Since the SNP came to power, there has been a lot of nationalism scattering across the country. On Thursday, the 18th of September, 2014 there will be a referendum. Independence for Scotland is on the top of the nationalist’s ‘to do’ list. But why exactly should we be independent? Would our small, financially challenged country really be able to stand on its own feet against the bigger countries in the global market? For over 300 years we have been part of Great Britain’s success but now in a time of economic meltdown, people have a growing want for independence.
To start, let’s take a look at why our country can’t afford (and will never be able to afford) independence. The credit crunch occurred when our banks were forced to cancel debts after them carelessly giving money to people who could not repay their loans. This forced the government to use public money, to keep the banks afloat and resulted in decreasing our budget by billions of pounds (also causing inflation levels to rise). So what is our tax money going towards now? Instead of paying for the much demanded and quite frankly desperately needed improvements in healthcare, housing and education we are now investing in unstable banks, with the hope that everything will soon be fixed, which, to be honest, sounds good, but it’s going to take a long time, longer than anyone thinks. If we were to become independent, we would be in huge debt, and, owing 3.6 billion is a lot when there is only a population of about 5.4 million in Scotland. If we weren’t to become independent, our debts would get paid more quickly.
It is not only the recession but also our decreasing oil which we must be worried about. Our country heavily relies on oil to make most of its money but when that’s...
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...ndence but use England as an easily blameable place for all our problems. I believe we are lucky to have our own identity but, still be part of a stronger nation that is able to financially support us when we need picking up. Why would we want to change this? A campaign for Scottish independence in this day is unnecessary. Let’s not make Scotland more vulnerable because all of a sudden there are more nationalists, wanting to be forever rid of the English.
In conclusion I believe that independence is completely useless and wrong. A campaign for our own government might be realistic if we didn’t have the problems that we have today. In a time when our economy is fragile, Scottish independence is an unsupported waste of our energy, time and money (which we don’t have). I believe that the demand for independence is rather out of the blue, and isn’t needed in any way.
William Wallace is considered a legend in Scotland. For years, England and Scotland were at war, and behind many of the battles for Scotland’s independence was William Wallace. While the information about him, like any good hero, might be over exaggerated by some historians, what’s true is that he gave the country hope that Scotland could be free from English Tyranny. For years after he died, others took his place in saving Scotland from English rule.
The idea of independence from Great Britain, it is something that is so commonplace a thing that I think very little of it on a day-to-day basis, but there was once a time when it was not so common, there was even a time when many thought the idea of fighting for independence was a foolhardy or reckless move and we were better off under the rule of Great Britain. This was not necessarily an incorrect way of thinking as Great Britain had provided the colonies with resources that would have taken far longer to develop for themselves. In 1776, Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense a pamphlet that encouraged this new way of thinking and urged the people of the thirteen colonies to fight for their independence from Great Britain, as their help was now seeming to become a hindrance.
... by trying to use nationalism to convince them, is also very convincing for nationalism in the way that it speaks about family by calling the Irish the children of female Ireland. Often one will do anything for family, so speaking of a nation as a family can help create an identity around it.
Henderson, Ailsa. Hierarchies of belonging: National identity and political culture in Scotland and Quebec. McGill-Queen's Press-MQUP, 2007.
It was this belief that prevented the Scottish people from intermingling with the surrounding nations and ultimately birthed a form of ethnic pride
There are many important factors in the Declaration of Independence, which enable the foundation of a new government. These range from describing grievances with England, to how government should be run differently, to the first statement of separation. The first step to the foundation of a new government is the uniting of a people in a common goal. Since all people were feeling violated by English soldiers, it was necessary to state these grievances in order to make people aware that they are not alone. When people learned that others felt the same as them emotion was stirred. The Declaration of Independence listed the grievances such as, “He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.” The next important step to the foundation of a new government was to gain peoples ambition by showing how the government would be run if a new party took over. This goal was achieved by stating the rights of man. “We hold these truths to be self evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This statement made people hopeful and feel kindly toward this new government. The final step in the preparation for a new government was separation from the old government. This was declared twice in the Declaration of Independence. In the beginning, “That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, driving their just powers from the consent of the governed,” and in the end, “that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved. In conclusion, the Declaration of Independence was able to motivate people, give them ambition, and made it simple for Americans to take action.
