I have been in Cruden Bay the last few days, where Nadira had been for some time shooting a film she has both written and produced. It is a short drama, a harrowing tale of torture victims who have applied for political asylum in the UK and are now in immigration detention on the “fast track”. The script is based on numerous interviews with genuine torture victims, refugees, lawyers, NGOs and policemen. One of the things the film does is highlight the work of Medical Justice, who do quite amazing work.
The film now enters post-production and I will keep you informed.
It was a bit weird to be in Peterhead in December enjoying the warm breeze. I recall some years ago wondering whether the effects of climate change would really become indisputable during my lifetime. I think I have my answer.
The last thread on the SNP caused a very interesting debate, before it eventually declined into the usual suspects banging on about Freemasons etc. I took from those comments this contribution from Peter A Bell, which is quite thoughtful, apart from the lazy device of starting by stating an argument I had not actually made and then attributing it to me and characterising it as ludicrous. The rest is worth engaging with though, and when I get recovered a bit I shall engage with it. Meantime, fill your boots.
Of all the ridiculous conspiracy theories that roil in the minds of those with a taste for such nonsense few are more ludicrous than the notion that the Scottish National Party is actively engaged in thwarting the aspirations of those who would see Scotland’s rightful constitutional status restored. A pleasing reverie might be one in which these conspiracy theorists are locked in a room with those who just as fervently insist that the SNP is obsessively focused on the constitutional question to the exclusion of all else – there to beat the folly out of one another with rolled-up copies of their comic-book version of the world.
Reality comprises the grey-scale vastness between these two simplistic extremes.
Here is the news! The campaign for independence can proceed in a variety of ways. Some of those ways are more subtle than a chant of, “What do we want? Independence! When do we want it? NOW!”. The independence campaign was undoubtedly much more fun when it was such a distant prospect that we didn’t have to concern ourselves to much about the niceties of the process of becoming independent. It was all so easy when independence was below a far horizon and it was sufficient that we were headed in the right general direction. It’s all got al lot more complicated now that we are close enough for small course correction to matter.
Almost as laughable as the notion of the SNP having abandoned its commitment to independence is the idea that, having successfully navigated to within sight of our destination, we should now start questioning the party’s suitability for the task of completing the journey. Not that anybody has any sensible suggestions as to who might take up the role at this late date. Apparently, we must doubt the SNP simply because we can.
It’s all too easy to imagine Craig Murray as part of a committee inspecting the almost completed artwork on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and debating whether Michelangelo is the right man to finish the job. After all, he doesn’t seem as excited about the job as he was four years ago, talking more now about the practicalities of the task rather than the grand vision. There’s bound to be some enthusiastic youngsters who are itching to have a go!
The practicalities of becoming independent matter. They matter in a way that they didn’t really when I first engaged with the independence campaign half a century ago. The world has moved on. Things have changed. Not the least of these changes is that the British establishment is now engaged with the campaign as well. We are no longer just fighting for something. We are fighting against a massively powerful force utterly determined to preserve its power and status.
The ground on which the constitutional battle is being fought has also changed. In many ways, to the advantage of the independence campaign. Tactics must be adjusted accordingly. Never losing sight of the fact that the battle has to be won within the territory of the British political system. We need to fight clever every bit as much as we need to fight hard.
That is what the SNP is doing. It is fighting clever. Within the context of the British political system, size matters. Electoral clout is important. A massive mandate is a mighty weapon. The SNP must work to gain and hold this mandate in both the Holyrood and the Westminster arenas. It has a dual role as both the party of government and the political arm of the independence movement. It has to succeed in both roles. More than that. It has to succeed on a grand scale. If it is to be the lever which prises the millstone of the British state off Scotland’s back, the SNP needs exceptional political power. The kind of power which, to be perfectly frank, we would be sensibly cautious about handing to any political party. Needs must when necessity drives.
