NATIONAL treasure Elaine C Smith has given her backing to this newspaper’s Big Enough, Rich Enough, Smart Enough campaign.
On Saturday, we launch the first part in a monthly series of special features dedicated to building a Yes majority.
Editor Callum Baird is asking readers to pick up a copy of the edition and give it to someone who has questions about Scotland’s future.
It is hoped that this will spark 10,000 conversations about the positive case for independence.
Smith, pictured, who sits on the board of Voices for Scotland, the campaign arm of the Scottish Independence Convention, said a recent incident involving her sister proves the need to talk.
She said: “My sister told me of an incident that happened at a charity event in Lanarkshire last week. I’d donated tickets for this year’s Glasgow Kings Panto as a prize, so when she was selling tickets for the auction a woman refused to buy a ticket for it because I’d donated it. She was about to launch into a bit of a tirade about me when my sister said ‘wait – spoiler alert – Elaine’s my sister, so watch what you say’. The woman looked a bit embarrassed and turned away.
“Later the woman came over and apologised and said that it wasn’t that she didn’t like me, just ‘all that SNP stuff!’ Even though my sister informed her that I wasn’t a member of the SNP but was a believer in independence, as was she.
“By the end of the conversation the woman had softened and was listening and asking questions. That, for me, is where we’ve got to get to.”
Issuing advice for activists, she went on: “I’ve done it myself, formed opinions of people because they voted No, yet some of those that I know are the kindest people I’ve ever met.
“I’ve found over the last few months that people from a No perspective are more willing and open to the possibilities of independence. Whether it is Brexit, the collapse of Labour in Scotland or many other reasons there is more willingness on their part to voice their opinions, fears and desires. But I think I’m hearing what they’re saying because I’m more able to listen to their concerns without feeling I have to present a perfect response or answer.
“Someone shouting facts and figures, however accurate they may be, will change very little.
“So this weekend listen – have a proper conversation and we all might learn something.”
Dave Thompson, chair of Voices for Scotland, said: “This initiative from The National is great and I will be using my copy of Saturday’s paper to open a conversation with a friend at church who I think is persuadable.
“As the National develops its campaign I am sure that we at Voices for Scotland will put the material produced at the centre of our own campaign. There are now several wings to the independence movement and we will surely succeed if we all march together.”
Baird said: “We are delighted to have the support of Voices for Scotland and hope our readers will back the campaign by buying and sharing an extra copy on Saturday.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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