tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post3015120455274223025..comments2024-03-28T10:04:06.673+00:00Comments on SCOT goes POP!: The EU must stop accepting a 'this far and no farther' commitment to democracy as good enoughJames Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-3574221077744604722012-02-28T22:58:46.130+00:002012-02-28T22:58:46.130+00:00A better example than the Soviets might be the Ame...A better example than the Soviets might be the Americans. After all, they went to war to defend the illegality under the Federal Constitution of the South's secession in 1861.<br /><br />It's tough to argue with the thrust of this argument, but in practice, the EU isn't exactly a spirited defender of democratic principles these days. How else do we explain them permitting the foisting of fascist (in the political science sense) governments on Italy and Greece, and their respective budgets being dictated from Frankfurt?<br /><br />Considering Spain will in all likelihood be next for this treatment, the Catalans and the Basques would be better off not relying on the EU to intercede on their behalf, I reckon.Craig Gallagherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16651039747592264903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-5694334645767437312012-02-28T20:57:08.268+00:002012-02-28T20:57:08.268+00:00Good of the Catalans who want their own independen...Good of the Catalans who want their own independenced or autonomy to be sticking up for Scots.farmland investinghttp://www.greenworldbvi.com/alternative-investments-options/agricultural-farmland/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-62771372212557204002012-02-28T12:50:38.625+00:002012-02-28T12:50:38.625+00:00Conan
Not just that, the archer is an Eastern Aux...Conan<br /><br />Not just that, the archer is an Eastern Auxiliary Archer as I wanted to be the first to point out but NOOOO, you had to be first with the "knowing things" around here.<br /><br />Mail is like a string vest, it's not as horrible as wearing plateAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-28728627758378266912012-02-28T12:08:05.732+00:002012-02-28T12:08:05.732+00:00I stand corrected!I stand corrected!James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-11906057100915544092012-02-28T12:06:19.136+00:002012-02-28T12:06:19.136+00:00Just to be pedantic, but my guess is that they are...Just to be pedantic, but my guess is that they are Roman re-enactors judging by the ballista, gladius and and the composite bows.Conan the Librarian™https://www.blogger.com/profile/01904339261121451779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-63346868710534283872012-02-28T11:19:33.163+00:002012-02-28T11:19:33.163+00:00addendum's addendum
Catalana is quite a diff...addendum's addendum<br /><br /><br />Catalana is quite a different kettle of fish.<br /><br />They do have a different language (Catalan) to Spain (Castillian) and Catalan is close to the Oc language in SW France.<br /><br />The problem in their struggle for independence is that they are not unified in what they want after. <br /><br />The independence movement in Catalana is much more a mosaic of left and right with various fractions between and even beyond. <br /><br />They have been known in the Madrid parliament to vote against each other and sometimes back Madrid's position against Catalana for idealistic reasons.<br /><br />Unless they can resolve that disparity of political purpose I doubt whether they could muster a cohesive position to present on an international stage as to why their right for independence cannot be ignored or repressed. <br /><br />I suppose it is a bit like having separate Labour, Tory and LibDem parties in Scotland, all of which support the present situation and although nominally for some form of independence are still anchored to Madrid.<br /><br />I restate my position of just being a distant observer here and would be happy on any other resident, Scottish or native to these "regions" would care to elaborate and correct my misperceptions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-2931783509772491712012-02-28T10:55:42.070+00:002012-02-28T10:55:42.070+00:00addendum
There was a study carried out on "r...addendum<br /><br />There was a study carried out on "regions" most likely to benefit from being independent and which countries were closer to others economically.<br /><br />Scotland on the predictive index was no. 1 and Euskadi no. 2 I think.<br /><br />The Basques will get their independence from Spain and, let us not kid ourselves here, Scotland will give them a good precedent when they present their case on the international stage. Their language and other significant cultural differences make from Spain makes them more like Ireland than Scotland in comparison with England <br /><br />There is also the black spectre of Guernica where in 1937 the Luftwaffe and the Franco's fascists combined to practice genocide by way of saturation bombing of a town and its inhabitants. Shades of Homs here?<br /><br />Salmond and the SNP must not be seen to get involved in the "internal" politics of Spain but, a few Basque observers and contacts through Spanish / Scottish businesses might be mutually useful and off radar.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-12364911901866170892012-02-28T09:46:20.482+00:002012-02-28T09:46:20.482+00:00James
I live about 2 hours drive from Euskadi an...James<br /><br /><br />I live about 2 hours drive from Euskadi and 4 hours from Catalana.<br /><br />I pass through one of them 3 or 4 times a year on the way further south.<br /><br />I claim no great insight to the culture or mentality of the people in either "region" except a bit about Euskadi which touches a geographical area where I have contacts and sometimes work.<br /><br />However talking to Basques I am convinced that their economy, and that of Catalana (they also admit) is the motor of the Spanish economy. They are taxed and then receive back pocket money. Sounds familiar. If these two "regions" secede Spain is Greece Mark II and end of the Spanish dream. The Basques are different, linguistically uniquely different and very, very proud of that.<br /><br />The Basques are also completely mad at the steering wheel. I think they all learned to drive from the internet using Grand Theft Auto. You are driving at 120 kph in solid traffic and some ersehole will be up up your exhaust pipe flashing his headlamps want to go past at 160. Never seen anything like it before and I have been more places.<br /><br />Don't drive there, arrive by plane and take a taxi.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-41997526691423558472012-02-28T08:57:42.209+00:002012-02-28T08:57:42.209+00:00Good article although I think Eck will be keeping ...Good article although I think Eck will be keeping schtuum about Catalnoia until after independence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-86125650840938715612012-02-28T07:19:14.241+00:002012-02-28T07:19:14.241+00:00There was some sort of medieval festival going on ...There was some sort of medieval festival going on along the sea-front. I don't know how they could stand it in that heat.James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-91711071310641338092012-02-28T07:11:08.534+00:002012-02-28T07:11:08.534+00:00Judging by the costumes, you took that photo a lot...Judging by the costumes, you took that photo a lot longer ago than eighteen months.Cordon Blahnoreply@blogger.com