We have to put our trust in the SNP for the simple reason that there is nobody else. The people of Scotland have, by the exercise of their democratic power, chosen the SNP as their agents. There is unprecedented agreement that the SNP is best placed to defend and advance Scotland’s interests. There is not the same consensus about what those interests are. The party must seek to satisfy both those who are committed to independence and those who are not yet persuaded, even though they are happy to accept the party in its administrative role. There is no other party in a position to do this. Quite simply, there is no path to independence on any reasonable time-scale which does not have the SNP taking a lead role.
Once we reconcile ourselves to this hard fact of realpolitik, we start to see the SNP’s manoeuvrings in a different light. If the SNP group at Westminster appears to be “settling in”, maybe it’s because that’s how they have to appear in order to be effective. Bear in mind that they are struggling against the Westminster elite’s quite blatant efforts to sideline and exclude them. Vociferous protests and flashmob-style walk-outs might be great theatre. But does this not simply play into the narrative that the unionist parties and their friends in the media want to create?
As the Scottish Parliament elections loom, is it not appropriate for the SNP to be talking about the reasons voters should continue to trust them to run the country, rather than conforming to the unionist caricature of a single-issue protest party?
If the SNP isn’t saying much about a second independence referendum is that not because that particular ball is now at our feet? Has Nicola Sturgeon not made it abundantly clear that she wants the campaign for another referendum to be lead by the people rather than the politicians?
There is more than a bit of intellectual posturing about sniping at the SNP for supposedly abandoning the fight for independence. The party may not be perfect. But there is no rational reason to doubt its commitment to bringing Scotland’s government home. The lack of any justification makes this look like criticism for its own sake. I have to ask, what’s the point?
Giyane, the Cricket Club is the work of the Devil! Imperialist game! Sixes, fours… The thwack of leather! A Green Pornography. Think: All those sandwiches, all those cucumbers.
To paraquote Uncle Karl: “The cucumber is the opiate of the asses!”
“But the media are now completely controlled by the government (mostly Washington).”
In Scotland they’re controlled by the Scottish government.
I can only conclude that we are ruled by people who are completely insane, voted in by people suffering from dementia.
God bless sanity.
O/T Everyone is aware that the Editors want to shut down the Media Lens Message Board? A matter of time and energy related to moderation, as far as I can see.
http://members5.boardhost.com/medialens/msg/1450694905.html
@Suhayl
Sorry I missed that long ago coffee date in Glasgow (‘cos I fell sore off my motorbike). But haven’t we both (interestingly) changed our tunes.
Suhayl then: No SNP
Vronsky then: SNP
Suhayl now: SNP
Vronsky now: No SNP
PS: I did eventually find my pirate recordings of the Russian TV Zhivago. You have my email if you want them.
PPS: Always nice to hear from you.
——-
[ Mod: Caught in spam-filter, timestamp updated ]
Independence When – from illegal occupation.
Day after day the atrocities continue, no respite, no mercy, systematic genocide.
sumMary for 18 December 2015:
Israeli Gaza ceasefire violations: 1 dead – 34 wounded
Israeli Army position opens fire on Gaza farms
Israeli Army Gaza incursion – crops bulldozed
Israeli soldiers terrorise 14-year-old boy
Occupation settlers beat up and hospitalise Palestinian child
Infant tear-gassed in Israeli Army raid on West Bank village
Night peace disruption and/or home invasions in 3 towns and villages
10 attacks (4 Israeli ceasefire violations)
12 raids including home invasions
3 dead – 70 injured
2 acts of agricultural/economic sabotage
13 taken prisoner – 10 detained –
113 restrictions of movement
Rob G
Why would the burden of sanity help? http://dilbert.com/strip/2011-05-18
MJ
“The vote was 55/45. A ten point margin is decisive in my book.”
I take it you were off the day your teacher did percentages?
The argument for Scotland leaving the UK is similar but less credible than UK leaving EU, because your not independent inside the EU and definitely not without your own currency and if SNP are happy to remain part of the EU then they may as well stay part of the UK, in which they will have more clout. I.e. better a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond.
I too am anti the pro-war neo-con establishment, but their hold can be broken with voting reform rather than by breaking up the UK and this prospect is very real because its now in the Labour interest to adopt reform and likely due to their new membership and collapse in Scotland.
