American views on Independence

Figured I should, at least, pass on this slice of Americana regarding the recent Scottish Elections. I'm sure you'll probably understand that I was wanting to move back to the weird and slightly artsy shinto that floats my boat in between important Scottish political events (like elections and referendums...)

Also, can anyone tell me about the poster I placed to the left of this post? Picked it up in Glasgow and dunno what it's about?

Answers to: kenny.sheerin@gmail.com

Thanks.

Fanning the Flames of Freedom

May 12, 2007—Last weekend the Scottish people did something many said they never would do. For many years the flames of independence have spread, but Scots have been discouraged from continuing such a pursuit. They have been told that independence is impractical, ridiculous and even impossible. However, last weekend, many showed via the ballot box that they have had enough of the so-called United Kingdom.

Despite that Scots have shown they wish to be an independent nation once more, by taking a first step in that direction. The enemies of Scottish freedom are still attempting to hijack last weekend’s election. The European media outlets, political organizations and others are trying to claim that such an election was a fraud. That the Scottish people would never think about independence. Such claims are proverbial slaps in the faces of the Scottish people.

We, the members of the Jefferson Republican Party of the United States of America, congratulate the Scottish people and the Scottish Nationalist Party for their recent victory, and this important step towards independence, which they have achieved. After 300 years of London-based dominance, is very significant, and is a sign of greater things to come for the Scottish people.

Jefferson Republican Party of the United States of America
William Potter
Noah Cooke
Ray Perdue

Blonde Joke

Two blondes living in Edinburgh were sitting on a bench talking, and one blonde says to the other:

"Which do you think is farther away... Florida or the moon?"

The other blonde turns and says: "Helloooooooooo, can you see Florida ?????"

Laugh-a-long-a-Tory

I HAD to blog this. I was going to avoid the politics thing, but this website is TOO funny not to share. It's like Trinny and Susanna meets Simon Cowell on a bad night out in Muirhead.

Here is what the General Public had to say about Helen Gardiner from Orkney during the recent elections:

"Her poster is adorning lamposts here in Orkney. Do they realise she looks as if she is advertising domination services"

"This Is Jimmy Krankie with a wig on, standing on a box . And wearing womeny clothes."

"Body from Baywatch. Face from Crimewatch"

"Face you could break slate with"

"she will kick your butt if you mess with her" (possibly the only one I agree with...)

Charlie the Chinchilla

Dedicated to the Liberal Democrats...

Charlie the Chinchilla was a little bit depressed. His brother, Larry the Lemming, was not his brother, but a Lemming. This can be a MAJOR disappointment when you discover the major raison-d’être of your average, common or garden Lemming: a consuming obsession with the bottoms of cliffs. Being the least intelligent critters of the animal world the most obvious route to said obsession was via the “jumping” method. This did not always end well.

Larry felt a bit queer. This wasn’t bad; it was a natural emotional process for a Lemming. He merely had to deal with it. Despite this, Charlie used this as the impetus for his own chosen course of action. He would FIX the situation.

And thus, Charlie the Chinchilla and Larry the Lemming would go to the Head Chinchilla (Brian the Chinchilla) to discuss the calamitous problem.

This was problematic in that Chinchilla’s weren’t known for their knowledge of astrophysics any more than Lemmings were.

“Ummm…” he ventured, “it’s difficult,” he finally sighed. Then his eyes brightened considerably. There was an idea forming as quickly as the broad grim across his Chinchilla mouth! “Simple: We go to the Rubbish dump just up the road. We get ourselves an old settee (or Chez Lounge) and rip open the furry bits and strap one of those springs to Larry’s head! Then he can jump off whatever bloody cliff he likes!”

Despite the fact that Larry the Lemming would have to wear a spring on his head for the rest of his natural life, Charlie the Chinchilla wasn’t depressed any more. And maybe… just maybe… that’s all that counts. When it took his whim, Larry could jump off whatever the hell he liked and as he plummeted over each precipice would cry out in happiness: “AARDVARK LOGIC!” This was because Larry was, in spite of his happiness, still stupid.

Sic Transit Independence

(BBC Website: Check Link) A grandfather whose decision to challenge a Holyrood result clinched election victory for the SNP has been hailed as hero by his party.

Former council official David Thompson was the last MSP to be elected, giving the SNP its one-seat lead over Labour.

But the result came after he demanded a recount of the Highlands and Islands list ballot, which had given Labour four MSPs and the SNP none.

The final result saw Labour get three, the Tories two and the SNP two.

Mr Thompson had lost out in the Ross Skye and Inverness West constituency vote earlier in the day.

With the SNP two seats ahead, the results of the Scottish Parliamentary election hung on which final seven MSPs would be elected from the Highlands and Islands.

