As you know, I'm out of the country at the moment (albeit not in Indonesia, as someone thought on the previous thread). So I do hope you're duly appreciative of the fact that I forewent my siesta yesterday to write a new article for the TalkRadio website. It's about the mystery of why BBC Scotland have been so quiet about the Catalan independence referendum - particularly strange when you recall how interested Catalan media were in our own referendum three years ago. You can read the article HERE.
PhantomPower suggested that while I'm away, you might enjoy watching his latest film, featuring George Reid and Alan Bissett. Hopefully it will appear by the magic of technology in the space below...
(I can't actually access TalkRadio or YouTube at the moment, so if there's any problem with the above links, please let me know.)
(I can't actually access TalkRadio or YouTube at the moment, so if there's any problem with the above links, please let me know.)
Last but not least, I was contacted a couple of days ago with the news that Scot Goes Pop is number 11 in a new Top 100 list of Scottish blogs. I've no idea how the rankings were worked out, but you know me - I'll take any accolade that's going. The full list can be viewed HERE, and there are lots of interesting non-political blogs on it that I wasn't previously aware of, covering topics like travel, fashion and food.
Woo hoo my blog is there! (Though not as high as yours James)
ReplyDeleteWhich blog
DeleteWell done, as has been said before pop is essential reading helping to get the head round a lot of what is going on. Enjoy your holiday
ReplyDeletewot, no Wings???
ReplyDeleteWings are based in Bath, England so maybe that's why they're not included.
DeleteWhile I agree the Catalansshould be allowed to decide (although the extreme nationalists also claim the Balearics, Valencia, and part of France), that is not the same thing as supporting Catalan separatism, which includes a strong element of refusing to pay taxes for less wealthy parts of Spain - a bit like London demanding independence so as not to have to pay taxes for the North. Catalan separatism is, in some ways, comparable to Flemish nationalism, which is, for the most part, a very right-wing phenomenon. Those Flemish nationalists who don't make an explicitly ethnic, racist case make the case that 1) they don't want to pay taxes for the lazy, under-employed south (cf Andalusia) and 2) with independence, they would be free to pursue Friedmanite/Thatcherite economic policies.
ReplyDeleteSupport for the right of self-determinaation is one thing, support for separation in all cases is another. Not the same thing. Lenin, around 1914-16, when he was not representing the interests of any state, was very good on the principles involved, from the point of view of avoiding conflict between different nationalities/ethnic groups so as to promote progress on social/economic issues.
I agree with a lot of that, and it's why I sigh every time I hear Scottish independence promoted as being the vehicle to escape the Tory monster. It will hopefully be true, but to stake your claim to nationhood and independence on the back of an extension to existing party politics, is s bit bonkers. (I think)
DeleteIndependence is to escape Westminster dictatorship whatever party is in power.
DeleteIndependence is to be in the Union and not to be beholden to the Bundesbank and the unelected EU beaurocracy.
Delete"Independence is not being independent"? Are you on drugs?
DeleteJames, in all seriousness : can we please find out what substance GWC2 is using? This is not a joke. I mean, life is hard. people pay good hard cash for booze, pot, etc. even a good cup of tea costs a pretty penny or two. Let's find this out and sell it...split the profits with a pro independence effort...think about it...Boats and Ho's baby!!
DeleteI use hemorroid ointment to numb the pain
DeleteFash bhoy impersonator try swallyin a few suppositories and be surprised that they may stop you spoutin your bleedin crap.... Up yer kilt.
DeleteAs Martin McG says. I have always supported the right of the Catalan people to express their democratic wishes & consider self determination to as close to a universal right as any political idea can be but that is not to say I support Catalonian Independence. I have no idea why they want independence or what they stand for or believe in for the future of their country, should they establish it, so I have resisted all efforts by some on the Scottish Independence side who urge us to 'support the Catalans'. Similarly while I appreciate voices of support for Scottish independence from our friends & neighbours in other countries I don't want them projecting onto us their idea of independence. Every people have their own history, their own culture & their own political context & we need to be careful about sharing our platform with others who may appear to want the same things but may do so for very different reasons. The enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend.
DeleteWell said James.
ReplyDeleteCaledonia and Catelonia should both have the right to self determination within the European framework should they so desire.
What is happening in Catalunya under a crypto fascist administration in Madrid,is completely against the spirit and aspirations of most Europeans.
However,I suppose the problem is,at what level do you accept community representation as being valid?
How big does a community have to be to be recognised democratically as such?
One thing is for sure that England will never accept Scotland as an equal and will always seek to dominate us.
The methods may be different from Spain but the objective is the same.
Crypto fascist that is exceedingly exciting. What a blawhard ye are...! And we have Jock anti English fascists who are not Crypto.
Deleteit was up ma kilt that gave me piles
DeleteI see you're only ranked eight places above the BBC. You clearly need to raise your game. ;-)
ReplyDelete"a new Top 100 list of Scottish blogs" No credibility whatsoever. No Wings !? No "wee Ginger Dug". Wings is the most widely read blog in Scotland. And newspaper web sites are included. They are not blogs.
ReplyDelete