THE treatment meted out to Iain Blackford in Wastemonster last Friday just summed up the “Blond Buffoon” for what he is. A totally unscrupulous, ignoramus, ill-mannered, pig-ignorant fool, but a dangerous fool nevertheless. But let’s stop navel-gazing over the General Election and spend a few moments looking at what took place on an island in the Coral Sea in the South Pacific.
While we were caught up in our own election there was another little-reported (I’m being kind) independence referendum taking place, which started on November 23 in Bougainville, Solomon Islands, resulting in a 98% vote for independence. An island with a population estimated at around 300,000 (by comparison Edinburgh’s population stands at about 600,000). Wonder if they were told they were too wee, too poor and too uneducated to run their own country? Seems not to be the case, as the referendum was being recognised by the UN, which oversaw it and will now welcome them as the 194th member country.
READ MORE: Staying in the Union ‘cost Scotland £3.3 billion this year’
Reaching this successful referendum took more than 30 years, and 10 years of bloody fighting with thousands of lives lost. Eventually a peace was agreed, and 20 years of discussions took place which led to the referendum. The chilling thing is how this little country was treated initially by the Government of Papua New Guinea, who reacted like its previous imperial master until the UN stepped in.
I’m sure many will recognise that this only reflects the history of many, many countries of the now defunct British Empire, where there were years of bloody struggle before independence: Ireland, Cypress, Kenya, Burma, Malaya and many more. All of these countries started with a civilised request for “self-rule” and all initially rejected.
The Tories are now putting up the spurious case that the SNP, because they only got just over 46% of the votes, don’t have a mandate for indyref2. So, by Tory statistical logic then the Tories, even with their 80-seat majority but with only 43.6% of the vote have no mandate to proceed with Brexit?
Charlie Gallagher
Sullom, Shetland
EXPECT derogatory comments in the Unionist media over the latest election results. Anxiety over the future of the Union will bring forth a veritable torrent of the customary Unionist mantras.
Scotland has been subjected to these mantras for too long. It was tedious. Beware. Scotland will now be heavily bombarded with the same old unthinkable fear-factor mantras as in the past.
Any new meaningful thinking is beyond the intellectual capabilities of the supporters of a past empire, ensconced in former times along with the support of a strong right-wing Tory hierarchy.
READ MORE: Angus Robertson: Tories make the perfect case for the need for an indyref vote
It is now up to Scotland to devise a sound strategy that will overcome the devious power of a right-wing Tory power, bathing in the glory of an English-elected Westminster government, which will attempt to overwhelm any Scottish future.
“Division” was one Tory mantra. What do we have now? A country well and truly separated, with even some opposition MPs supporting Scottish parties and their views. They are welcome in our house for a cup of coffee!
Scotland needs to formalise a priority for the advancement of the up-and-coming young generation, unshackled by an overpowering Westminster government.
Go for it Scotland. Don’t let up. We do not need to be told by Westminster what suits us and how to run Scotland. Just get on with it but ca’ canny.
William D Mill Irving
Kilbirnie
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