David Grohl McKinlay, 44, is a tattoo artist in Glasgow.
IN the run up to the 2014 referendum, my wife and I weren’t for independence. We got our information from the MSM, and didn’t believe an independent Scotland could support itself.
What we couldn’t understand though, is why many of our friends, who we agreed with on so many other matters, and that were well read and informed, were pro-indy. How could they be so blind?
Deciding to look into the matter further, I read as much as I could about the subject, from as wide and as varied sources as possible. I hoped to find tangible evidence I could confront our friends with.
I was astounded as I came to the gradual realisation that the wool had been well and truly pulled over MY eyes, and how easily I had allowed that to happen. The more I looked, and considered arguments and ‘evidence’ from both sides, the clearer it became that Scotland could not only manage on its own, but would actually flourish in doing so.
This week's No to Yes story comes from Stephen McDonald 👇
— The National (@ScotNational) March 22, 2021
He had always swallowed the 'too wee, too poor' line, but on the eve of the referendum an unexpected source prompted a change of heart 🏴https://t.co/C5w30sv7Xu
Not knowing that my wife was coming to the same realisation, having done her own research, I felt quite nervous broaching the subject with her. We were both relieved and excited to know we were on the same page, having reached our epiphanies independently.
We then became more aware of the bias and anti-independence stance taken by what had been our ‘usual’ media sources.
READ MORE: No to Yes: Kate Moss helped change my mind about Scottish independence
Eddie Izzard, on a ‘No Campaign’ trip to Glasgow, was reported to have been “surrounded by a baying mob of hundreds of Yes supporters, and chased out of St Enoch Square”.
Absolute chaos on the streets of Glasgow as Jim Murphy and Eddie Izzard try to be heard over protestors. #ge2015 pic.twitter.com/Y6naGLNN3j
— James Cook (@BBCJamesCook) May 4, 2015
However, we watched the whole thing from the first floor of the St Enoch Centre. There was a crowd of 30 at best, and most were No campaigners. The media footage was shown from low down, and portrayed a fictional and negative narrative, designed, in my opinion, to discredit the Yes campaign.
We realise it’s hard to make decisions and to draw fair conclusions with so many conflicting articles, opposing views, and outright lies and deceit from sources we should all be able to trust. You can argue all day about facts, figures, and projections for the future. Many will do so, but never objectively. However, if you can put all that aside, strip it back, and put it in layman’s terms?
If Scotland is such a burden to the UK, then why is such a clearly ruthless and cutthroat London-centric Westminster government so desperate to keep us in the Union?
It’s because WE have majority of the UK’s resources, WE have the talent, and WE have the ability to do it on our own. Scotland will prosper with independence, free from London rule, and they know that.
And so do we!
To tell us about your journey from No to Yes, CLICK HERE
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
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel