Do identity politics matter, of course they do! These Brexiteers are so into their “British” or English identity;
the French are into their identity; the Japanese are into their identity – so
what’s the problem? The problem is that
the separate nations of the UK are a threat to the ever more centralizing
Westminster. Scottish identity or Irish
identity are viewed as threats. Some say Identity politics is bad compared to
class divides. I believe the opposite: identity matters greatly for Israelis, Jews
and Palestinians. I’m also
internationalist too – I enjoy Italian art, Dylan songs - we must be both truly
authentic and also outward looking.
Do flags matter?
The British
/English Union Jack is not my flag and for me it is a symbol of repression of
culture and of repression of the whistles and drums in Ireland. For me Union Jacks are signs of great division and oppression in Northern Ireland. I am ashamed
to tick British as my identity and it is not my identity. It’s a bad state of
affairs: I have no pride in being British and I don’t consider myself British.
The “Brexit” yes/no vote meant a ton of Union Jack waving – well mainly in
England. I view ‘Brutishness’ much as a Norwegian may view
‘Scandinavian’, except that Europeans do not deprive me of my Irish or
Scottish roots. Union Jacks represent English imperialism,
**“SAVE Scotland brand”
Why is Marks
and Spencer’s selling shortbread, a Scottish product, in a tin with scenes of
London on it in Scotland? The National newspaper
are running a campaign, Save our Scotland Brand,
to try to stop the imposition of a “BRITAIN’ brand on SCOTTISH products, which has become worse since Brexit and
promotions of ‘Britishness’ –
Marks and
Spencer’s are one of the worst culprits. There has been many cases of false labelling – “British Haggis”,
“British Whisky”, “British Shortbread”, “British beef” stuck on Union Jack
labels on Scottish produce. People have
found in Scottish stores that there is Welsh, Cornish, Yorkshire, English cheese
but no Scottish cheese. In M& S they label “as from the county of
Scotland!’ when Scotland is one of the oldest country’s in the world!
Is Scotland to become like Cornwall or Yorkshire, a mere county? Meanwhile Sainsbury say they use the Union Jack label because people identify it as English! Scotland has set higher standards than England for its food produce by banning GM crops and other pollutants. How can Scotland market its exports if they become part of a ”Britain” brand?
Is Scotland to become like Cornwall or Yorkshire, a mere county? Meanwhile Sainsbury say they use the Union Jack label because people identify it as English! Scotland has set higher standards than England for its food produce by banning GM crops and other pollutants. How can Scotland market its exports if they become part of a ”Britain” brand?
This dogs Brexit
is about imposing a ‘British brand’ on Scotland. Scottish Food and drink is a
major business and has increased by 34% since 2007. Scotland has a ‘Tartan
Week’ over in New York to market Scottish products: including arts, music,
fashion, film, food products.
There is a
strange conflict going on presently it seems between globalization and the
media elites and the nation states and of peoples’ local democratic will' to
decide for themselves how best to run their own affairs. America has a strong
influence over Britai its 51st State. There is also a
good side to globalization – better communications, trade, peace, and more.
There are also negatives – who wants to visit Paris to find it’s the same as
New York? And who really wants a
homogeneous world?
I’ve voted
SNP for forty years now so no new belief, because de-centralising from
Westminster can only be a good thing, and giving the Scottish people back the
confidence in themselves that they have lost and “taking back our control” to
local level from the south east property elites. The Greek
economist and author Yanis Varoufakis stated, “The UK is the most
imbalanced geographically lop-sided country of any major county in the world and it harms
the economy. Chronic underperformance of the UK business model."
Why do we
have to sacrifice Peace and Prosperity to satisfy right wing Tory nutters? To be honest all this shows that those in
England simply don’t care about Scotland and we are merely an ‘after thought’
despite all the Love bombs to us
during the independence vote of 2014.
**Here is a letter Burns wrote of his
wish to write about Scotland -
‘The
appellation of a Scottish bard is by far my highest pride; to continue to
deserve it my most exalted ambition;
Scottish scenes and Scottish stories are the theme I could wish to sing; I have
no dearer aim than to have it in my power, unplagued with the routine of
business , for which heaven knows I am unfit enough for; to make leisurely
pilgrimage through Caledonia; to sit in the fields of her battles; to wander on
the romantic banks of her rivers; or to muse by the stately towers or venerable
ruins, once the honoured abodes of her heroes. ‘ R.B. Letter March 1787 to Ms Dunlop
PS
Michael Portillo on This Week, ‘UK politicians don’t posture – European do
posture! We are completely different!’
Who’s not into identity politics then?