Though diversity can be, and often is an asset, in the context of nationalism, so many variations among a nation in conjunction with globalization can cause an observer to believe that in a sense, there is no true Canadian nationalism. Prime Minister Trudeau may have indeed attributed nationalism and the foundation of a nation to will, but a desire to build a nation is insufficient for one to be formed. For a nation to truly be stable and unified, nationalism is key. In turn, then, this nationalism will result in citizens desiring to improve and further their nation. Despite the fact that will has indeed played a critical role in preserving Canada by helping to create nationalism during watershed moments in history such as the Patriote movement, key battles in World war I, and even Québécois movement today, it is i...
...d gas and with the increase in oil prices, more money is being taken away from the people. It is evident that although we may be entering into a recession on different terms than the one before, the United States is still in danger of once again becoming a victim of another Great Depression.
Independence is something that comes with time. While we are young, we cling to our mothers for safety. We then start to crawl, yet when we are scared we cry until our mother picks us up.
...nnot be legitimized by his loyalty to Scotland, it is only a political rule. He therefore also lacks the ‘‘king becoming graces’’ of devotion.
These horrors caused by nationalism seem to be at the opposite end of the spectrum from the promising ideal of democracy. As Ghia Nodia pointed out, many analysts view nationalism as “fundamentally antidemocratic” (3). What these anti-nationalists fail to realize is that nationalism has also called force heroism and even sacrifice throughout history. Numerous people have risked their lives to restore democracy and civil rights in their nations, when they could easily have chosen comfortable exile elsewhere. Indeed, nationalism is the very basis of democratic government because it unites the citizens as “we the people”, supports the common political destiny, and nurtures trust toward the government.
Events in the past have affected modern day Scots. When these events first occurred in Scotland, the Scots kept these memories and traditions with pride that stayed with them throughout years. As more and more generations pass, the sense of Scottish pride stays with them as they teach it to their children. The generations that followed Prince Charlie’s legacy grew up with Scottish patriotism. The families that survived the famine learned and passed on the ideal to not waste resources. Scottish emigrants kept their Highland culture by publicly showing their Scottish roots. The stereotype of Scots were caused by the pride that had been brought down from generation to generation that still live today.
Countries vary in multiple ways. Some are big, some have mountains, some have dictators, some are as old as time. One thing that remains constant is the cultural pride and need for national identity in each. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, pride is the “delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship.” Therefore, it can be inferred that cultural pride is the love, appreciation, and elation for where a person comes from and the practices of that culture. For example, Americans take pride in everything that has been invented and accomplished in America. Hispanics take pride in the traditions of their ancestors like “Day of the Dead.” The Scottish take pride in their heritage, and they traditions and didn’t appreciate England taking over their land and forcing them to change their way of living in the 1290’s. National identity is important because it is what makes countries unique from one another. If humans didn’t have their own personalities, every person would be the same, despite their different body shapes and features. Likewise, if countries didn’t have their own identity, what would make them different? The film Braveheart showed the strive Scotland had to form their own national identity. However, films that are fictionalized have many effects. Fictionalized films focusing on national identity can act as a demagoguery and cause political movements. Even though the film Braveheart provides a good example of cultural pride and the strive for national identity, it does not accurately portray the Scottish rebellion of England; moreover, many historical films don’t accurately portray historical events.
Scotland had become unstable since there was no one ruling while King James was in
Knowing that I was where I felt I belonged, was the best feeling in the world. All of the scenery, the important places we saw, the beautiful buildings and animals, was a site I will never forget. Being Scottish used to just be cool to me knowing that my Grandad was born in Scotland and that I had Scottish blood in my veins. After I saw the house he was born in, it changed my viewpoints, I felt that Scotland was one of the most beautiful places I knew about, and being apart of that wasn’t something I should take lightly.