Nationalists' hero

Amid huge tension inside the hall of the cavernous Inverness Sports Centre, returning officer Arthur McCourt was about to announce that Labour had won four list seats - which would have given them election victory.

But in dramatic scenes, Mr Thompson stepped in to challenge the figures.

Officials conducted a hasty recount and returned with a new set of results which saw the SNP become the parliament's largest party with a total of 47 seats to Labour's 46.

The last seat to be read out went to the Nationalists' hero of the hour, 57-year-old grandfather Mr Thompson, who will sit at Holyrood for the first time.


We were told that we didn't have any seats in the Highlands and Islands on the list which I knew had to be incorrect
David Thompson MSP

He told the BBC that it felt fantastic to be the 47th SNP MSP.

"It was on a bit of a knife edge for quite a while," Mr Thompson said.

"We didn't get our result until five o'clock. We were the last result in in the country and there was a bit of confusion at the count as well.

"We had to call for a recount of the figures because initially we were told that we didn't have any seats in the Highlands and Islands on the list which I knew had to be incorrect.

"When the returning officer redid the calculations we ended up with two including myself."

Mr Thompson joined the SNP at the age of 16 and said he now hoped to play his part in moving Scotland towards independence.

Peyote

The Results

Okay. So Labour got a monumental drubbing at the polls.

Lets start off with Engerland.

Thus far the English Council Elections should have been better for Engerland. All indications were that the result couldn't get any lower...

English Local Council Elections:

	Councillors		Councils
Party	+/-	Total	+/-	Total
After 308 of 312 councils.
CON	875	5077	38	162
LAB	-485	1803	-8	34
LD	-242	2113	-4	23
OTH	-140	1075	0	5
NOC	-	-	-26	84

That's an ass whipping by any stretch of the imagination!

Switch to Wales:

Welsh Assembly Results:

Party	Const	Regn	+/-	Tot
After 60 of 60 seats declared
LAB	24	2	-4	26
PC	7	8	+3	15
CON	5	7	+1	12
LD	3	3	0	6
Others	1	0	0	1

Not the best, but still a minor loss... Personally I blame Charlotte Church.

Scottish Council Elections are still to come...

And us... Yes: SCOTLAND. How did we do?

Well... I'd post the result, but I'd be crowing... We whipped their arses and made them kiss our shiny metal arses!

No amount of "weeeelll... it wasn't as good as..." will take away this day. If the Retard or the Scum says it was them wot won it they're a bunch of liars.

I asked: Vote Independence.... And you fucking did! YOU DID!

That fought and died for...

Hell yes!

And now for the referendum... ;-)

Independence Day (Part One)

On Friday you are going to wake up and wonder what the hell just happened.

Tomorrow you are going to visit your polling station and vote three times. Always for party(s) who believe in Independence.

Tomorrow, you are spartacus!

Was that a bit melodramatic? I guess. You'll have to forgive me that one slip up. (actually you'll have to forgive me quite a lot...)

Anyway. Todays topic is: "Because it just is." When you were four, you had a friend (who was slightly older) who couldn't understand why you didn't / would do something they wanted you to do.

Let me take you through it:

"Ah want ye tae be het in tig."
"Naw."
"Aye!"
"Naw!"
"Why no?"
"Because."
"How because?"
"Just because!"

And that's my point. I've been engaging the general public in pro-independentisting this election. The most frustrating ones to talk to are those thirty-something four-year-olds who vote labour because "that's what you did". Fuxache... some days it could make me spree kill...

It's not the absense of decision making that bugs me, honestly! It's the fact that they've denied themselves a say in the vote (daddy voted labour, and so will I); it's the fact that they take the trouble to get themselves along to their polling station to DEMONSTRATE their sheepness!

And there you have it. The nation who stood against the Romans and drove them from the Antonine Wall. The nation who stood and fought while the Vikings, Angles and Saxons came. The nation who rose again and again. The nation who saw the union and rebelled (1715) and rebelled (1745) and rebelled (1797) and rebelled (1820) and rebelled (1919) and... unforgivably... somehow started saying BAAAA!

It's pathetic. But once, just once, we seem to have looked at ourselves, looked at our lot and said: "Haud oan... naw... this isnae right... This is OOR LAND. Ye cannae tax us intae poverty. Ye cannae jist abandon oor brothers an' sisters tae poverty when yer ain are livin' the high life. Wuv goat eight oot the ten maist poor areas oan this fuckin' island, and then.. THEN ye decided tae send oor kids tae kill foreigners cos ye want their oil? Naw. It's no' fuckin on."

I think... if nothing else... this election is where we stop voting for Labour because our parents did. I think that this election is where we stand up for all residents of this country because it is right to do so. We deserve something better than what we have.

Labour negativity is a joke. "Don't vote SNP... Cos... Just because... It'll be bad and everyone will be poor and die horribly... urg... no... please?"

