Scottish Independence Guide: Letters to the Editor

Dear SIG,

I am a proud Irishman and support your non violent struggle for independence. I am privy to a lot of so called 'British' media and it does irritate me when i read or hear an article which describes a particular person as successful in her field, be it acting, sport, literature etc, that person is often labelled as 'British' whereas if he/she is not so successful or is seen as some form of social pariah he/she suddenly is overtly a Scot/Irish or Welsh etc!!! I think this is typical of an arrogant English attitude but also evincing an national deep rooted insecurity and your first contributor 'Jordan' is a prime example of ignorance coupled with arrogance.

I also hope that the nomenclature of 'nationalism' doesn't become the dirty word it assumed in Irish politics.

I also agree with your comments on nationalism, I think it is a concept which has been hijacked by extremist racists and fascists and in itself is not a bad notion to aspire to once it is inclusive and positive and no more an a platform to convoke a recognition of shared beliefs and attitudes, i.e. the hallmark of a shared cultural identity.

I wish you luck and a peaceful and prosperous independent future.

Best wishes

Wayne

Cheers Wayne. Your comments are much appreciated. Thanks to everyone btw who has written to us recently. SIG

Dear SIG.

I just read the letter from UK JORDAN, Utter drivel is right. I believe he has summed up the main reason we as Scots must and will leave the union forever and prosper on our own. He sounds like all the other English liars who rule through threat and deceit. Apparently he has no idea how the world works. I am happy he is proud of his country and wants to stay English. Hope he likes living in a fading country. I myself will stay Scot and be a free man. Your reply to him was wonderful and full of the truth of history and the lies of the English government.

SIG does a truelly wonderful job please keep putting our words up for all to read even those who have no clue of what they are talking about or those who simply disagree with us. By doing so we have an even better chance of turning them towards freedom from the chains we live under and the theft of our riches to pay for the English lies and way of life. I have waited 50 years to see it get better for Scotland as the unionist say it is and will be. Well I have news for you. it hasn't gotten better, its not getting better under Labour or England in general. it will get better as the SNP takes charge and gets things done. Most of all get us out of the union.

We will not only last longer by our self we will prosper magnificently. Maybe UK JORDAN does not know the sun set on his British empire a very long time ago. it has been a fading star for many years with no real power or strength. soon England will fade into a state of total apathy and near obscurity. Now England has become a puppet of the USA.

WAKE UP UK JORDAN LOOK AROUND YOU AND SEE THE REALITY. Its you who needs to get in touch with reality and a life.

With all due respect to all mentioned in my letter

Calum Anderson DSC, LOM (SGTM Ret)

Thanks for the support Calum Sadly there seem to still be a couple of deluded souls out there like our latest correspondent:

So you clowns want a free scotland no thanks i do not want a cathoilc run scotland we protestants will fight you to still in the union god bless the queen 1690

ROB - UK REDNECK

Divide 'n' rule lives on, but most people with any sense (unlike this guy) know that to win independence we need to stick together and not be divided by sectarian nonsense. The nickname says it all! SIG

There is a mistake in the 'who are the scots?' section. In the text it says 'The official language is English, although Gaelic is spoken, primarily in the North and West of Scotland'. Actually English is the de facto language and is not the official unlike Gaelic which as of 2005 is actually the official language.

Jamie

An interesting point. The vast majority of people in Scotland speak English and most official documents, road signs, court proceedings, newspapers, media, TV  etc are in English so this would tend to suggest English is the official language. 

Dear SIG,

I just wanted to congratulate you on a very cool site. Since the SNP have won the Scottish elections and are now running a minority government Scottish independence is higher up the political agenda than ever before.

Thanks for all your efforts on Scotland's behalf. I firmly believe that within the next ten years (at the most!) we will have voted for independence. 

Keep up the good work.

Mark Duncan

Thanks for the message of support Mark, much appreciated. SIG

Some background music you may wish to consider.

www.hazelwhyte.com

There's a lot of it - Hazel would probably donate if contacted through her website.

Bill Lewry

Thanks for the tip Bill. We've recently updated the MP3 jukebox on the music page and we will be adding more music soon.

Dear SIG,

I fully support your cause but your images of Scottish heroes of independence show Robert the Bruce as Robert the Bruce, Robert Burns as Robert Burns and Mel Gibson as William Wallace. There seems to be a problem here. As you well know Braveheart was ignorant and historically incorrect. Perhaps a better image to use would be an image of William Wallace. William Wallace is a national hero. He is not a drunken anti-semite as Mr Gibson is.