Mr Murray may I recommend that you refamiliarise yourself the written press of the Tory establishment this morning and in particular the Torygraph, which runs with Ofcom findings on Mr Sraw and Sir Malcolm.
“We have to put our trust in the SNP for the simple reason that there is nobody else.”
Other Yes parties are available. This is SNP Wonderful propaganda and is just as pernicious to democracy as SNP Baaaad from the unionists.
If you want those in the parliament right now then the Greens are Yes. Amongst those who have been in the parliament previously we have RISE with the SSP as one half of it.
This idea that those of us who are Yes only have the SNP is bogus and anti democratic.
Shame on you Mr Bell.
CanSpeccy
21 Dec, 2015 – 9:56 pm
“That’s the trouble with political discourse: it is dominated by loons who understand virtually nothing of which they speak!
“The temperature anomaly this autumn peaked at 0.4 C above the 1981-2010 mean, which is not surprising as this is an el nino year. The last el nino was in 1998 and the temperature anomaly peaked then at 0.75 C above the 1981-2010 mean. So actually no evidence of a warming trend over the last 30 odd years, certainly no indisputable evidence of global warming.
“But maybe I misunderstand you. Perhaps you mean the evidence of no warming is indisputable, which is open to debate but is more reasonable than what you most probably mean.”
Roy Spencer is a crank CanSpeccy perhaps you are too?
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Roy_Spencer
Thanks muscleguy, I very much hope that Scottish voters will realise the underlying messages of long term change the Greens are advocating and vote for their social justice policies, something to be eluding Peter.
It looks like the sand of Crudden bay is just that little bit more important than preparing policies for an increasingly distant Independent Scotland.
‘Dave’ above says vote Labour, as they’ve plumbed the depths and -trust me, they could not possibly get any worse, lower, disgraced, hence can only improve! We are/they are utter shits, but how silly of you for thinking you deserve or should demand a whole lot better.
Muscleguy, the people’s Sovereign Republic of Jockistan stuff can come later, after independence, if enough people want it. Splitting the Yes/SNP list vote would appear to result in more unionists scraping in on list seats.
Oh dear, the Tory party is subsumed with guilt, for apparently being too biased towards the pro EU position regards funding, and Lord Feldmann, he who knew about the bullying for two years and did nothing to stop it in time to save young Mr. Elliott, allegedly, he is in charge of rectifying the problem.
Well I could not see any of these bias qualms when it came to throwing everything and the kitchen sink at the Indyref for Scotland, it was all bias, desperate bias.
Lord Feldmann should wake up and sort out the filthy bullies, the Tory internal problems that have arisen due to his very self.
“Hi Gillian, yes, I heard of this too via unionist friends and was concerned. On delving deeper it seems that the underspend is required to be planned in because Scotland has no borrowing powers. Without the ability to borrow, there is only a fixed budget, and any unexpected extra costs have to come out of that. Fortunately the money is not lost completely. Rather than being handed back permanently to Westminster it can be spent this coming year.”
But the Scottish government can and does borrow money, an alarming amount of money, they just set up PFIs to borrow the money on their behalf.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/dec/15/scotland-debt-mountain-holyrood-borrowing-could-hit-50bn-by-2020
Worryingly the private firms borrowing on behalf of the government and managing our public works, schools, roads, housing are being kept exempt from the FOI act so the people of Scotland can’t find out what our government is doing.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14160140.Failure_to_extend_FoI_leaves_Government__working_in_the_shadows_/
Fred:
Don’t try and persuade them with facts, it’s like talking to Jehovah’s Witnesses. Just ignore them and eventually they’ll go away.
Fred : They have so bullied and intimidated the media few dare speak against them for fear of a baying mob outside their premises.
Please tell me which of the following haven’t criticised the SNP. Or are you talking crap?