Tomorrow: you aren't voting for yourself. You aren't voting to keep your nice house, your big screen TV, your very nice collection of clothes from Next. You are voting for your children. You are voting for your future. One path involves ID cards, CCTV, higher council taxes and war. The other involves an equitable tax system, no war, freedom, peace and prosperity.

It's not hard is it?

Vote Independence - Quotes...

Man... I'm a Blog machine this week... Every day so far.

So... Indy quotes. I figured that since I was too busy doing stuff that I wouldn't ACTUALLY go out and seek real quotes for Independence. I'd make them up instead. If you particularly want to see one on the internet, that's what the comment function is for.

William Wallace: I can't believe you thought I looked like that fucking Australian. Shouting "You missed one at the back!" during Braveheart does NOT make you a patriot! Dear god Barbie... try and at least TALK to someone about Independence this side of the election so that deep down (deep deep down) you feel as if you took part.

Robert T Bruce: 'Tis better to win, than to take part. So... here's a tip from Scotland's best machiavellian King (on AND off the park). If your blonde co-worker is bitching about Independence and you can't persuade her: don't keep wasting your time, get your sister - cousin to use her vote. Also, instead of going postal against Labour Party politicians, why not do stuff like say you were a lifelong labour voter... but NOT NOW! Because of the War in Iraq, your local hospital being shut down or because of the Council Tax. Be subtle... make them feel bad!

Andrew De Moray: Okay, so you've graduated from being a 90 minute Freedom Fighter at Hampden to being a nine-week Nat during the election. But this is about committment to the cause. Think about Bannockburn people... (which I missed because of a slight case of death) If people had gone home after the game then we wouldn't be free. We needed the committment of 1320... And the committment to get us through the Second War of Independence.... Or the Committment to hide the REAL stone of Destiny... (on that point, me and Wallace took the black carved marble rock to an Inn and Dundee and... jeez... we got so drunk me and Wallace made "Mad Maeve fae Dumbarton" Queen of Scotland for thirteen whole minutes!

Mirren: Could someone tell Billy his tea's on the table?

Wendy Wood: Could one of you losers make sure my Lion Rampant gets back up on Stirling Castle when Independence is declared? Incidentally, sisters across Scotland fought for the right to vote, not so that you could bitch about how you had no one to vote for, but because we wanted to give you a chance to make a difference for all of us. Even spoiling your ballot paper makes a difference. Staying at home does nothing. All reasons why are merely excuses. THIS IS YOUR TIME TO BE HEARD.

Thomas Muir: There's a big world out there waiting to recognise YOU as a people in your own right. I know you're scared, I know everyone is saying that it can't work... But I'm not asking you to trust me. I'm asking you to believe in yourself for ONE ELECTION. Just one, because that's all it takes...

Okay.. me again... Right, so those people aren't speaking from the grave, and I'm using humour to make a political point. But since I get a SHITLOAD of readers and very few comments I thought you might listen to the dead more than you listen to me.

It just takes a day to make things better. Just one.

If you tolerate this... then your children will be next

" Or like the snow falls in the river,
A moment white-then melts for ever;
Or like the Borealis race,
That flit ere you can point their place;
Or like the Rainbow's lovely form
Evanishing amid the storm. -
Nae man can tether Time nor Tide,
The hour approaches Tam maun ride..."
from Robert Burns - Tam O' Shanter

I've been here before. If the Pro-independentistas fall on friday night, I can already hear the tears and the anger. I can witness the hate against a unionist press. The press don't care, they are merely doing the jobs their bosses pay them for. I guess they don't realise how much independence means to those who believe in it.

I joined the SNP after the 1992 general election, because I was angry that "Scotland Free by '93" didn't happen. The first meeting I went to was only bearly quorate and there wasn't a great deal to do because the election was done and we were merely mopping up afterwards. I remember a list of people who didn't turn up at the meeting who hadn't bothered to send apologies. I didn't know them, and I wouldn't get to know them. They wouldn't bother returning to the Condorrat SNP while I was there.

And on Friday, I get to witness this madness again. Maybe, just maybe, the SNP will get in. Maybe the pro-indy vote will finally charge the fields of paper and council bureaucracy to finally go legit.

But the kicker is, that if we don't, we been campaigning so long we forgot that we are just flesh in blood inside. We forget that if the result doesn't go our way, some of our friends are going home and we won't see them again. Maybe that's the case for us, maybe that's the case for the Labour Party. We forget how much losing hurts because it matters so so much.

So, friday for me means one of either two things: one, partying like never before because once, JUST ONCE! we are ONE STEP closer to freeing our people. Or two: counting the dead from another lost election.