Please have a think about it

Regards

Christopher Robert Bruce

What we actually have is a painting of Burns, a statue of Bruce and a modern actors depiction of William Wallace. While I agree there were some historical inaccuracies in Braveheart here at the SIG we still enjoyed the film and its message and we reckon Braveheart made a massive positive worldwide impact for the Scottish independence cause, so because of this we think a wee pic of Mel in his famous role on the site is appropriate. SIG

THIS IS SO STUPID! SCOTLAND WOULD NOT EVEN LAST A DAY WITHOUT ENGLAND! EVERY SINGLE COUNTRY HAS ITS PROBLEMS! SO LEAVE BECAUSE YOU DONT GET YOUR WAY. HOW DUMB. UNITED MEANS TOGETHER, WORKING TOGETHER OVER PROBLEMS AND TRIALS AND GOING TO WAR TOGETHER AND BEING PROUD TO DIE FOR YOUR COUNTRY! UNITED KINGDOM FOREVER! I ♥ UK JORDAN

Ah, the British perspective rears its ugly head at last. Would England last a day without Scotland?* Do you find it patronising to be asked that question? Gee I wonder why! Britain /UK is not a country it is a union between three and a quarter countries (and an unacknowledged one, Cornwall).

It's not working any more and part of the reason for that is patronising dolts like yourself who attack Scotland. I'm Scots not British and 83% of my countrymen think the same way as me. If you were a proud Englishman rather than a foolish Brit with a post imperialist inferiority complex you might be able to develop an identity which does not define itself by attempting to dominate other countries.

It is really pretty sad that you feel you have to pretend Scotland is reliant on England to survive when in actual fact Scotland's long term economic prosperity was guaranteed in the 70's with North Sea Oil, or at least it would have been if the British Government hadn't lied about it because it needed Scotland's wealth to prop up a desperately failing English economy.

Why not have the Saltire, St George's Cross and Welsh Dragon flying at the UN? There are loads of countries out there who are a lot smaller than Scotland and do a lot better. You are clearly an eejit but I will attempt to educate you. Read a book called 'Rule Brittania' by Daphne Du Maurier. In that book (set in Cornwall) the UK is forced militarily into a union with the US, the UK will still get seats in the US Government and there will be a joint presidency/monarch (the proposed new country is renamed USUK and it's planned to turn the UK bit into a large theme park for American tourists).

If you don't find that idea of 'union' enticing then you might begin to understand Scotland's perspective on the British union!

Scottish independence is inevitable and it will benefit England as well.

Open your eyes. SIG

* Answer: Yes, of course it would. A stupid question but no stupider than your own.

Jordan replies:

For your info..UK is a country, and Its Scotland that would die without England, the reason why Scotland joined England was because we have power, and we can threaten to block off your food supply whenever we like to. And why would I read a book most likely to be rubbish?? Wales wants to stay with England, they are good British citizens, unlike you. I'm proud to fly the Union Jack and call myself British. And I wont have a little twerp like you take that away from me. Open YOUR eyes, and close your mouth.

United Kingdom WILL forever stand. The Union Jack will forever fly.

P.S. Scotland would be gone without the English colonies of St. Helena, Cayman Is, British Virgin is, and British Indian Ocean Territory, Burmunda, etc. and there economy. Get a life

What utter drivel. SIG

Dear SIG

Hello my name is Lorne Crowder I am from Albuquerque New Mexico. Although I am American I come from a long line of Scots and Irish freedom fighters Ii would like to let you know that I support your cause 100% and would proudly die for Scotland's cause.

Great to here from you Lorne. Your commitment to our cause is much appreciated. Luckily Scotland will be able to get our independence entirely peacefully through the ballot box. All the best - SIG

Dear SIG

I was forwarded on one of your YouTube Scottish videos by a friend who knows I love The Proclaimers. Just writing to make contact. Scots In London are apolitical - but we do have relaxed links with most major Scottish political groups. We are pro-Scots/Scotland and all things Scottish. We'll be launching a new slick website very soon.

Cheers,

Eddie (Founder and Promoter, Scots In London www.scotsinlondon.com)

Great to here from you and your group Eddie. Your website is very cool and if you can give us a plug on it we would be much obliged. SIG

Saor Alba.

