I am heading for the train back to Scotland for the final, frenetic stretch of campaigning to achieve national independence. Rather strange feeling on leaving the house, because I know that if we succeed I shan’t be coming back here to live, but rather staying to help build the new Scotland, in however minor a way.
I receive far more email than I can possibly reply to, about which I feel somewhat guilty. But I both replied and obtained permission to reproduce this one from Fiona Mathieson:
I am sure you will be receiving hundreds of messages from so many in Scotland at the moment. I would just like to say how grateful I have been for the information you have provided. I have been able to direct people to your blogs and videos which have helped them to start questioning and delve further into unveiling the truth.
Last week at work a colleague who was undecided came to me and said that not only was she voting yes, but her entire family of 47 were voting yes. I gave her the wee blue book and some of your video links and they all went off and looked into it and discussed it. They decided that yes was the only way forward for a future of hope and positive change.
I was late in joining the yes campaign only becoming politicised in the last 2 months as the light bulb slowly went on. I have never in my life felt so engaged and enthusiastic and am amazed to be part of something that is making history. The sad part being that I went through the entire grief cycle in a week moving between stages quite erratically as I came to grips with the level of corruption and deception from the government and the media. I know there will be many others who have been dealing with the same issues as myself.
However, onwards and upwards as we continue to engage with our sense of humour, passion and creativity in these last few days of the campaign.
Thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge as it has helped many of us to stay on course as the continued scare tactics are dropped down on us from on high.
I think the greatest achievement of the campaign has been that half the population of Scotland has awoken to the fact that the mainstream media, and the BBC in particular, pump out a stream of propaganda in collusion with the state and corporate interests, and that much of it is untrue. If I have contributed to that realisation, I am very happy indeed, but I am only one of a number of alternative sources of information now available on new media. The great triumph of the Yes campaign has been the united force of social media and community mobilisation.
Thank you, Fiona, for your kind message. I hope and believe that your account will encourage others to make the same journey.
“I think the greatest achievement of the campaign has been that half the population of Scotland has awoken to the fact that the mainstream media, and the BBC in particular, pump out a stream of propaganda in collusion with the state and corporate interests, and that much of it is untrue.”
The greatest achievement? Is this an early admission that you are going to lose?
Get those excuses in early!
GET REAL ?
NOAM CHOMSKY
As the day of the vote approaches do we keep the rose tinted glasses firmly on, or do we look directly at harsh reality?
Noam Chomsky on why some countries and groups get it and why others have a mucher harder time. “It all depends who’s been holding the whip for eight hundred years and who’s been under it for eight hundred years!” As in Ireland, so in Scotland.
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wneThOUcpsQ#t=50m42s
PERFIDIOUS ALBION
Why would the UK elite – satraps of the US Empire, fully implicated in torture-to-death, murder, illegal war and ‘rendition for extermination’ on ‘lesser breeds’ abroad – not do the same to ‘uppity natives’ at home if push came to shove?
1. NOW –
USUK WAR CRIMES – TORTURE TO DEATH, RENDITION FOR EXTERMINATION, DEATH CAMPS ON DIEGO GARCIA (?) –
The nine holes drilled in the feet of the Iranian diplomat, 20,000 disappeared Muslims, the U.S bacon slicer cutting off arms – with links to each original story –
FOLLOW THE LINKS
See multiple comments with chapter and verse – US EMPIRE MURDER AND TORTURE TO DEATH and _WE_ ARE THE NAZIS, comments to
– “Camp Nama: British Personnel Reveal Horrors of Secret US Base in Bagdad” – ICH –
– http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article34479.htm
2. HISTORY
INDEPENDENCE – THE, ER, TRADITIONAL METHOD
– Ireland. GPO 1916 – Michael Collins –
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiTJuEv7OYk#t=00m51s
– One way to get rid of the Sassenachs –
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-L3zeCNzH8
Followed by three years of British Imperial death squads – the ‘Black and Tans’.
– The Wind That Shakes The Barley – Youtube – OR search youtube –
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVcD8MgpkyY
SO. Will England be sending another Cairo gang to Scotland? Because they’ve done it in every recent struggle.
WE DIGRESS –
> “I’m from Dublin, Ireland. I don’t like the IRA.” – Joe Soap. (OR a UK shill??? Ed.)
Reply –
> “You may not like the IRA but they’re the reason you’re writing from Dublin, Ireland rather than Dublin, United Kingdom.”
HA!
Ditto Scotland???
Comment to “IRA vs Al Qaeda – I was wrong,” by the War Nerd, Gary Brecher, 27th April 2011 – The Exiled Online –
– http://exiledonline.com/wn-38-ira-vs-al-qaeda-i-was-wrong/
>Others use guns. The Scots are writing a revolution.