This is why I joined Siol nan Gaidheal and the SRSM, because IF the bad results come in, I know I'm going to see the same faces I did before the count started.

But how can be a doom-monger? That's patently pointless given the polls. Lets be clear: only a MAJOR screw up or MAJOR screw job can fuck the SNP up now.

You can list our oppressors crimes in an encyclopedia; you can list the things they haven't done in a library. This is the most egocentric election you have ever faced. Will you watch your country go down the fucking toilet and vote unionist one more time? Just in case...

No. VOTE INDEPENDENCE and believe in the future.

Indy Poster

Vote Independence

The last thing our country needs right now is another three hundred years swearing fealty to unionists for simply being allowed to be a subject of Brenda Windsor.

I thought I would take this opportunity to address a few myths regarding Independence. In my own way... (ahem).

Myth 1: Home Rule means Pope / Prod Rule:

Dear god... this is by far my least favourite. This tends to centre around the West of Scotland and, frankly, should stay there. It's propagated by bigots who can't argue with you. It's directed towards their alcoholic neighbours and housewives who don't want to think for themselves. There... I said it. If you believe this: you are a moron.

I feel I should at least bother to try and refute this rather than just rant about idiots like this not being allowed internet access or telephones.

To my mind, we don't have the depth of division in Scotland that is apparent in traditionally sectarian countries. Yes, there is sectarian violence, but this has never been exploited by political parties, per se. The "myth" has proved to be a feature in some areas for the Labour Party, but by no means would I suggest that this is endemic in top levels of the party.

Equally, take politics today. Voters in Airdrie, traditionally "labelled" a protestant heartland got angry (and rightly so) against Labour in Karen Whitefields constituency precisely because she stood idly by and let Catholic Coatbridge build all it's nice shops, leisure centres, bowling alleys and cinemas while finding something else to while their hospital was shut down. Chances are that Karen's game is a bogey and the SNP will get Airdrie. Nobody brought up religion, if you read the local newspapers is bread-and-butter politics being discussed.

My reasoning is that you aren't morons. Yes, our system is complete shit, but I have a higher opinion of you than that at the first opportunity you'll wander off and batter the next ethnic minority at the first opportunity. I've sat behind you in buses. You're quite nice. Really...

Myth 2: Ooh... Nationalism... that's bad... that's like... violent and stuff...

This one rips my knitting as well.

After the Perth AGM of Independence First I was in a pub with a guy who I discussed my membership of Siol nan Gaidheal. He was a left winger and brought up the fact that we're all bad nasty fascists and racists and so were the SNP and... You get the point. This comes more from the left than it does the right, but it's pretty endemic. It usually uses "Yugoslavia" as the "Aaa ooh!" part of it's song.

My answer to that is this: all politics has blood on it's hands. The left winger who makes allegations of racism is conveniently forgetting the blood on his own hands. I'll bet he's wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt. How many people did Che kill? He led ACTUAL revolutions. Now... that didn't involve him going to Bolivia to sell copies of the Socialist Worker. He took a gun.

And all over Europe and North America you'll find a trail of blood attributed to Socialism. You'll find Germany's Red Army Faction; Frances Actione Directe (sic); Red Brigades here, there and everywhere. Diet Red Brigades, Cherry flavour Red Brigades, Maoists, Trots and Commies all of who have rifles under their beds. You can go up to the Northwest of America and find the United Freedom Front and Red Guerrilla Resistance blowing up and robbing their way through New York. Lets be honest, the death toll is fucking huge.

Swing to the right wing and you'll find the Conservatives. Nothing bad about them, surely? Surely that nice Dictator Maggie Thatcher, who managed - miraculously - to have two separate wars and not invade someone once, didn't have links to nasty violent political people.

It's best not to ask them yourself. They'll probably neglect to mention Enoch "Rivers of Blood" Powell and Oswald "Crazy Bastard" Mosely (who was a member for the Tories in Harrow... which was nice): posters boys of your friendly neighbourhoodie fascists: the BNP, C18, National Front. They also might neglect to point out that they've sat next to "Psycho fun boy" Ian Paisley numerous times in numerous parliaments.

Your ballot paper is drenched in blood from the right wing to the left wing. Since the SNP was formed, it has been the most consistent vehicle for Independence. And they got a parliament without killing anyone. A damn sight better than the one gotten in Northern Ireland which has been dumped more times than I, or my wheely bin has been. Equally, the organisation I'm a member of: the SRSM helped persuade the groups who formed the original SSP that independence was a groovy idea and that they should hop on board the Indy train and dance to crappy folk music like the rest of us.

My point to unionist is this: if you want to look for violent ghosts in shadows, you'd be better served looking in your own political parties rather than in my Pro-Independence belief system. Most of the unionist parties have had members who have either advocated or attempted to create rivers of blood.