Dear SIG,

Recently I returned to this island after being gone for 36 years in the USA where I served 25 years in the USA Army Rangers. I am shocked at the state of the government in London. My father is Scottish, I am Scottish and soon I will move with my new wife and kids back to Stirling and away from the corruption I see all through this place called England. Every day I see the lies and deceit, It makes me ill to see how the politicians kiss all the babies while they steal their lolly pops.

No matter what Blair or anyone says about the consequences of independence I think it is the best and most important thing we can do so we as Scots can set up a Government without all the lies and back biting and corruption. I listen to the House of Commons debates and the wrangling that goes on here and I realise how much I must go from this place to my proper and true home, a land of honour and kin. I am proud to say "Tha mi a Alba" and wear my kilt. I never say I'm British or English. I would rather fight for freedom than die a slave to corruption. Count me in the front lines.

Don't you dare stop what you do, Keep our voice heard and loud. Thank you

Calum G Anderson-Gillard

Thank you Calum. Your support is much appreciated.

Guys, Like your site, it's the bizz. I think it's well laid out, easy to use, a good job and puts across the message, but one slightly irritating thing,- each time I come in I get a pop-up javascript runtime error dialog box. You should fix this as you get a poor impression of the site first time in. Hope this helps.  Keep up the good work - believe - Jim

Hey Jim, thanks for the comments, any idea how to fix that? It's not something we've noticed before.

All the best - SIG

Dear SIG,

The British state is riddled with incompetence, corruption and abuse of power. An independent Scotland should have a written constitution which lays down mechanisms to counter these dangers. Investigators, prosecutors and judges should be drawn at random from a large pool of qualified people, just like juries.

The first step to a constitution for an independent Scotland should be to enact a draft constitution which will come into force when Independence is formally declared. This should simply consists of the rules for amending the constitution. It should ensure that amendments can only be put forward if they are supported by a certain percentage of the population, and can only be passed by referendum. It should also seek to ensure that all sides in any debate have equal access to the media & equal resources, so that the debate is settled by the quality of the arguments, and not by any other factors. Amendments could be debated & passed before Independence is declared.

R.A.McCartney

You are right and a written constitution would be required, the only question is how would it be effectively and democratically created. Have you considered joining the Independence Convention? If you feel passionately about this subject you probably should. Cheers SIG.

Dear SIG,

If like me you are fed up walking through Glasgow and looking at the statues of failed unionist politicians then I ask you to sign this petition that asks the Scottish parliament to erect a statue in George Square to honour the heroes of the Scottish wars of independence not just to remember Bruce and Wallace But All The Heroes Of Scotland of that time The Scottish People who gave their lives so their country could be free

David Turner

http://www.petitiononline.com/arb1320/petition.html

Done David. I hope a few other visitors to the site will do the same and we'll add a link to the forum about it. All the best SIG

Dear SIG,

SAOR ALBA !

Please sign this petition http://www.pledgebank.com/Cornish-Tick-Box

The English and Welsh have been permitted a tick box option for the next Census 2011, but the government said recently that one of the original indigenous groups of these Isles, the Cornish, are to be refused. The government informs us that only 37,000 people claimed Cornish ethnicity at the last 2001 census (ie. stated they were not English or British) and that this number is "too small" to warrant a tick box as an ethnic group. The Cornish were allocated an ethnic code of '06' for the last census, however to claim to be Cornish you had to first deny being British, by crossing out the British option, and then write in Cornish in the 'others' box. Additionally the decision to collect information on the Cornish identity was extremely badly publicised and most were unaware of the new code. How many more would have described themselves as Cornish if they did not have to deny being British or if there had been a Cornish tick box ? How many people knew that it was an option ? How many ticked British but feel themselves to be Cornish British ?

The Cornish have been rendered invisible by previous censuses by the UK government. They are an indigenous national minority of the United Kingdom, possessors of a recognised minority language of these islands under the Council of Europe's Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. If the UK government has made legal undertakings with the Council of Europe to take "resolute" action in support of the language, how on Earth is it going to measure its compliance with international legal obligations with respect both to this language and to the people associated with it, if it does not include relevant tick boxes in forthcoming censuses ?

There is a government ONS meeting (open to the public) at Cardiff City Hall on 16th March 2007 'to develop views on the content of the 2011 Census' and amongst others, the Cornish Branch of the Celtic League will be attending along with their Welsh brethren giving support. Please pass this information on and help support the cause !

'No Cornish - No Census !' Kernow Bys Vyken !