Except for … Perfidious Albion.
SO. Enjoy the jokes, but remember perfidious Albion. As in Florida 2000, Ohio 2004, so in Scotland 2014? And if the Sassenachs mess with the recount, well …! ; )
Yes SBC will be a true feast when it follows the fine example of reporting offered by this blog interlaced with a sitcom offering 2 English guys on a rickshaw interminably repeating “Imperial Masters”, live coverage of the pillories where the “indecent” no voters get their cumuppance, and a new interpretation of Scottish history which explores the socialism of the Clan system and how those Scots who enforced the Highland clearances and killed their fellow Scots at Culloden were all English no voters in disguise. Just wait for the compulsory lessons in Gaelic.
GET REAL
Correction –
Why would the UK elite – satraps of the US Empire, fully implicated in torture-to-death, murder, illegal war and ‘rendition for extermination’ on ‘lesser breeds’ abroad – not be expected to at least attempt to fudge the vote count at home, if push came to shove? ; )
Hi Craig, your blog is in the must-read group when it come to Scotland and Independence, and a revelation re the dirty tricks department of the UK Government.
However there is one thing seriously wrong with it – you allow free rein to plonkers like anon1, resident dissident and others.
Their carping, sneering denigration of yourself and other posters detracts from the flow of the threads and the enjoyment of the blog.
Just sayin’.
“I think the greatest achievement of the campaign has been that half the population of Scotland has awoken to the fact that the mainstream media, and the BBC in particular, pump out a stream of propaganda in collusion with the state and corporate interests”
Only half? Are you really suggesting that every No vote will be the result of media propaganda alone?
Good luck with your endeavours, Craig, its good to hear your active involvement in politics will carry on, much needs to be done and they will need you.
Anon1 will soon follow in your footstep and begin his career as a candidate by voting for the first time.
Is it going to be Yes Anon1?
Craig great to hear you are coming to Scotland, now would you like the Irish embassy or head of our foreign office?!
‘Rather strange feeling on leaving the house, because I know that if we succeed I shan’t be coming back here to live, but rather staying to help build the new Scotland, in however minor a way.’
Craig- it’s admirable that you will put your principles to the test in the event of a ‘yes’ victory; Scotland will need guys like you to steer the ship of state in it’s early days.
‘However there is one thing seriously wrong with it – you allow free rein to plonkers like anon1, resident dissident and others.’
John Bell- there speaks the intolerant De Valera tendancy of Scots nationalism, which I certainly hope doesn’t gain traction after 18 Sept- whichever way the vote goes.
Jihn Bell
“Hi Craig, your blog is in the must-read group when it come to Scotland and Independence, and a revelation re the dirty tricks department of the UK Government.
However there is one thing seriously wrong with it – you allow free rein to plonkers like anon1, resident dissident and others.
Their carping, sneering denigration of yourself and other posters detracts from the flow of the threads and the enjoyment of the blog.
Just sayin’.”
_________________
Yes, you’re just sayin’ bollocks.
Of course people like you would find that anyone disagreeing with the official message on here ” detracts from the flow of the threads and the enjoyment of the blog”.
Put your “enjoyment” up your backside, sock-puppet.
@Hugh Kerr – “Craig great to hear you are coming to Scotland, now would you like the Irish embassy or head of our foreign office?!”
No the first step is to reclaim all the North Sea sea acreage that was stolen under Bliar/Brown/Darling, and nobody can do a better job than CM there. All the worried Pensioners who have now been persuaded to vote YES, will want someone in charge there who will make sure at least $40 of every $107 of crude oil pumped there goes towards paying their pensions.
As noted repeatedly above *Tony Blair* has indicated his displeasure regarding independence. Please forgive me for drifting off topic to record this gem, out today:
http://en.tengrinews.kz/politics_sub/Tony-Blair-to-contribute-to-book-on-Kazakhstani-Constitution-256145/
For those not already numb with disbelief at the Dear Ex-Leader’s continuing impostures, he was in Kiev at the Yalta* European Strategy Forum, where he was offering his thoughts on ‘reconciliation’.
To a mixed reception:
https://twitter.com/SimonOstrovsky/status/510742916562964480
*Yalta, in Crimea, was, er, taken, of course.
Torygraph ICM Poll Yes 54% No 46%
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11094489/Scottish-independence-polls-show-its-too-close-to-call.html
Craig I seem to remember you once saying that Nadira did not want to live in Scotland. Has she changed her mind in the eventuality that you have to move? Hope that is not too personal a question. If it is, please ignore.
