Wednesday, November 15, 2006
SMH: Scotland thinking about divorce from UK
From Sunday's Syndey Morning Herald: Scotland thinking about divorce from UK
There are a few things that it says to which I take exception. Now, they are perfectly free to say those things, but they just rub me up the wrong way.
Really? In 1979 a referrendum returned a 55% majority (of those that actually bothered to get out and actually vote) in favour of independence. And more recently in 1998 an ICM opinion poll suggested 52%.
Nice alliteration, but I feel that the words have a very negative and xenophobic connotation. I don't like "separatist" because the Scotland that I live in is a very culturally diverse place. We welcome, and have done for centuries, people of all nations to Scotland. We recognise that we are stronger through that diversity. That is hardly a separatist agenda.
ADDITIONAL
Curiously, I also discovered this almost identical article published by the Kansas City Star. ¶ 01:00
There are a few things that it says to which I take exception. Now, they are perfectly free to say those things, but they just rub me up the wrong way.
"Perhaps it's just a passing midlife crisis, but two new polls have found for the
first time a majority of Scots say they would prefer independence to remaining
part of Britain."
Really? In 1979 a referrendum returned a 55% majority (of those that actually bothered to get out and actually vote) in favour of independence. And more recently in 1998 an ICM opinion poll suggested 52%.
"separatist sentiment"
Nice alliteration, but I feel that the words have a very negative and xenophobic connotation. I don't like "separatist" because the Scotland that I live in is a very culturally diverse place. We welcome, and have done for centuries, people of all nations to Scotland. We recognise that we are stronger through that diversity. That is hardly a separatist agenda.
ADDITIONAL
Curiously, I also discovered this almost identical article published by the Kansas City Star. ¶ 01:00