Free Kernow

http://www.pledgebank.com/Cornish-Tick-Box

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/events/2011Census_updated/default.asp

http://www.cornishnotenglish.com/

It's great to hear from Kernow, I hope everyone here will sign this petition. We'll add the links to the Cornish page. Your struggle is our struggle. SIG

Dear SIG

I am the seventh generation from the Highland clearances, via North Ireland, New Brunswick, Minnesota and most recently Oregon. I say A pox on British Patrimony, over on this side of the sea, MacGregor is Rising...

David Brendah

Thanks David, great to hear from you. SIG

Dear SIG,

This year Scotland will go to the polls, the daggers are drawn and the back biting has began, the political football is already in progress and if the political parties are dismayed by the apathy shown by in the voters' it is their own fault, for they have not come up with anything new and are still quoting the same ideology or should I call idiotology for some of the proposals that they come up with are not based on common sense.

I have seen in this country stripped of its industry by political ideology, have seen the best health service in the world reduced to do a shambles, similarly with education. I have also seen the country brought back to reality by a virtual dictator only to see it reduced once again to a shambles. We are paying higher taxes and getting reduced services. We will soon be paying to keep them in their offices and the streets covered in debris because there will not be sufficient money to pay for the cleaning. This has got to stop and we can no longer go on the way we are going and a new direction is now required. We can no longer depend on political ideology to run this country and I am going to suggest a new approach to governing it. Two and a half thousand years ago a Philosopher said that country should to run and for the benefit of the people and not for the rulers.

What I am going to suggest is, that a hundred men and women who will put the country before themselves and run this country as a business for the benefit of the people. The task will be fraught with difficulties for they will have to fight corruption, blackmail extortion and all that troubles that we halve at the present moment. To do this the country must be independent and not troubled with rules and regulations to hamper them.

Is there a hundred men and women in this country who will do this and grab the Scotch Thistle with their bare hands and say Wha Daur Meddle Wi Me and lead this country to a better future.

JM Low

Thanks for that. Once we are independent hopefully the quality of our representatives will improve. At least we would have people in there who believe in Scotland first and foremost rather than running it as some kind of colonial outpost. SIG

Dear SIG,

Hello and Happy New Year to you all, I am very much for an independent Scotland. I want to travel to Scotland for the holidays at the end of 2007. Let me know your suggestions for a great trip.

Barbara A Murchison, California

Hi Barbara,

Your best bet is http://www.visitscotland.com/ for travel advice. I would recommend going to the cemetery just below Calton Hill at Waterloo place there's a wonderful monument to Thomas Muir and others in there it's a 90 foot high obelisk and there's a statue of George Washington across from it as well.

The monument to Muir has the following inscription: "To the memory of Thomas Muir, Thomas Fyshe Palmer, William Skirving, Maurice Margarot and Joseph Gerrald. Erected by the Friends of Parliamentary Reform in England and Scotland."

On the other side of the obelisk,is a quotation from a speech made by Muir on 30th August, 1793: "I have devoted myself to the cause of the people. It is a good cause - it shall ultimately prevail - it shall finally triumph."

The Edinburgh castle is obviously great as well and you should try and stay in Edinburgh and get to Glasgow and Stirling (the castle and day tour up there is great as well and will take you to the massive William Wallace Monument which is wonderful).

Apart from that I'm sure the above site will help with your plans.

All the best - SIG

Dear SIG,

I just read that Tony Blair is warning against independence for Scotland. As a Southern nationalist here in North America, I wanted to wish you God speed on regaining your rightful place as a free people. Maybe someday, your country and mine, the Confederate States of America, will both be able to celebrate our liberty.

Emmett Jones

Thanks for the support Emmett.

Dear SIG,

I just found your web site! I have been following the Scottish Independence movement for several years. I don't know all the issues but from here in the United States I support the movement and I pray for the day that Scotland will be independent.

George Ewen (University of Kentucky)

Hi George, great to hear from you. I hope you'll spread the word to some of your friends in the States about the site. Cheers!

Hi, I am an Australian that for some unknown reason has fallen in love with Scotland. Although I know very little about your country my heart is beating faster and warmer as I read the letters and look through your site. I wish you all the love and luck as you endeavour for independence. I hope I get to set foot on Scottish soil soon.