~~
Have just come indoors. Sky News have all the warmongers on. Dannatt. Bob Stewart. A terrrr expert Andrew Silke. Plus repeats of Cameron’s call to arms. ‘Parliament will not be recalled’. I wasn’t aware they were on holiday again. 🙂
Good comments from Fiona Mathieson:
“I was late in joining the yes campaign only becoming politicised in the last 2 months as the light bulb slowly went on.”
“However, onwards and upwards as we continue to engage with our sense of humour, passion and creativity in these last few days of the campaign.”
——————————————————–
Once independent the Scottish people should not slumber but stay strong and demand a proper democracy and a fully accountable parliament.
Perhaps one day the English and Welsh will realise they can do the same.
Hear hear to what Fiona said.
“will want someone in charge there who will make sure at least $40 of every $107 of crude oil pumped there goes towards paying their pensions.”
Strange how this is to be the first priority rather than investing the $40 to strengthen the economy so that it is in the position to generate the revenues to pay future pensioners. Lets hope Just Saying is not in charge of the Exchequer.
Habba
It doesn’t look as John Bell is too keen to claim John Stuart Mill for Scotland.
Here is the inspiring story behind the huge YES on castle rock in Edinburgh just in time for the Orange march and it proves that the fearmongering of the NO campaign – in this case,the false story propagated by Gordon Brown about organ transplants which amounts to blackmail – is self-defeating.
http://wingsoverscotland.com/we-are-not-afraid/#more-61705
In a desperate move to stymie the YES vote, Lady Porter has now threatened to move to Scotland by 31st March 2015, in response to yet another leading question by the gavineslers and nickrobinsons, and that she hopes the YES voters will be horrified into voting NO to prevent such a catastrophe.
Craig has done well to open people’s eyes to the rotten state we are in, but he is cruel to lead people to believe that separatism is the solution.
Scottish nationalism, indeed any kind of nationalism, is a distraction, deliberately calculated to divert the people’s anger down avenues that do not threaten those who hold the real power over us.
Vote No.
dear John Bell
Thanks for your first post here. I feel that one ought to apologise for the rude welcome you have received by our resident troglidyte.
“Yes, you’re just sayin’ bollocks.
Of course people like you would find that anyone disagreeing with the official message on here ” detracts from the flow of the threads and the enjoyment of the blog”.
Put your “enjoyment” up your backside, sock-puppet.”
The last sentence was not a come one, do not worry, he rather reflects from himself on to others, forgive him cause he does not know what he’s saying, all the yes support has dulled his two brain cells.
So please do post again, John Bell, everyone is welcome here.
Resident Dissident
““will want someone in charge there who will make sure at least $40 of every $107 of crude oil pumped there goes towards paying their pensions.”
Strange how this is to be the first priority rather than investing the $40 to strengthen the economy so that it is in the position to generate the revenues to pay future pensioners. Lets hope Just Saying is not in charge of the Exchequer.”
_______________
Exactly my thought as well.
But no doubt the money would be wasted on bribes to the electorate, sustaining unsustainable expenditure and all sorts of other nonsense, just as happened in the UK.
That’s because Scotch politics and Scotch politicians will be….different! 🙂
It is well known the united gay voter segment (approx 4%) votes in line with the FOIs, has bibi;s recent Gaza massacre upset the sensitive dears or has Salmond promised them a Gay Pride National holiday in an independent Scotland, although so far none have come out (sorry) in favour of either side.
Never Had A Mind
“So please do post again, John Bell, everyone is welcome here.”
__________________
Absolutely right, Ingo, everyone’s welcome – even people like “Mr Bell” who don’t believe that everyone should be welcome.
Think about it.
There was I thinking Scotch was whisky. Tut. Tut.
Good to hear you’re going back North.Any more events in Fife?
What a superb letter to get ,and it’s a pat on the back to you for opening so many eyes.
There’s something very rotten in our State.The stir the referendum has made will not go away
no matter what the result.
Can’t help feeling that the Cobra meeting this morning decided to wait on a No before approving bombing Syria.Hell,if its a yes,they might go ahead anyway.
@Double-trollble – dumbkopfs,the oil $40 is only for starters(there is £2 trillion still under the N Sea,ask Alex Salmond he used to be an oil economist) then there will be so much tourism/remittance money coming in from a resurgent 40m plus worldwide Scots diaspora,that I will have (as Chancellor) free internet,transport and education for ANYBODY (including hasbara hounds) who needs it. All in the best Scottish tradition of socialism of course.
Anyone using Scotch for the people are obviously not as clever as they would like to think.
Talk about scotch egg on the face?!
What’s making me think that Yes will prevail, absent organized election theft, is seeing the telegraph come unglued at the sight of public happiness in Scotland
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/article/revolution-and-public-happiness/
What exalted them in Central Europe two decades ago they see as frightening lunacy at here at home. They always expected that the Scottish people would be reasonable and submit. Welcome to Honecker’s world.