Artist’s impression of independent Scotland border crossing.
As the referendum for Scotland’s independence is looming, what are those of us watching from afar to make of all this? How should Britons, especially naturalised ones react if Scots vote yes?
Now that the prospect of independence is clear and present, and the prospect of waking up on 19 September to discover the union has been defeated, it will be a sad end for a three hundred years union.
This decision of the Scots will affect every Briton outside Scotland. Our country will change. At its most basic, a yes vote will mean that, at a stroke, the UK will lose a third of its land mass and close to a tenth of its people. The mountains and lakes of Scotland will still be there, of course, but they will be the terrain of a foreign country. As one Czech who remembers the sensation when his country no longer included Slovakia said: “It felt like an amputation.”
‘British” will become an extinct term, too baggy and ill-fitting for the rump UK left behind. The English will account for more than 90% of the population of this leftover entity, while the Welsh and Northern Irish huddle together making up the rest. We will have to let go of British and Britishness, terms long mocked for their vagueness but useful all the same. Not least for those of us from minorities, who have found living in a country defined by its very plurality, a composite of four nations from the start, easier than in most places. “British” works well next to an unseen hyphen – black British, Muslim British, Jewish British. But if Scots vote yes, we will have to learn that trick anew alongside the word “English”, a category whose history is not quite as generous.
Until now, Britain has represented a rare experiment in shared sovereignty, pooling risks and resources across borders. But a yes vote will end all that.
Bits of this article where taken from:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/05/britain-scotland-independence
Pytje shumë me vend. Na anglez s’un bohem (e as qe dojna). Britanik nuk jena mo. Ku n’hamom kanë me na bo venin?
Ku po e leni Wales me Northern Ireland!
Hiq s’po ma merr mendja qe Skotlanda ka me votu Po!
Scotland ka me votu PO dhe i lumte dora atyre qe do ta bejne kete, krejt lenden e pare aty po e merren madje dhe 90% te ujit
It’s on 18th and No i doubt they will divorce from Uk ! Apart of Black Sea which generates £5B in revenue what else have the got ? Without the Big power from London they will strugle just like Greece/Ireland and other country’s in Eu besides all that what will they use ?? British Pound ? Euro ? It’s difficult if they decided to stay within uk will be good for Great Britain as it won’t effect there diplomacy across the globe but if it goes on its own then they only will effect the Flag which will be without the Blue Colour The rest of uk will continue with its duty here and abroad with or without Scotland !!!
artur’s point is v. good. also without scotland there in no uk, which was formed by joining the kingdoms of england and scotland. what will the rest of us call ourselves? like all divorces, this one may start amicably but the lawyers will make sure it rurns bitter. me mire te rrijme bashke.
Thanks Ylber for the right date, I’ve corrected it.
Calm down everybody, they’re going nowhere. Who in their right mind would want to leave this great country of ours? 🙂
Country of ours ?? They been one country for over 300 years and still don’t call it country of ours we came over about 17yrs ago and it’s our country ?? Doubt that 😀
I don’t.
it is quite long enough. and it is possible to become a londoner in 3 weeks
it is quite long enough. and it is possible to become a londoner in 3 weeks
Not that we have a say but I could express an opinion on the Independence vote though. I’m neutral on the issue. If the Scottish majority want to be their own independent nation, then I’m all for it. They shouldn’t be tied to a union they want no part of, and I’ll wish them nothing but success if they do go it alone.
I don’t think anybody voting Yes deserves demonising in the media or by the staunch No supporters I have amongst my friends.
I used to think that Scotland had become part of the UK by force, so I was strongly in favour of independence. It turns out that wasn’t the case, so now I have no strong feelings on the matter. And neither can I be bothered to follow the economic arguments (which aren’t all that conclusive from the little that I have read/heard).
As for what will happen with the UK afterwards, it is difficult to predict. Northern Ireland might be the most volatile part, and that is where nationalism can become a little dangerous. Hopefully, there won’t be a revival of the IRA. Whereas Wales is far from becoming an issue. There isn’t much nationalism on that part of the UK. At most, it will be the onset of a peaceful form of patriotism, which will result in independence many years down the line.
Lastly, I don’t think there should be much worry about the terminology to be used with respect to the naturalised brits. There are naturalised germans/italians/spanish/french/etc., right? So why can there not be naturalised english, or naturalised scottish (say, depending on where the immigrant has been living)?!