Love

Arna

Thanks Arna, it's great to hear from someone in Australia who is thinking about Scotland. All the best - SIG

Dear SIG,

It would appear that the Unionsman is now censoring anti-Tony Blair comment on its web site. It is time that the Independence movement in Scotland was better represented than merely by the SNP. Is it time to start a 'boycott the Scotsman for Independence' campaign?

I am sick fed up of Westminster's manipulation of the facts - what can I do?

Peter Thomson

Hi Peter,

Some ideas to help the independence cause are here. Re the Britman all you can do is write the truth in a letter to the paper and encourage others to do so and correct their inaccurate stories on their online forums (We've not noticed too much censorship though the odd innocuous comment seems to get binned and they occasionally chop pro indy letters to shreds if they print them). Also it would be very useful if you could help publicise this site to try and redress the balance.

We'll get there.

All the best - SIG

Dear SIG,

When the referendum is given and the campaign is going I suggest Cap In Hand by the Proclaimers is played. It would really annoy the Scottish Unionists.

Kevin O'Leary.

Hey Kevin, it's a great song and a good shout. It's on the MP3 jukebox from the main (and music) pages for anyone out there who hasn't heard it yet. 

Dear SIG

I was wondering if you could answer a query I have - If we gain Independence and we stay a constitutional monarchy, would there be a referendum to decide whether we keep the British monarch or elect a new monarch as King or Queen of Scots with a separate dynasty and monarchy/Kingdom we would be truly independent from the rest of the UK - as we become separate of the Union we would logically become a separate Kingdom again, is this correct - sorry to be so annoying with a rather lengthy and confusing question, thanks for your time.

Sean

Thanks for your query Sean, that's what the site is for! The official position of the SNP (who would likely be the largest party in any post independence negotiations) is that post independence we would remain a part of the Commonwealth and would retain the current queen as head of state.

A vote for independence would end the political union of 1707 but we would theoretically still retain the 1603 union of crowns until there was a firm decision to reverse it. The SNP is pledged to a referendum on the issue post independence however, and many pro independence people (like the SSP and SRSM) are republicans. .

Personally I favour a republic and I imagine that there are very few people who would want to retain the British Queen after the break up of the British state.

Personally I think the person who sits in the room and suggests retaining the Queen in post independence negotiations will be treated with the contempt they deserve!

Re Scottish contenders the main legitimate claimant to the Scottish throne seems to be Duke Franz of Bavaria who has no interest in Scotland. The other claimant is 'Prince Michael of Albany' who is very positive about independence but unfortunately also seems to be something of a fraud.

Dear SIG,

For it to be possible for a Scot, Gordon Brown, to be a contender for the English Premier's job, when the English are not allowed to sit in the Scottish parliament is absolute hypocrisy!

Take your independence stand, yes, but then bow out of the English Parliament totally!

Michael Hicks

Hi Michael,

There are a number of English people in the Scottish parliament just as there are quite a few English people who live in Scotland and support Scottish independence.

Anyone who lives here can stand for the Scottish parliament.

If we were independent then Scotland would have no MP's at Westminster therefore as an MP representing a Scottish seat Brown would no longer be there.

Of course Gordon Brown has no interest in Scotland whatsoever so even if Scotland leaves the UK he might still be interested in getting elected to your parliament, though hopefully English electors would tell him to get lost!

All the best - SIG

Dear SIG

I have just got an e mail address and would very much like to contribute to the idea of an independent Scotland. I have enjoyed reading your web-site, not agreeing with everything but it's a bit of fresh air in today's climate.

Cheers x 

Ann Lynch

Hi Ann, thanks for getting in touch. There is quite a few things you could do to help

Sign Independence First's petition at:

http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/view_petition.asp?PetitionID=123

Vote for the Scottish Independence Guide as a 'top political site' which helps top raise our profile via the button on the bottom left or by clicking the link below:

http://members.sitegadgets.com/scripts/topsites.cgi?username=dalriada&ID=60

Visit Independence First's website and consider joining up at www.independence1st.com

Email your friends or text them about the Scottish Independence Guide and ask them to vote for it a well.

If you are interested in contributing to the site then email us an article (or changes to existing articles) we're particularly interested in expanding the music section and keeping the political and news sections up to date

You could also ask Google to add the site as a news source on:

http://www.google.com/support/news/bin/request.py

All the best,

SIG

PS: We would also like to ask everyone to support Independence first's march on 30th September 2006.

More details are available here:

http://www.independence1st.com/IFLeafletPage1.html

Independence First need help with leafletting before the march, please contact their national secretary Carol Roscoe secretary@independence1st.com if you can help in this regard. 

