Tuesday 28 December 2010

The BBC film on Tommy Sheridan case


There are two days remaining on bbc iplayer to view the bbc programme about the rise and fall of Tommy Sheridan here is a link http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00xp4ps

Many questions remain unanswered. For example the George McNeilage, tape that was to provide vital evidence against Tommy, was it a fake? It is likely it was and earned McNeilage two hundred grand from the News Of The World.

Also why did the SSP meeting in which Tommy was believed to admit to his mistakes, was recorded in writing? Everything should have been done off the record.

Instead factions like the United Left in the Scottish Socialist Party became known as "Tommy Haters."

I hope those who have spoken to the media, or colluded with the NOTW enjoy their pieces of silver, Aye Right! the former comrades who testified against Tommy deserve to be held to account. They are a disgrace to the campaign for a Socialist Republic.

The future of Scottish Socialism may be seen in doubt, but instead those of us Scottish Republicans who believe firstly we must secure Scottish Independence, represent the best hope for a Workers Republic in future times.

Egos and jealously that have surrounded the actions of former comrades in the SSP will be their ultimate undoing.
Larry

Friday 17 December 2010

Vote for change and Scottish Democracy


Received this X-mas e-card from the SNP instead of a printed one in which savings can be directed to the SNP 2011 election appeal.

As we are approaching the end of the year thoughts turn to a better new year. In 2011 we will get the opportunity to vote the SNP back into Government here in Scotland.

The election campaign will be very important for the SNP as we have to persuade Scots that there is no point voting Labour since we end up getting English Tory rule from Westminster. What should be central to our thoughts is the only way to change the short comings of Devolution is to vote for Independence. Also on May 5th 2011 we can turn the AV referendum into an Independence Referendum. http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2010/11/30/important-announcement-an-independence-referendum-will-take-place-on-5th-may-2011/

Devolution or the Calman proposals fail to allow Scotland to build our economy and have full fiscal powers.

At New Year I will probably have a whisky while being conscience of the fact that taxation of our national drink goes down to London and into the uk treasury.

We have to get our message across to the people and fight back against unionist propaganda that we are not able to look after ourselves like other smaller nations.

The coming months will be interesting and can be a time for change. The need for Scottish Democracy is more apparent today than at any time in modern history.

I look forward to the challenges that us Nationalists have before us.

Tuesday 7 December 2010

Pressure politics and direct action


Mike Small freelance writer and co-editor of Bella Caledonia has a very good article on OurKingdom website today so named Scottish independence campaign aims to hijack AV referendum

Also interesting is that Bella Caledonia and the nationalist news service Newsnet Scotland are going to be collaborating in the run-up to the May Holyrood election. I have always argued that the Internet in terms of weblogs and websites beats the printed press in Scotland for news and views.

Mike writes: The campaign appears to be resonating with people. Older activists remember the days when the campaign for a Scottish Assembly was a hut and a fire on Calton Hill, or equate the anti-Trident direct actions with self-determination and the Committee of 100. Others remember the civil disobedience Poll Tax Movement as a force that helped to topple Thatcher or recall SCRAM (the Scottish Campaign to Resist the Atomic Menace). Democracy and direct action are intimately linked and any movement for change works better when it has action to feed off. Time will tell whether it will work.

This is interesting, progressive thinkers and writers see the need to link the desire for Democracy and Self Determination with the tools of Direct Action. You don't need to be a Scottish Socialist or Nationalist to understand that the British state cannot easily be reformed.

And to dismiss the Scottish Press and a blogger such as Ian Dale, Mike Small writes: Today, participative media in Scotland is stronger than ever - with a surge of high quality online content in the last year.

The above is true we can choose our own media and opinions on the net.

And so Mike writes: This campaign not only demonstrates the powerful voice of new media. It is about democracy conceived as something better than that handed down every five years.

The campaign has been described as simple populist agitation. It’s true that there is no substitute for a real independence referendum. But what is important is that the widest 'we' owns this and builds this - beyond any one party. One supporter of the citizens-referendum is Ian Hamilton QC – the man who liberated the ‘Stone of Destiny’ in 1954. He wrote: “There are times when our country needs troublemakers. This is one.”

I very much agree as I am a supporter of direct action. However securing the support of the SNP and the wider Independence Movement would be worthwhile. And I believe we must go beyond the converted and bring the message to the wider Scottish public. Not an easy task without access to the Scottish media.

As an SNP member I defend the party political actions but would have preferred if they had allowed the unionists to vote down the Independence Referendum Bill. It was a missed opportunity with little explanation about the decision.

Where we are ready to launch non party political campaigns moves to direct action it is vital that communication with many takes place. Support from all the pro-independence parties would also be worthwhile. Revolutions are best fought with a determined small minority. Scottish people when given a voice are crying out for change. Professional politicians are often disappointing even in Scotland. Scottish elections are significant but when we talk of real change I prefer pressure politics. To hell with the unionists and their defence of their brand of representative democracy.

And so it is worth appealing to readers on my weblogs to get behind the Bella Caledonia Independence / AV campaign.
http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/mike-small/scottish-independence-campaign-aims-to-hijack-av-referendum
Larry

Thursday 2 December 2010

Preserve oor mither tongue

I am pleased to be following the Scots Language Centre on Twitter
http://twitter.com/scotslanguage

The excellent website can be found at http://www.scotslanguage.com

You know dialectics are living languages and Scots is no exception. As someone who used to study Scottish Gaelic I know the importance of going on the defensive and being proud of our languages and culture. whether it is Scots, Gaelic or more regional such as Doric.

When I did International Voluntary Work in Ireland during the 1990s students from other countries could more easily understand the Irish speaking English rather than my Scots lingo that we all speak in Scotland. Yet the 26 Counties of Ireland was independent of England and we in Scotland were not. No wonder I was offended when asked by foreign students to speak the Queen's English?

At home I have a Scots dictionary which is good, but I can still write some Scots but not all of it. There are some talented Scots writers, and on the web I like reading a weblog by Sophia "Shootin fae the Shin" http://shootinfaetheshin.blogspot.com Guid auld Scots and some Embra culture fae Leith.

So be proud of your mother tongue and written Scots, it is a living language like any other that needs preserving.
Larry