Myth 3: We cannae afford it Captain... there's nae merr money!

I can't help being patronising sometimes. It's just who I am:

Oh really... the country who spawned the guy who INVENTED the Bank of England can't build a decent economy. The country who spawned THE OTHER GUY who first documented Capitalism can't work out how to pay the bills? (William Paterson fae Tinwald in Dumfries and Galloway founded the Bank of England and Adam Smith fae Kirkcaldy worked out capitalism an' that).

Frankly, if you're stupid enough to subscribe to that myth you just lost the right to talk to me.

Myth 4: Black Gold

I think I missed that meeting. You know... the one where it was agreed that your country has to have oil to exist. Or to economically proper...

Ssshhhh... I just had an idea. If you're Irish you'd better go read something else. By that argument we should invade so that we can liberate them from their "non oil"ness. It would be only honourable on our part. We'd be doing them a favour.

They've a successful economy and don't have oil. Hmmm...

Either way, there is NO PROOF being documented that Oil is about to run out in the North Sea. And if it does... So what? Other countries proper, why the hell can't we?

Myth 5: Passports and Border Guards

My good friend Alyson probably worries about this one. Her current squeeze, Stevie from Jasper Carrot country, might be affected by the very issue.

Aside from the fact that people living here would get naturalisation rights and nationality IF THEY WANTED IT... It's in most of the manifestos and press briefings.

Honestly, Pro Indy supporters are all rather Swedish and nice about this issue. We want to be cool and nice and groovy and don't want to make your life, like, hard... dude. We're all cool.

I can guarantee there won't be any sniper towers this side of Gretna at any time. If "Stevie" is stopped at the border, it's merely because I fancy his girlfriend and nothing to do with the fact he's English....

Aftermath

Hello you.

I don't think I'll expand much more than that. First off thanks to the Maryhill Mob's photos from Glencoe and Arbroath, much appreciated! They'll appear on the interweb in due course.

Strange week all in all. Not much I can say this side of the election, which I'll admit bothers me. The thing I liked about my blog is that I was honest (if a bit weird and cryptic at times, admittedly) but now I'm being all political and keeping things quiet.

Not that anyone ELSE is doing that... Threads on Freescot and Our Scotland blowing the gaff wide open... tsk tsk.

Still, Mr. Bell has taught me a phrase in Gaelic I requested of him: Èirichidh sinn a-rithist.

Nevertheless, my opinions on the Independence First "Non-event event" (similiar to this) are better summed up, in metaphor, but Doctor Cox of Scrubs:

"Hey, Ghandi. For your information, I attended that poor vegetable's funeral every single time I set foot in his room over the last six weeks. Thank God the family finally moved him over to Surgery, where you guys were good enough to help him kick that nasty oxygen habit he had once and for all."

And this little classic from Dr. Cox from Scrubs:

Listen Vanessa Janice Tiffany Amber Thiessen. I'm gonna go ahead and give ya a little something I call Perry's Perspective. 1. If the guy in front of me in the coffee shop can't decide what he wants in the 30 minutes it takes for him to get to the
register, i should be allowed to kill him. 2. I'm fairly sure that if they took all the porn off the Internet, there'd only be 1 website left, and it would be called Bring Back The Porn. 3rd, and most important, to be respected as a doctor, nay a man, you must be an ocean. You're born alone, you damn sure die alone, (looks over and speaks to a cadaver rolling by) isn't that right Spike? My point is, and you may want to jot this down... only the weak need help.

You see my point?

Disheartened and pissed the fuck off.

Arbroath Smokin'

Today was the Arbroath Rally. As always the pub was better organised than the march and rally beforehand. Jacobiker (who occasionally stops by my blog) I can only apologise. He's the most dedicated guy for Scottish Culture I know and missed the boozing session where we were REALLY organised. I think I owe the guy more than a few drinks. In fairness that's true for the rest of the planet but I'll gloss over that one.

Naturally the weegie contingent were late. But we partied hardy until we left for Weegie Land. Then I got home. Eventually.

Hopefully my camera worked. I still haven't quite gotten around to working out how to rewind the smegger, but that'll have to wait until the morra. There IS a manual. But the camera is from the 60s, is Russian and none of the controls are in English. If you're expecting pictures in the next few days, unless some of the Chronciles Maryhill readers send me photos, I wouldn't hold your breaths...

I heard more than I my fair share about scurrilous rumours I heard at said event. I'm so pissed off I'm tempted to share... Since we don't have myspace "how am I feeling today?" capabilities here in the chronicles, I'll just have to take you through my emotions and you can guess: first I was disheartened, then I was resigned, then I got angry, penultimately I got REALLY angry and finally I went postal on a Richmond Superking Methol Cigarette (which did my bronchitis no good whatsoever).