Dear SIG,

I have been contacted by a colleague who has had a brief dialogue with one of your supporters on a Cornish Internet forum. He suggested I made contact with your website in order that we may engage in dialogue to our mutual advantage.

Firstly, a little bit about my background:

I am a stannator of the Cornish Stannary Parliament, an organisation that recently has successfully lodged a case in the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. It is envisaged that the case will come to hearing sometime in the next five years, as it is a particularly complex case.

The issues relate to the lack of a statutory guarantee of equality before the law, in the UK. Central to our argument is the feudal position of the heir to the throne, the Duke of Cornwall, who enjoys a plethora of special privileges and exemptions from the law (in Kernow) which indirectly and directly discriminate against us the indigenous Cornish.

This highly complex case, in our view, has serious implications for the whole of the UK, as it involves a major constitutional issue. There is no doubt at all, in our minds authorities are in a state of moribund paralysis over the status of the Cornish as a national minority on account of this issue. In our case, the state is using a flexible “unwritten” Constitution to deny us our convention rights in breach of Article 17. This it has done to protect a constitutional body that is now masquerading as a “private property development company”, according to the government department (i.e. the Treasury) that administers its financial affairs.

You might be aware of a court case in January 2001 in which the three accused were charged with conspiracy to cause criminal damage to signs belonging to the detested organisation known as “English Heritage” in Cornwall. I was one of the accused. In this example, although not a single newspaper reported it, the central pillar of the defence was law relating to the Duchy of Cornwall. After nine months and 11 court appearances, the state prosecutors obtained a PII (Public Immunity Certificate) which meant that we were unable to use current statute law in our defence. The case was later dropped and “Not Guilty” verdicts were returned by the English judge. This only happened after the authorities discovered that we were intending to ignore their Certificates and were prepared to go to jail as a consequence. The Brit state bends over backwards to avoid any attempt to get the Duchy in court and, despite frequently trying to do so here in Cornwall, there remains no official court records of any such attempts.

I won’t trouble you with any further details but look forward to your contact in the very near future.

Kind regards and Saor Alba!

Dr Nigel Hicks

http://www.cornish-stannary-parliament.abelgratis.com/

Thanks for getting in touch, we've set up a page on the site devoted to Cornwall here and I have added your link to it, if you would like to see any changes, please let us know.

I think there is a very good case for giving the British state a war on many fronts by turning up the pressure from all the independence movements through joint action and the sharing of information. It is exciting to here from nationalists in Cornwall, we believe you have an excellent case and like Wales your political rights are being unconstitutionally denied.

PS: Thanks also for your other email, we look forward to working together in the future and swapping ideas. SIG

> Of course since his new party is taking away the main British
> orientated elements of the SSP it's possible the remaining party will
> be stronger

Dear SIG,

I must confess that I am an Ecology/Green voter, yet I have always admired Tommy Sheridan.

With the possible exception of Rosie Kane none of the other SSP MSPs have made
their mark on Scottish politics and by her venomous rants against Sheridan Ms Kane has
lost the considerable respect which I previously had for her.

In the first parliament Tommy Sheridan alone achieved a miracle - getting warrant sales
banned. Since 2003, the rest of the mob only managed to prevent families of hepatitis
sufferers obtaining  compensation due to their childish antics - something which Tommy
Sheridan and Rosemary Byrne didn't get involved in. Unless you want to count Colin Fox
prancing about in a Robin Hood outfit - and that from the party who mocked the Speaker
for wearing tights!

I hear the rhetoric, but I prefer to judge people by their actions. Tommy Sheridan has done
more than anybody in the recent history of the left to attempt to better the situation of
people below the poverty line.

Was Tommy Sheridan guilty? Who cares? It is his private life and the News of the World
deserved a bloody nose for prying into things that don't concern them.

Did I vote for the SSP? No.

Will I vote for Solidarity? No.

Yet, I wish Tommy Sheridan and Rosemary Byrne well with their new party. It takes real
guts to walk away from an organisation that you have created and start afresh from zeo.

Tommy Sheridan has been a real asset to the Scottish Parliament from the day he joined it.
Which is a lot more than can be said for the remaining SSP members.

Christina de Kéroualle d'Aubigny de Lassée.

