tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191792642137667169.post4394667679988010075..comments2023-07-25T05:17:59.778-07:00Comments on Spectator: "Anybody Moves and the N***** Gets It"Jim Fairliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10520849145092267490noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191792642137667169.post-89568081275970170272012-09-05T13:37:23.935-07:002012-09-05T13:37:23.935-07:00Hi Jim,
I am sorry that you obviously found my to...Hi Jim,<br /><br />I am sorry that you obviously found my tone offensive, that was not my intention and I apologise unreservedly for any offence caused. However, my recollection of our meeting is clear. I am also clear that when I comment on other peoples political opinions I do not question their intellect; I might question their motives, reasoning, ideology etc. but I would never resort to insulting their intelligence.<br />You are right I have been round the blocks (literally) a few times over the years and my less than developed political thinking skills tell me that the referendum is a one off issue; it is probable that even if the referendum is lost, the SNP will still be returned to power in 2016!<br />In conclusion Alex Salmond has done more for the cause of Scottish independence than any Scot since William Wallace. His form of independence might not be the Ourselves Alone type, so favoured by so called fundamentalist nationalists, but it has a far better chance of convincing the Scottish people that they should govern themslves than promoting an isolationist form of nationalism more at home in North Korea.Will Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08483189321512803312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191792642137667169.post-82588142794735005082012-09-04T15:26:54.592-07:002012-09-04T15:26:54.592-07:00Since my confusion is so evident, at least to you,...Since my confusion is so evident, at least to you, perhaps you will be kind enough to explain to me what it is. I have absolutely no doubt the majority of Scots can tell the difference between the party policy of the SNP, and the issue of independence. In fact, the ex-Chairman of Dundee East SNP, as noted in the piece, made that very point when she resigned her party membership after 45 years but still intends to vote "Yes" in the referendum.<br /><br />Of course none of your points have anything to do with what I wrote, which referred to the impact that the change in policy on NATO will have on a substantial number of party members. The same sex marriage legislation will have little or no effect on committed Nationalists like the ex-chairman of Dundee East. However the effect it will have on those who first support the SNP and by association, independence, is something entirely different. That has obviously passed you by completely.<br /><br />Equality legislation has already had an impact on Catholic charities associated with placing orphan children. As I wrote, if the Church adheres to its principles and the teachings of the Church, as I believe it will, it will not be prepared to conduct same sex marriages. If it takes that stance, what will the authorities do? If they do nothing, there is no point in passing the legislation, therefore that is not an option.<br /><br />The state, whether it is run by the SNP or some other party, cannot force the Catholic Church to conduct a same-sex ceremony, nor would it try to. That leaves it one option, to remove the right to conduct a LEGAL ceremony in a church, any church, on the assumption that the other denominations adhere to their principles. The end result could then be that NO religion will be given the power to conduct a LEGAL marriage ceremony, whether heterosexual or same-sex. That is the logical conclusion to the situation which both sides of the debate now face.<br /><br />The Labour Party used to accuse the SNP of seeking to close all Catholic schools and said that that is what would happen in an independent Scotland. Many Catholics believed it. What will be the reaction of Catholics if their church is deprived of its right to marry them and they are forced to go through a civil service first in order to be LEGALLY married? Do you actually think that will have no impact on their intention to vote SNP? In some cases, it may not effect their decision to vote in the referendum but you are kidding yourself if you think it will have no effect on the "Yes" vote.Jim Fairliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10520849145092267490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191792642137667169.post-90059951520450937652012-09-04T14:47:32.656-07:002012-09-04T14:47:32.656-07:00As you do not identify yourself, it is a bit much ...As you do not identify yourself, it is a bit much to expect me to remember you. Was our meeting of such import that I could hardly forget it? You then go on to claim that I made comments about Alex Salmond that gave you to understand I did not like him, despite the fact you have no real idea what the comments were. Thus you have established a reason, at least one that satisfies you, to disagree with me and agree with Peter Bell and at the same time have a wee snipe of your own.I very much doubt that you have any regret whatsoever in choosing to write in this tone, as it seems to suit your approach.<br /><br /> Alex Salmond has engineered the election of the SNP to form the Scottish government and that is to his credit but that is rather different from "standing on the cusp of setting our nation free". If you consider that the SNP still stands for independence then either, you do not believe in independence yourself and are quite happy to settle for the watered down version the SNP now supports or, you never believed in independence in the first place and joined the SNP for your own reasons.<br /><br />If your assessment is that people will vote in the referendum purely on the basis of independence and that SNP policy will have no impact whatsoever, all I can say is that despite having spent a long number of years in political activity, you have obviously failed to develop the skill of thinking politically.<br /><br />No doubt there will be a number of other new changes in SNP policy before the referendum and we will see whether my assessment is just sour grapes. The proof of course will be in whether the people of Scotland vote "yes" in the referendum and unfortunately, that is far from certain and, the more concessions the SNP make, the more uncertain the outcome will be. Jim Fairliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10520849145092267490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191792642137667169.post-18954339071804491712012-09-04T13:07:18.181-07:002012-09-04T13:07:18.181-07:00Hi Jim, you will not remember me, we met many year...Hi Jim, you will not remember me, we met many years ago at an SNP branch meeting in Langside Halls. You said that night that Alex was the sort of guy who came to your house and never took his coat off (or words to that effect). It was obvious then that you did not like him and it obvious now that your dislike persists. I am afraid your article strikes me as nothing more than sour grapes!<br />There is little doubt that Alex Salmond has led the SNP out of the political wilderness and stands on the cusp of setting our nation free.<br />It is with deep regret that I write this as I always considered you to be one of the better SNP politicians of that time.<br />I agree with Peter Bell above, the Scottish people will vote on one issue in the referendum - independence. Same sex marriage, NATO withdrawl etc., etc., are simply party policy and will have no effect on the outcome of the referendum.<br />It is good that you are still making a contribution to the debate, it is regretable however, that like Jim Sillars, it seems more like sniping from the sidelines rather than making a positive contribution.<br /><br />Will Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08483189321512803312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4191792642137667169.post-21248979589082669382012-09-04T03:36:56.625-07:002012-09-04T03:36:56.625-07:00Notwithstanding your evident confusion, I suspect ...Notwithstanding your evident confusion, I suspect most SNP members and, indeed, people in general are well able to make the distinction between matters of party policy and the government's legislative programme on the one hand and the issue of Scotland's constitutional status on the other.<br /><br />They will be aware that when they vote in the referendum they are voting on one issue only - the question of independence. Few will go into the polling booth imagining they are voting on equal marriage or NATO or the monarchy or any of the sundry other things that the anti-independence campaign would dearly like to conflate with the independence question in the hope of muddying the waters. Those who do face a bit of a let down when they realise that their vote has no impact whatever on those extraneous matters.<br /><br />Perhaps the greatest disappointment will be felt by those who suppose they are voting to turn the clock back forty years.Peter A Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204261467942498747noreply@blogger.com