I had one of those moments I rarely get where a few people said: "Do you have a Blog? Is it ra Chronicles?" So hello to my extra two readers... Commendments on your excellent choice in blog reading!

Next major Republican Socialist event is May Day. We're intending to show up and march with oor flags. This event is naturally going to be hoaching with Labourites and Trade Unionists who are wondering who the dudes in Kilts and Red shirts are with the Red Flags marching like paramilitaries.

How can YOU FF Chronicles Bloggerinos take part? Easy. Wear a red top. Find dudes at the May Day Rally in Glasgow (whenever the hell it is) carrying flags you can see on the left and go and say hello. Don't worry, I know it can be difficult meeting new people, but we're really nice... honest. Well... I say that. I am. Ish. Look look look, come and say hello. Say you read the Firefox Chronicles and that Kenny invited you. They're treat you well and someone will give you a swig from their hip flask. What more can I offer... free alcohol!

Why... why go somewhere where there's likely to be a lot of pissed off Shop Stewards and Labour Politicians? I bet you're thinking: "My, Mr. Kenny, that so totally doesn't sound even remotely appealing. Why for are the SRSM going along to May Day?" Well, my inquizitive Bloggerinos, going to May Day is a bit like shagging Jordan. You know you don't want to, but you know you're probably going to have to at some point. You just have to make sure that Peter Andre isn't there with a video camera when you do.

Naturally you're welcome to show. Please say hello. No-one says hello to me in my blogging capacity nearly enough...

My Novel

Well... I finally did it. Barring spelling and grammer checks... it's done. It's amazing what being housebound with bronchitis can do for your literary productivity.

The science fiction novel I've mentioned here and there in the blog is now done... finally. I've officially gone up the rung from "aspiring" to "unpublished" since I have something for publishers to refuse!

Actually, I'm thinking about using Lulu dot com for the book, but either way the story is done.

Thank christ for that... I was getting obsessive, honestly. If you want a PDF copy email: kenny.sheerin@gmail.com This is a one time only offer to Firefox Chronicles readers of a free novel. No ifs, no buts, just a free PDF copy of a novel via email. As soon as I get the thing on lulu that's the offer over. And that's just a matter of reformatting the effin' original word document!

If this was myspace, i'd put my mood on as "over the fucking moon"

Message ends.

Zen and the Art of Postering

Vote Independence

A PDF file for a poster is available here...

Indy First March 31 - The Photos - Another Set

Indy First March 31 - The Photos

Reasons for Scottish Independence #16 - The Great Deception

Niall Aslen in an accountant with a brain the size of a planet.

This little nugget of economics is well worth reading. Normally I'm a bit off with economics. Don't get me wrong, I understand this shinto. I did a bit of it at University, I just think it puts people off.

BUT, Niall is very thorough and very intelligent, so it would be remiss of me not to post this on to both my bloggerinos.

Reasons for Scottish Independence #15

Sweet little lies

SRSM Speeches at Glencoe 1990

The following is a video of SRSM speeches back in 1990.

The SRSM Video.

Letter from Cornwall

A Kenny Sheerin ker,

I am a Penryn born Cornishman from the United Kingdom and a growing Cornish and Breton speaker. I have been raised by a family and community that has endowed me with what can be best described as a Cornish national identity, another way to look at it would be of Cornish ethnicity.

The Cornish are a Celtic ethnic group and nation of the southwest of Great Britain. We have our own lesser used Celtic language (Cornish), sports, festivals, cuisine, music, dance, history and identity. Cornwall also has a distinct constitutional history as a Duchy with an autonomous stannary parliament. This Celtic Cornish identity was recognised and described in the April 2006 edition of National Geographic.

The results from the 2001 UK population census show over thirty seven thousand people hold a Cornish identity instead of English or British. On this census, to claim to be Cornish, you had to deny being British, by crossing out the British option and then write Cornish in the others box. Additionally the decision to collect information on Cornish identity was extremely badly publicised.

How many more would have described themselves as Cornish if they did not have to deny being British or if there had been a Cornish tick box? How many people knew that it was an option? How many ticked British but feel themselves to be Cornish British?

Cornwall Council’s Feb 2003 MORI Poll showed 55% in favour of a democratically-elected, fully-devolved regional assembly for Cornwall, (this was an increase from 46% in favour in a 2002 poll). Many English and other nationalities who have settled in Cornwall wish to see an assembly as some of these people identify closely with Cornwall and actually feel ‘Cornish’. London, Wales and Scotland have devolved assemblies and are still part of the United Kingdom as well as the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey - why not Cornwall ? The Cornish Assembly petition was signed by 50,000 people, which is the largest expression of popular support for devolved power in the whole of the United Kingdom and possibly Europe.

