MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale. We asked her to write an article ahead of the Scottish Referendum to tell us about the Scotland she hopes to be waking up to this morning.
This morning, I hope I am waking up to a Scotland which is back on the road to Independence, a Scotland which stood up to all those scare stories, a Scotland ready to build a fairer, more just society and a Scotland taking its own place in the world.
The buses will still run, the supermarkets will still be stocked, pensions will be paid and schools will gather in their children.
At first glance nothing and yet everything will have changed. Across the world I hope the headlines read: “L’Ecosse dit oui!”, “Schottland sagt Ja!”, “Escocia dice ¡Sí!”, “Шотландия говорит Да!” because the world has been watching and waiting to see if the oldest nation in Europe with that most powerful weapon of all, a democratic vote, has restored itself to nationhood.
I hope I am waking up to saltires flying over Edinburgh castle, from gardens and rooftops. I hope I am waking up to a nation regaining its confidence, its voice.
A nation, not better, but the equal of other nations.
A nation which, if it could smile, would be beaming from ear to ear.
A nation which is ready and willing to redress the injustices which can be seen in our communities, where all those who voted for the first time for a better life, a better deal in life, will indeed see that their vote mattered, their confidence in Scotland and social justice has the opportunity to be realised.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