BBC Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
ITV Border
BBC Alba
STV
BBC Radio nan Gaidheal
Radio Borders
Bute FM
Central 103.1 FM
Cuillin FM
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal
Heart Digital
Heart Scotland
Inverness Hospital Radio
Isles FM
Jubilee1
Kingdom FM
L107
Mearns FM
Moray Firth Radio
NECR
Nevis Radio
Northsound 1
Northsound 2
Northsound Radio
Original 106 (Aberdeen)
BBC Radio Orkney
Peninsula FM
Radio Free Scotland
Radio Grapevine
Radio West Fife
Revival FM
River FM
Scot FM
Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Shetland
SIBC
Smooth Glasgow
The Superstation Orkney
Two Lochs Radio
Valley FM (Scotland)
Victoria Radio Network
Waves FM
West FM
West Sound (Ayrshire)
West Sound (Dumfries and Galloway)
The Herald
The Scotsman
The Daily Record
Greenock Telegraph
Paisley Daily Express
Edinburgh Evening News
Evening Express
Evening Telegraph
Evening Times
The Daily Telegraph (Scottish edition
The Times (Scottish edition)
Scottish Daily Express
Scottish Daily Mail
Daily Star of Scotland
Scottish Daily Mirror
The Scottish Sun
Sunday Mail
Sunday Post
Sunday Herald
Scotland on Sunday
Courier
Advertiser
Press and Journal
The Sunday Times Scotland
The Sunday Telegraph Scotland
Mail on Sunday Scotland
Scottish Sunday Express
Scottish Sunday Mirror
Banffshire Journal
Buchan Observer
Deeside Piper
Donside Piper
Ellon Advertiser
Ellon Times & East Gordon Advertiser
Fraserburgh Herald
Huntly Express
Inverurie Advertiser
Inverurie Herald
Kincardineshire Observer
Mearns Leader
North East Weekly
Turriff Advertiser
Arbroath Herald
Brechin Advertiser
Carnoustie Guide & Gazette
Forfar Dispatch & Kirriemuir Herald
Montrose Review
The Buteman
Campbeltown Courier incorporating Argyllshire Advertiser
Dunoon Observer and Argyllshire Standard
Helensburgh Advertiser
The Ileach
Oban Times
Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser
Annandale Herald
Annandale Observer
Dumfries & Galloway Standard
Dumfries Courier
Eskdale and Liddesdale Advertiser
Galloway Gazette
Galloway News
Moffat News
Stranraer and Wigtownshire Free Press
Cumnock Chronicle
Kilmarnock Standard
Kirkintilloch Herald
Milngavie & Bearsden Herald
Strathkelvin Advertiser
East Lothian Courier
East Lothian News
Barrhead News
Queensferry Gazette
Bo’ness Journal
Falkirk Herald
Central Fife Times and Advertiser
Dunfermline Press
East Fife Mail
Fife & Kinross Extra
Fife Free Press
Fife Herald
Glenrothes Gazette
St Andrews Citizen
Caithness Courier
Highland News
The Inverness Courier
Inverness Herald
John O’Groat Journal
Lochaber News
Nairnshire Telegraph
North Star
The Northern Times
Rossshire Herald
Rossshire Journal
Strathspey & Badenoch Herald
Ullapool News
West Highland Free Press
Lothian and Peebles Times
Midlothian Advertiser
Banffshire Advertiser
Forres Gazette
Northern Scot
Northern Scot Midweek Extra
Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald
Arran Banner
Irvine Herald
Irvine Times
Largs and Millport Weekly News
North Ayrshire World
Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Cumbernauld News & Kilsyth Chronicle
Motherwell Times & Bellshill Speaker
Wishaw Press
The Orcadian
Blairgowrie Advertiser
Perthshire Advertiser (bi-weekly)
Strathearn Herald
The Advertizer – formerly the Kilmacolm Advertiser
Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette
Paisley People
Berwickshire News
Border Telegraph
Hawick News
Peeblesshire News
Selkirk Advertiser
Southern Reporter
Shetland Times
Ayr Advertiser
Ayrshire Post
Carrick Gazette
Troon Times
East Kilbride News
Hamilton Advertiser
Lanark Gazette & Carluke Gazette
Rutherglen Reformer
Strathaven Echoes
Allanwater Herald
Stirling News
Stirling Observer
Clydebank Post
Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter
Lennox Herald
Linlithgowshire Gazette
West Lothian Courier
Stornoway Gazette
“Please tell me which of the following haven’t criticised the SNP. Or are you talking crap?”