In July 2000 Mebyon Kernow launched the Declaration for a Cornish Assembly campaign which some three months later led to the creation of The Cornish Constitutional Convention with the objective of establishing a devolved Assembly for Cornwall. In less than two years, it had won the support of over 50,000 people, which equates to more than 10% of the Cornish electorate. A delegation led by the West Cornwall Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George and representatives of the Cornish Constitutional Convention (Bert Biscoe, Richard Ford, Dick Cole, David Fieldsend and Andrew Climo Thompson) presented 50,000 declarations to 10 Downing Street on Wednesday 12th December 2001 calling for a Cornish Assembly. This was an opportunity to give the people of Cornwall the chance to demand greater control over their own future.

A recommendation by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on the ‘concept of nation’ has been backed by the European Parliament regional and minority language Intergroup.

The PACE recommendation stated that, “Everyone should be free to define themselves as a member of a cultural “nation”, irrespective of their citizenship”. In response, the Intergroup commented that ‘Council of Europe member states should avoid defining themselves in exclusively ethnic terms, and should do their utmost to help their minorities, a source of enrichment, to flourish’. Today, both the French and the British Governments still deny people from some of the Celtic countries to legally describe themselves in terms of their Celtic national identities in all areas of life. Intergroup leader Mr Csaba Tabajdi, Member of the European Parliament, said that, this recommendation is of utter importance, representing a paradigm change in the protection of minorities in Europe. It contains a new, elaborate concept of nation.

The recommendation states that: The term “nation” is deeply rooted in peoples, culture and history and incorporates fundamental elements of their identity. “It is also closely linked to political ideologies, which have exploited it and adulterated its original meaning. Furthermore, in view of the diversity of languages spoken in European countries, a concept such as nation is quite simply not translatable in many countries where, at best, only rough translations are to be found in certain national languages.

The UK government has so far failed to recognise the Cornish people under the Council of Europe’s framework convention for the protection of national minorities.

The UK government has failed to give the people of Cornwall the democratic referendum on greater autonomy and a devolved assembly that they have shown a demand for.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and local government minister Ruth Kelly have been less than forthcoming to Mebyon Kernow under the Freedom of Information Act.

In 2005 Mebyon Kernow the party for Cornwall wrote to the then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister requesting copies of government documents prepared in the wake of the 50,000 signature “Cornish Declaration” which was passed to the Prime Minister on 12 December 2001.

Cllr Phil Rendle, MK’s Deputy Leader (Campaigns) explained:

“We have long wondered what Tony Blair’s government made of this magnificent expression of Cornish support for devolution. In 2005 we decided to use the Freedom of Information Act to find out. The result was disgraceful.”

Even though, the ODPM is obliged under the Act to respond to requests promptly and in any event no later than 20 days, Mebyon Kernow’s original request remains unacknowledged and unanswered. Last year, as part of their celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Declaration, MK resumed its demand – this time to Ruth Kelly’s new Department for Communities and Local Government. So far, two letters have been received – although no information has yet been released and no explanation or apology given for failing to respond to the 2005 request.

“Crucially” says Cllr Rendle, “the DCLG have admitted that ‘The Department holds the information you are seeking’ - but getting it into the public domain is proving difficult to say the least!”

The two letters are peppered with phrases such as “qualified exemptions”, “public interest tests” and the most tortuous reasons are given not to yield this information without delay:

“Your request, however, raises complex public interest considerations which must be analysed before we can come to a decision on releasing the information… consideration must be given as to whether or not the public interest in withholding the information requested outweighs the public interest in disclosing it…[the] balance needs to be struck between disclosing sufficient information to allow informed debate and protecting the space within which ministers are advised and formulate policy.”

The second letter from Ruth Kelly’s department pontificates:

“The application of the public interest balance in relation to this exemption is particularly complex. The public interest both in disclosure of some information and in the withholding of other information lies in what might broadly described as good government”!

Phil Rendle asks:

“We are just trying to find out what Government made of Cornwall’s 50,000-signature petition. Why all this prevarication? Why all this legalistic mumbo-jumbo? If government “holds the information [we] are seeking” why not release it to the people of Cornwall. We have received two stalling letters, but we will continue to press until all the information is released.”

1) I would like to know your position on national and linguistic minorities and in particular the Cornish question in the United Kingdom.

2) I would also like to know your thoughts on a devolved Cornish assembly.

I look forward to your response.

Lowena dhys

Phil Hosking

Letter from Cornwall - My Reply

Kenny Sheerin

************
***********
Republic of Scotland

Philip a charaid,

Firstly, thanks for getting in touch.

1) I would like to know your position on national and linguistic minorities and in particular the Cornish question in the United Kingdom.

