I know a lot of ordinary British and Scottish people who are resolute in their NO vote for very good reasons, but it is striking that throughout the #indyref, the NO faction within the government and the media has so warmly embraced the rhetoric and posturing of an abusive partner. 12 days ago they said British troops would be stationed on the Scottish border. That was a weird, sinister thing to say. For one thing, I grew up on the Derry/Donegal border and we don’t have troops there, despite having had bitter paramilitary conflict in our very recent history. So it was a threat. Out of love of the union? Well, only two things regularly exalt love via threats, and one is a violent husband. (The other is the fortune cookies down the old Golden Phoenix in Rathmines. I twice got “your huge love for her will splitted you both open”). A day or two later they flew the Saltire over Downing St. Aka the sweet messages you send when you wake up once more to an empty house and bruised knuckles. A mawkishly insincere bit of empty sentiment from tone-deaf posh types who reckon commoners are so flag-mad that it’d be worth a shot. And then they send Cameron up to talk to those ordinary people, and the great communicator acts self-effacing and says “effing” – btw, cool dude alert! - with all the casual, easy charm you imagine him having were he stood terrified in his kitchen having to make small talk with the man who’s come to fix his dish washer; bringing up football, saying mate all the time etc. Were I Scottish, I don’t think I could vote anything but YES in the face of that.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 11:53:10 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015