tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post2045172735966703384..comments2024-03-26T23:41:10.319+00:00Comments on Authors Electric: A Message From Scotland by Catherine CzerkawskaKatherine Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-65616215501757296032014-09-19T10:52:22.788+01:002014-09-19T10:52:22.788+01:00Let us hope that the amazing energy engendered by ...Let us hope that the amazing energy engendered by the referendum will carry on and be used to work towards the best solution for Scotland and the rest of us.<br />Lee: Israel/Palestine?? NOT a helpful comparison. <br />Sandra Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01761260568729338471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-47476895337406997492014-09-19T08:44:42.225+01:002014-09-19T08:44:42.225+01:00And apologies for my triple posting. 'I didn&#...And apologies for my triple posting. 'I didn't mean to do it' is not reason enough.Dennis Hamleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781139870037634374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-67917710785475244912014-09-19T07:11:06.636+01:002014-09-19T07:11:06.636+01:00Apologies for the double posting! My computer see...Apologies for the double posting! My computer seems to be playing up.Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13770069472552779217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-27292366393626028752014-09-19T07:09:59.438+01:002014-09-19T07:09:59.438+01:00Lydia, I'd assert that people are not only alw...Lydia, I'd assert that people are not only always rewriting history, but that it's absolutely imperative to do so: enshrining the past in immutable categories is as dangerous as forgetting it, perhaps more so. But no, I don't mean anything like Holocaust denial -- rather a continual and critical re-evaluation.Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13770069472552779217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-29363736776064139922014-09-19T07:09:00.409+01:002014-09-19T07:09:00.409+01:00Lydia, I'd assert that people are not only alw...Lydia, I'd assert that people are not only always rewriting history, but that it's absolutely imperative to do so: enshrining the past in immutable categories is as dangerous as forgetting it, perhaps more so. But no, I don't mean anything like Holocaust denial -- rather a continual and critical re-evaluation.Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13770069472552779217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-16399170470283578262014-09-18T22:55:21.229+01:002014-09-18T22:55:21.229+01:00Catherine, I'm fascinated by your account of t...Catherine, I'm fascinated by your account of the story of Rabbie and Jean. What a great story with so much scope for the novelist. Not sure what world we'll wake up to tomorrow on either side of the border but we must find the space and time for our creative selves. ATBAliBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611113709872287863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-58465340291947397902014-09-18T22:41:57.803+01:002014-09-18T22:41:57.803+01:00A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound coco...A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound coconutmadwippitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02595748471651052552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-26848183834772042922014-09-18T19:16:20.331+01:002014-09-18T19:16:20.331+01:00Nick, I rather like the idea of Mercia and Wessex ...Nick, I rather like the idea of Mercia and Wessex back again. Well, we won't get them, but the Scottish debate has shown us that something must give. Like most sane people, I favour more autonomy for the regions. I'd dearly like to see, but won't, our own referendum with a simple but long question: Are Harry Smith (Harry's Last Stand), Owen Jones (The Establishment) and Thomas Pilketty (Capital in the 21st Century) right? If the right side wins, life will be better for all except the dreadful 1%. But we'd need a new mass political party unlike anything seen before to make it happen. Either that or revolution. But the Establishemnt has the guns all locked up.Dennis Hamleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781139870037634374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-87664922655750310312014-09-18T19:16:19.681+01:002014-09-18T19:16:19.681+01:00Nick, I rather like the idea of Mercia and Wessex ...Nick, I rather like the idea of Mercia and Wessex back again. Well, we won't get them, but the Scottish debate has shown us that something must give. Like most sane people, I favour more autonomy for the regions. I'd dearly like to see, but won't, our own referendum with a simple but long question: Are Harry Smith (Harry's Last Stand), Owen Jones (The Establishment) and Thomas Pilketty (Capital in the 21st Century) right? If the right side wins, life will be better for all except the dreadful 1%. But we'd need a new mass political party unlike anything seen before to make it happen. Either that or revolution. But the Establishemnt has the guns all locked up.Dennis Hamleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781139870037634374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-25788061243284070762014-09-18T19:16:14.779+01:002014-09-18T19:16:14.779+01:00Nick, I rather like the idea of Mercia and Wessex ...Nick, I rather like the idea of Mercia and Wessex back again. Well, we won't get them, but the Scottish debate has shown us that something must give. Like most sane people, I favour more autonomy for the regions. I'd dearly like to see, but won't, our own referendum with a simple but long question: Are Harry Smith (Harry's Last Stand), Owen Jones (The Establishment) and Thomas Pilketty (Capital in the 21st Century) right? If the right side wins, life will be better for all except the dreadful 1%. But we'd need a new mass political party unlike anything seen before to make it happen. Either that or revolution. But the Establishemnt has the guns all locked up.Dennis Hamleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781139870037634374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-81433491847629212552014-09-18T18:12:51.302+01:002014-09-18T18:12:51.302+01:00I just had a phonecall from a friend whose 75 year...I just had a phonecall from a friend whose 75 year old sister had been alarmed by loud knocking on her door. She opened it to find a posse of Yes voters demanding to know what way she had voted. When she told them it was none of their business, they shouted at her that it was very much their business because they 'needed' her to vote yes. Not a lady who is easily intimidated (the daughter of a Dalmellington miner who went by the name of Crunch McKay) she told them to eff off. The fireman who lives next door, came in to check that she was OK, having given them rather more than a piece of his mind. That was at least two people who - even if they had been intending to vote yes - would have been instantly converted to no. It's this kind of thing that my friends are turning a blind eye to - and it chills me to the bone. Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-64874574946250168202014-09-18T17:17:58.834+01:002014-09-18T17:17:58.834+01:00Nick didn't say that did he, or did I miss it?...Nick didn't say that did he, or did I miss it? our ancient kingdom of Northumbria included Edinburgh at one time, so he's saying the historical argument does make sense except that it's a fluid and changing border over time. However Lee raises an interesting point - why are people rewriting history, if yes is right, right now, what does history matter? and if it does/did, why didn't they vote for independence before? it was only in 2011 the snp got in and the figures then for independence were low. Lydia Bennethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09328239009863878547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-80834184922790386032014-09-18T16:18:25.081+01:002014-09-18T16:18:25.081+01:00Nick, whatever the outcome, you're obviously w...Nick, whatever the outcome, you're obviously wrong that the historical argument doesn't make sense. It apparently makes sense to a significant number of people. (And maybe it's not comparable, but what about Israel/Palestine, for example?) A sense of belonging and identity is a deeply emotional issue.Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13770069472552779217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-84777742702910433292014-09-18T14:25:44.950+01:002014-09-18T14:25:44.950+01:00I'm sorry you've had such a bad experience...I'm sorry you've had such a bad experience Catherine (and others) For some of us (me included) it's been an energising experience, I've made lots of new friends, found a new belief in the decency of the ordinary Scot, and a new hope that we will be able to build a fairer, more just and more equal society if we get our Independence. Scotland has long been a divided country, now's our chance to bring it together. And this morning my dog Hector even kissed the First Minister in person in Turriff High Street. For me, independence is about as inclusive as it gets, way beyond narrow party political garbage, it's about shifting from a representative democracy to a participatory democracy. As I say, I'm sorry it's not been your experience but hopefully we're all about to see some light at the end of a very long tunnel. Time to B positive not O negative methinks! CallyPhillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15481379296340077102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-60926749554239135232014-09-18T14:14:28.079+01:002014-09-18T14:14:28.079+01:00Gordon Brown was unexpectedly, thrillingly brillia...Gordon Brown was unexpectedly, thrillingly brilliant, wasn't he? And no doubts at all about his Scottish credentials!Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-23771992800446820612014-09-18T13:32:53.893+01:002014-09-18T13:32:53.893+01:00You've destroyed an illusion, Catherine. We ha...You've destroyed an illusion, Catherine. We had envied the Scots so much, to be able to have a long, meaningful, mature debate over things that really mattered and which was denied to us. I should have known it was too good to be true. Kay, as a McLeod, is all for yes, I'm in two minds but inclining towards no. But what does it matter? We have no say in deciding what it means for us down here. It may be dire. The contemptuous dismissal of the yes campaign as nothing but a silly dream by the establishment was nothing less than dereliction of duty. Still, we're used to that. If only The Three Twats hadn't crawled hand in hand to Edinburgh last week and the Westminster brigade had had the guts to leave the no campaign to Gordon Brown, who made a brilliant statement about what the Union means to Scottishness on tv last night. Ah well. The fault lies not in our stars but in ourselves.Dennis Hamleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781139870037634374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-24830709968556403322014-09-18T13:25:23.518+01:002014-09-18T13:25:23.518+01:00What I find almost more disturbing than the racist...What I find almost more disturbing than the racist unpleasantness which has simmered along below the surface is the fact that so many writers I know (and like!) seem to be content to either ignore it or deny its very existence. Why I thought Scotland would be different from any other country where the nationalist can of worms is opened, I don't know. But somehow, I did. I thought we were better than that. It remains to be seen how or whether we can come to terms with any of this. But to continue your metaphor, Chris - hope was left in the bottom of the box!Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-37505438499674600972014-09-18T12:24:47.489+01:002014-09-18T12:24:47.489+01:00You're right, Catherine. I think Pandora's...You're right, Catherine. I think Pandora's box has been opened and we'll never get it shut again. And what has crawled out of Pandora's box doesn't bear thinking about. It seems to have given rise to all the underlying unpleasantness that, to be fair, has always been around but never had the voice it now has. I keep thinking of Hitler's brown shirts, and mob violence, it doesn't do much for the concentration.Chris Longmuirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02488093821886798927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-45168105597527145812014-09-18T11:51:39.214+01:002014-09-18T11:51:39.214+01:00That movie has a lot to answer for. But back when ...That movie has a lot to answer for. But back when we watched it in the cinema, there were guys shouting 'effing English' at the screen not choosing to notice that it was the Scottish nobles that had sold him down the river - even in the movie! And I've lost count of the people I've heard joining in rousing choruses of 'sic a parcel of rogues in a nation' without having a scoobie that the parcel of rogues Burns was referring to were Scottish. Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-59508332009283226742014-09-18T11:31:23.492+01:002014-09-18T11:31:23.492+01:00well my county/ancient kingdom of Northumbria used...well my county/ancient kingdom of Northumbria used to go right up into current Scotland, in fact Edinburgh was in England... my heart goes out to you Catherine, and all who are caught up in this sudden upheaval. I'm of scots ancestry myself on both sides, like many north easterners, and am stunned by the hatred of the 'English' expressed on Facebook etc. The idea that I and people like me are in any way the same as Cameron and Clegg et al! I strongly feel like you about writing to give a voice to the ignored, and also doing research to get it right - the wilful warping of history on social media, the rewriting of the last 300+ years, has been astonishing - some people are getting their history from Hollywood and Mel Gibson! Lydia Bennethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09328239009863878547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-60544384482981425902014-09-18T11:01:04.625+01:002014-09-18T11:01:04.625+01:00And what about Gododdin? Whoever thinks about the ...And what about Gododdin? Whoever thinks about the rights of the Gododdinonians? That'll be Dun Eidin taken care of then.Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-31503538690528577232014-09-18T09:22:00.161+01:002014-09-18T09:22:00.161+01:00Following the arguments of Scottish independence, ...Following the arguments of Scottish independence, the next logical step should be to divide England up into its former kingdoms as they used to be before Alfred the Great. After all, it never used to be a single country. And we in the Kingdom of Mercia demand the exclusive rights to use our imported African swallows, with their superior coconut-bearing abilities. A big Yes to that.Nick Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08191176209084540085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-4506124245557920802014-09-18T09:19:35.918+01:002014-09-18T09:19:35.918+01:00This reflects exactly my experience of and feeling...This reflects exactly my experience of and feelings about the present situation, Catherine. Thanks for articulating it. I lament what's already been lost and dread the aftermath, whatever the result.Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16345949773423764808noreply@blogger.com