So why aren’t I seeing this on the BBC or STV?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/every-days-ra-day-primary-7054925
Fred : So why aren’t I seeing this on the BBC or STV?
Fred …. STOP!! GET A GRIP!!. Take a deep breath. Now read that story you’ve linked to, then ask yourself :
(1) Why did you think that story reflected badly on the SNP?
(2) Has your obsession with the SNP caused you to lose your sense of proportion?
OK, now I’m trying to do you a favour here, Fred, so concentrate on this one especially.
(3) Your claim that the media dare not criticise the SNP – upon reflection, do you not see that it is demonstrably ridiculous and destroys any remaining shreds of credibility you may have had?
“Fred …. STOP!! GET A GRIP!!.”
I have a grip.
Why wasn’t I seeing that on the BBC or STV?
It may not worry you primary school children being taught by a member of the IRA but I can assure you to the majority in Scotland who are not Nationalists it is important.
Silly girl.
Nothing to do with the SNP though, Fred.
Doesn’t say she’s a member of the IRA neither, Fred.
Did you just make those bits up yourself.
A primary teacher referring to ‘Orange xxxxxx’s’* in Scotland must be so astonishingly stupid that her ability to teach anyone anything is seriously in doubt. A P45 job in anyone’s book. But simply supporting the IRA wouldn’t put me up or down. I was taught by Tories, and I was free to decide that they were assholes as my perception developed.
*Or, equally, Fenian ones.
“Nothing to do with the SNP though, Fred.
Doesn’t say she’s a member of the IRA neither, Fred.”
You think she’s a Unionist just fancied having her photo taken with Nicola Sturgeon do you?
I’m not surprised some here are trying to play it down and see nothing wrong with it but the question still remains why it isn’t headline news on BBC and STV.
I wonder if she’s one of the Named Persons, they said there would be a lot of school teachers among them, we have a right to know.
You lied when you said she was a member of the IRA, Fred.
Simple as.
My guess is that she’s not a Unionist, sure, but still, nothing to do with the SNP.
When you have to make up dirt on the SNP, then that probably shows there’s not a lot of it about.
Cos I know you’re looking for it Fred, and not finding anything.
Hence the need for embellishment.
Ever thought of applying for a job with Fox.
“You lied when you said she was a member of the IRA, Fred.”
She calls herself “Provo Princess”, why should she call herself a Provo if she isn’t one?
How come you want to turn attention away from school children being taught nationalism and republicanism by a member of the IRA and more importantly why it isn’t headline news by attacking me and calling me a liar?
Those really are shitty tactics but what I’ve come to expect on this blog.
I’m just turning attention away from the SNP, Fred.
Given your last effort, seems I was successful, eh.
I’ll not further labour the distinction between member of and supporter of the IRA, other than to restate the fact that you knowingly lied.
“I’ll not further labour the distinction between member of and supporter of the IRA, other than to restate the fact that you knowingly lied.”
She claims to be a Provo on twitter, Provisional Irish Republican Army, unlawful terrorist group.
Your evidence she isn’t?
How come you want to turn attention away from school children being taught nationalism and republicanism by a member of the IRA and more importantly why it isn’t headline news by attacking me and calling me a liar?
Were the children being taught nationalism and republicanism, Fred? Doesn’t say so in the article, and that would still be sub judice anyway. Was she a member of the IRA? Doesn’t say. Could have just been a silly cow, as far as the article actually goes. And take your pick about the SNP, which you never lose an opportunity to smear (bet you wish they’d had Janner), because the SNP has (a) consistently opposed violence and (b) doesn’t accept dual-membership.
Wow. There’s a hell of a lot of Scots kids being actively taught unionism and monarchism, though, Fred. That’s not headline news, either. Do try to be balanced.
“Wow. There’s a hell of a lot of Scots kids being actively taught unionism and monarchism, though, Fred. That’s not headline news, either. Do try to be balanced.”
But why isn’t it being reported in the Scottish media?