A roaring mass of 16 to 17 years old cheered on a debate over Scottish arguments on BBC Radio Five Live and BBC One last night (11/09/14). The virulent applause for any argument favouring independence no matter how banal and limp they were became a constant thorn to my ear. The lack of cohesive arguments, the inability to form understandable points, and the diatribes bordering on the inane led me to despair.
(Image: still from Braveheart)
I thought the referendum on independence would offer the opportunity for Britain to extoll some of the virtues that had once made this cold and wet island a power-house around the world. Was this not the island that instigated the industrial revolution, the birthplace of Adam Smith, John Locke and Thomas Paine? Is this not a place that prides itself on some of the finest educational centres in the world Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and St Andrews? The proceedings that I struggled through left me doubting the importance of history. The arguments certainly left me in no doubt that the independence debate had lost so much credibility that it now borders on a farce. I do not need to even add any comic elements – Nicola Sturgeon’s rebuttal at one stage was “No it’s not, no it’s not, no it’s not.” Wow, the eloquence is stifling. Yes, the opposing argument may not have been correct (and may have been made by a man who acted like a cat on national television), but seriously is not the art of winning an argument based on the premise that you make an argument. Maybe I am wrong, it might simply be a case of drowning out any sound with your voice until the opponent submits – this was certainly the rule of the playground.
The days leading up to the referendum have also pushed me down paths destined for despair for the future of Britain, England, and Scotland. The comments that we have heard over the last few days have managed to subvert the very ideals that the independence movement could have delivered. For once, the people could have been put to the centre of the political process, but unfortunately the large corporations and the media crazed politicians have snapped at the chance to make a headline.
If we take a moment to analyse the language being thrown around, we can see how any intellectual (meaning that someone has thought) notions have been left to rot and fester at the side of the road of politics. On more than one occasion this week Alex Salmond has iterated that the “Westminster Coalition” are using scaremongering tactics, and he has also accused them, especially the three main party leaders trip to Scotland, of pressing the panic button. However, is it not the case that the very use of such terminology meant to incite elements of panic and fear in the listener. So, should it not be made clear that the actions of the Scottish National Party (SNP) are, to some extent, as bad as those of the people based in London. On a side note, I have always been loathe to accept that a nationalist party is a wholly good idea. Was it not recently when many were disgusted by the actions of the British National Party? Are not there many who question the actions of Marine Le Pen’s Front National or Geert Wilders Party for Freedom? More so, were not jingoistic beliefs an important component for the many atrocities the befell the twentieth century? Do not get me wrong, I do not think the SNP is a party that should be feared in respect to the questions posed above. However, is it not prudent to question nationalist sentiment in today’s world. I am probably wrong – just a thought.
I realise that most of the points made so far are generally tenets made in relation to the politics of the situation and the politicians. However, the feelings imbued with this moment are stronger because the event held so much promise – alas we have been disappointed again. Next weeks referendum captured not only the interest of Britain and its constituent parts, but having recently spoken to someone from the Basque region next weeks vote has seized the imagination of other places around the world. As a British person, I am glad that it had this impact – my current feeling is less positive. This referendum was initiated, thankfully, not by a civil war or anything as destructive as that; nevertheless, the repercussions of next weeks events could herald in a new era for Scotland. They have the opportunity to initiate new laws, a constitution, and attempt to place foundational blocks in the building process of a country. Yet these ideals have been allowed to fall away from the main current of debate as so well highlighted by Sturgeon. The question of independence has unfortunately fallen into the same hole as other political acts. It may have been better for clear lines to be drawn as to what this debate should truly be about rather than scoring pointless shots about the deficiencies of each others political parties. If this had been kept a clean fight then not only would the ideals raised by the Scots could have shone and provided a beacon for other places to follow like Wales, Northern Ireland, Quebec, and the Basque. It could have also been raised to show the problems that stand within Britain. This could have been an act that served everyone and improved the lives of not only Scotsmen, but Englishmen, Welshmen, and Irishmen. It is a shame.
The arguments that have been making the rounds of the dailies are not short of an argument found in the playgrounds around this island between Monday and Friday. Frankly, the arguments have been a pointless as many of the arguments you can find in these playgrounds. The striking analogy is that of two adolescent teenagers making ridiculous arguments about they each have a bigger ‘member’. You will agree, this is stupid argument about something that is actually very important and becomes more important the older they become. When these teenagers are a few years older the argument becomes a little more complex and the argument takes on a different dimension – they begin a dialogue – is it a grower or shower? I would have hoped that the debate on Scottish independence could have been dialogue that discussed the importance of independence and the changing nature of it; rather than a shouting match that has only tried to show how big they are.
liberalknight 