Only a few days after the referendum, and it looks like Britain is creeping towards a war with ISIS in Syria. Now 'we', in Scotland, will be joining in, by default.
The three things I had wanted most from the Yes vote were
1) No nuclear weapons and a movement towards being a pacifist country. The day Tony Blair bombed Iraq without a second UN resolution was the day I lost all faith. I wanted Scotland to have no part of this kind of war-mongering. When will they understand that modern wars are never won? Peace only follows dialogue, not bombs.
2) I wanted the NHS to be free from the threat of the new TTIP bill. No chance now. Most people haven't even heard of TTIP. Here's a short but important explanation.
3) Green, green, and more green. I want Scotland to invest in renewables and take the lead in Green policies. The least I can do now is join the Green party.
Anyway, it feels like 'business as usual' with a deep frustration that 'we' may be headed to war again, dropping bombs in the middle east, encouraging generations of radicals to join up and try to bomb us back.
Am I the only one who thinks this is near insanity?
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8 comments:
No you are not. We in the US are now bombing our own weaponry.
Hear, hear, Ciara.
No, you are perfectly sane. And Harry Burns' views on the NHS and Independence gave me all I needed to vote yes. Good blog. Thanks.
Lesley
Joining the green party is a commendable move. And yes, the world is mad.
As a prospective member of the EU (whether default membership or new membership), an independent Scotland would still be affected by the TTIP and an strategic allegiance with the NATO is at odds with becoming a pacifist country. As for going green, Scotland is aiming for 100% gross annual renewable energy generation by 2020, aims that can stand whether Scotland is independent or not. Just some thoughts. Not all is doom and gloom. Cx
Thanks Christina,
you are more knowledgeable than I. Yes, all very interesting and anything that promotes debate is good. Is Switzerland a pacifist country?
Switzerland has a conscript army, so probably not! There is a common argument in Switzerland that the army is necessary to defend neutrality. Coincidentally the Swiss army has been the topic of referendums more than once. In 2001, its abolition was rejected, and last year, Switzerland decided that the army should remain compulsory for all male adults.
Hey C, Was gutted about referendum result, we had, right there in our hands, a chance to make Scotland better, but it was, in the end, not to be (not just now). The world is mad, no doubt, and yes, business as usual - Scotland's new promised powers are now at back of constitutional queue in Westminster, as Lesley Riddoch said. But there has been a shift in consciousness, the 85% turnout was monumental, to see the democratic process in action so fully was quite something, we are so lucky to have democracy. x
Hey C, I was gutted too about the referendum result. We had, right there in our hands, the chance to make Scotland a better place, but it was not to be (for now anyway). Yes, the world is mad, and very frightening, no doubt, and it does seem back to business as usual, the new powers promised to Scotland by Westminster have been put to the back of the constitutional queue, as Lesley Riddoch said. Still, there has been a shift in consciousness, the 85% turnout was monumental, brilliant to see people so engaged in the democratic process. We are so lucky to have democracy. That is what comforts me now. x
In an Independent Scotland TTIP need not apply with regards to the NHS, member states would not have to enter into TTIP where there is an existing state monopoly, eg NHS. So not a good scenario for the NHS. I truly fear for its survival now. I don't think folk were fully informed before voting. The older population tend not to use the Internet and would have relied on TV news and biased newspapers for information. Arm them with iPads and free internet next time, you did have to look further than popular media for unbiased reporting.
Lesley
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