Cheers Chris,

Like you we like Sheridan and wish him every success, but the influence of the Brit left platforms (CWI and SWP) on his new party is worrying. SIG

Dear SIG,

Your project is nonsense and will fail. Slavoj Zizek (the greatest Leftist thinker writing today) has pointed out that whereas racism was once a species of nationalism, today nationalism is a species of racism. It's time - in the name of international socialism - to make nationalism history.

Do yourself a favour. Take a look at those people in multicultural England who call for "English nationalism". Such sentiments belong only to the racist Far Right. As Scotland becomes more multicultural, Scottish nationalism will experience the same shift undergone by English nationalism.

Get out of this mess before you too become another brick in the postmodern Far Right.

Mark Richardson

Mark, your logic is flawed. Nationalism is only racist when it is based on imperialism ie a belief in the superiority of your country over others. The Scottish independence movement is about equality for Scotland with other nations. It is civic based and inclusive of all cultures races and creeds.

Scotland like every other country has a right to self determination under international law. Britain had a large racist empire and a lot of current British racism comes from deluded memories of Britain's past imperial power.

If Scotland became independent then England would perhaps have to accept that the Empire is over. At the moment Blair attempts to maintain some semblance of imperial power by attaching his Government to the US. This position is not helpful to Scotland's interests internationally. 

Dear SIG,

I really like your site. Lots of information and contacts. If I have one criticism it is the use of Mel Gibson's pic. I know it is instantly recognisable for many folk but I don't really think it is appropriate here.

Other than that I'm impressed. I will link to it on my own blog.

All the best

Denise Morton

Thanks Denise, We've included Mel's pic (as William Wallace) on the site because this is the most modern depiction of Wallace, one of Scotland's greatest historical figures. Braveheart brought the story of Wallace and Scottish independence to a worldwide audience. It had a few historical flaws but the feeling of the film was just right.

Thanks for the link. SIG.

Dear SIG,

If you are interested in finding out more about the movement in Scotland towards gaining Independence this is a very good site. Apart from the information and history it also gives you several links to blogs and other sites so that you can get a broad view of why people in Scotland want their independence. I found it easy to use and very informative and found the links very interesting.

Sally Welham

Cheers Sally.

Salude!

I just wanted to give you the address of the independence site of iRS - indipendèntzia Repùbrica de Sardigna - the official web site of the biggest Sardinian independence movement. Have a look: www.indipendentzia.net

We will link your site in our website.

Thanks now

Miriam Serra

Thanks Miriam. We have added a page about Sardinia here. We wish your independence movement all the best and hope it is successful soon. Former MSP Lloyd Quinan recently visited Sardinia for a conference and met up with some representatives of your organisation. He was very impressed. Let's hope we can work closely together in the future. SIG

Dear SIG,

Good site. Two comments:

Under 'Why?', you could add 'to stop the whinging'. I am an immigrant, and I can't help noticing the incredible amount of self-flagellation by the (unionist) political class, and the constant obsession with England and the English by about everyone else. I mean does it matter if the Scottish health system/education system/transport system/ culture/sport/environment/economy is better or worse than the English? Isn't it more important to check whether it serves Scotland well?

Under maps, what about changing the map right at the end to one that shows the historic counties?

Best wishes,

Christian

Hi Christian,

Thanks for your feedback. Much appreciated. The constant references to England for comparison purposes are indeed absurd, if a road is used by 1,000 people a year in the Highlands and it is used by 1000,000 people down the south of England does that mean the people using the road in Scotland are 1,000 times better off? No, of course not, it's just a road, yet by using a per person analysis of spending the UK Government constantly manipulates the statistics.

You're right we need to focus on what is best for Scotland, yet the British Government is obviously a lot more concerned about where most of the votes are, and they're not here.

We'll look into the maps. SIG

Dear SIG,

I received an invitation from Capital One to choose from eight pictures which one I'd like on my new credit card. number 7 was a St George's Cross,.No Saltires! Freephone numbers 0800 952 4925.

I'm scunnered, and gave them the runaround fetching someone to explain why a Scot living in Scotland would want a bloody English flag. Contacted everyone I know to do the same, and hope others here will do the same. GRRRRR!

Helen Tennant

Hi Helen, yes these kind of 'oversights' can be very annoying. On most websites if you are entering your details you can't even choose Scotland as your country of origin but have to choose United Kingdom instead. The reasons for Capital One's decision will be economic, because England is bigger than Scotland or Wales, but with independence we will be able to boost our profile considerably and then companies might treat Scotland with a bit more respect.