WHAT’S THE STORY?
ON Saturday, March 30, supporters of independence will join with people who voted Remain in the 2016 EU referendum – and perhaps many on the Leave side who have changed their mind – to commemorate the death of democracy in Scotland.
For had it not been for the ineptitude of the Tory Government in Westminster, Saturday would have been Scotland’s first day out of the European Union.
It is a fate that will be inflicted on a country whose people voted 62% to 38% to Remain in the EU, by the Brexiteers of England –hence the death, or at the very least dearth, of democracy in this ancient European nation of ours.
WHAT’S THE IDEA?
INSPIRED by the Jacobite white rose and the beautiful poem, "The Little White Rose" by Hugh MacDiarmid, the idea is that people across Scotland, or Scots living furth our borders, will wear or display a white rose.
Indeed, they may also wear any white flower, or lay a white rose or wreaths of white roses or distribute postcards or leaflets with the words of the poem on Saturday as a way of commemorating the disgusting and dangerous effects of Brexit upon Scotland.
It will also act as a specific reminder to people that we are being dragged out of the EU against our collective Scottish will because we remain a part of a UK driven by British nationalist sentiment.
It is a quiet but symbolic protest that is being taken up by an increasing number of Yes groups across the country. We’ll let you know more about them in the Yes Hub page in tomorrow‘s National.
WHO STARTED IT?
THE idea for White Rose Day came from Dumfries and Galloway Pensioners for Independence (DGPI) whose spokesman Ian Richmond said: “I would like people who may not have embraced independence to reflect on the promises made and broken in 2014. And to reflect on democracy. If our democratic wishes can be so casually set aside on an issue as fundamental as this then what democracy do we have? We are told we should respect the 2014 result. We do. We pay our taxes and we respect the rule of law. We participate in elections and we eschew violence. What they mean is that we should shut up and knuckle under. Hopefully a simple white flower might remind us of what we have lost.”
WHY SATURDAY?
THE day was chosen because nobody really wants to mark anything at 11pm on a Friday night, the time chosen by Theresa May as the exact moment that the UK leaves the EU.
She told us all repeatedly – about 108 times in Parliament – that it was March 29 and no other date. So we all took her at her word. Of course, May’s word, like so much else about Brexit, proved to be utter tosh. Holding to March 30 is another reminder of the democratic deficit we Scots suffer.
WHAT’S THE POEM AGAIN?
IT’S one of the most beautiful and inspiring poems of Hugh MacDiarmid, whose real name was Christopher Murray Grieve. Thanks to our columnist Alan Riach, we know that the Grieve family are supporting this campaign.
The rose of all the world is not for me.
I want for my part
Only the little white rose of Scotland
That smells sharp and sweet—and breaks the heart.
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