I give unqualified support to Celtic Nations, peoples and linguistic minorities who seek any level of self-determination and advance of their cause. I do this as I recognise the position that Scotland is in, and the situation that minorities have throughout the Islands on which we live have inherited from history. I personally, recognise Kernow as a distinct and frankly beautiful culture in the Celtic pantheon. I can’t ask for Scotland something I would deny for Kernow. That would be hypocritical.

To me, the reason for Westminster’s intransigence on Kernow is simple. To Westminster, everything is an asset and not a living breathing human being with beliefs and culture. The treasury assigns our area a value and they’ll use any power in the playbook to make sure it doesn’t delete itself from their records.

For a people who once had such a vast empire it must be gloriously ironic that it splintered on them so quickly. The Brits will cling onto the UK that is left as long as it can in terms of money, power and the vain conceit of empire that still lingers. Maybe they get money out of it, maybe they’re just scared of change, maybe they are interested in the power that the name “UK” allegedly has. Either way it’s time for a new set of rules both for Kernow and for Scotland.

2) I would also like to know your thoughts on a devolved Cornish assembly.

If you asked me this question prior to the referendums on Scottish and Welsh Devolution I would have been sceptical about it. I have believed in Scottish Independence since I was a child in the 70s and saw little reason to change my mind. I saw the assembly option as being a bribe from Westminster to stop Independence happening. With the situation now in both Scotland and Wales, I am glad I was wrong – at least to an extent.

Decent steps forward have taken place both legally and culturally in terms of Scotland. The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 was a step forward I do not believe would have happened without devolution, and despite the shortcomings of the Act I would say a small step is better than no step at all. Therefore, I can’t see an Assembly for Kernow as being anything other than a benefit.

I do not believe, in the long term, that an assembly is any replacement for full independence. Recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are proof of this for both our peoples. The replacement for Trident to be based in Scotland will be Britain’s nicest and shiniest new nuclear deterrent is another reason to sever ties completely – because if you cannot control what does and doesn’t poison your country then your situation merits change. Only with full Independence do we get to say NO to the worst excesses of British Imperialism and only with full Independence do we get full responsibility in the eyes of the people be that responsibility cultural, fiscal or political. Only with full responsibility can any people rebuild self-respect lost while being occupied by another people. Naturally my beliefs here are tainted by Scotland’s own struggles in our own three hundred years (this year being the anniversary of our own entry).

I believe that an Assembly for Kernow would be a good initial solution to your own position within the UK; I am however sceptical about remaining within the UK as being a viable position. Unless an assembly is a staging post to full independence, I am sceptical in that I believe that it merely involves switching occupations from being Poacher to being Gamekeeper. Despite my cynicism on the role of an assembly, let me again give unqualified support to those who see it as the best solution to the issues you have raised. Only the Cornish can know best what is the best solution for them, and as I have previously stated my own beliefs will be tainted by the Independence Struggle here in Scotland.

You have also outlined to me, issues relating the UK Freedom of Information Act. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that Westminster would use the most banal weapon in it’s arsenal to insult the people of Kernow with: petty bureaucracy. It beggars belief how deep an insult it must be. It suggests that they can’t even be bothered to think up a decent response or excuse to the issues raised.

This lack of respect is common here as well. While the SNP and other Pro-Independence parties have been making inroads into the upcoming Holyrood Elections on May 3, the response from the Unionist Parties has been predictably disrespectful: for every positive policy by a pro-independence party there is remote control drone from London (or who at least wants to work there at some point) wheeled in front of some hack to be ever more hysterical and scaremongering about Independence. I’m sure comrades in Wales could give similar stories. I suspect that at some point after the election, if we don’t get independence, anyone who doesn’t wear an “I heart UK” badge will have to collect a bell and a little sign which says “unclean” on it.

Le Meas agus Slainte Mhath,

Kenny Sheerin

Skippyitis

I officially feel like crap. I have this weird throat chest bug thing that means that my voice no longer exists. It's not that bad, except in the sense of ordering cigarettes.

This is a strange process when you haven't a voice. You point, skippy like, at some green cigarettes on the other side of counter and have to navigate the shop assistant towards them. My results haven't been good. I've had to reject several brands of cigarettes and the odd cigar on the grounds that they weren't the right kind. Currently, if it was me trying to get the ranger to save those kids down that mineshaft they'd be deader than your average can of mackerel in tomato sauce.

Now... the more militant of both my readers will no doubt posit the point: "So why not take the opporchancity to give up smoking? You feel like crap anyway... you'll get to be healthier and etc." Well... the thing is. A) I'm not sure I WANT to be alive when the robots take over (I took the matrix as being prophesy rather than allegory) and B) I feel like crap. Giving up smoking makes me want cough all that gunk out my lungs and feel like crap. Call me picky, but I don't want to feel EVEN MORE like crap when my immune system is at it's most vulnerable.

So, anyway, how are you?