A Unionist Scottish patriot writes
From “LiamHunter64”, manager of the “Keep Scotland British” Facebook page (a hotbed of the sort of positive Unionism* Tom Harris MP regularly contrasts with the nasty antics of the dastardly Cybernats) and allegedly based in Sangin, Afghanistan.
12 January 2012
“If it [independence] happens I’ll be moving to England and laughing at failure!“
Slightly later on 12 January 2012
“Typical SNP, Because I’m anti-Independence I’m also Anti-Scottish? I was born and raised here, my heart is in Scotland and will never leave.”
So let’s just get this clear: Liam’s heart will never leave Scotland, but his body will be in England laughing at the failure of the country he loves? That sure is some powerful Scottish patriotism right there. We hope he gets some advice from a medical professional before he packs those suitcases, mind.
(We’re not altogether certain why Scottish independence would provoke someone to leave Afghanistan for England, but we’ll let that one pass.)
The power of Unionist doublethink is strong. While the SNP talk of “the social union” and friendship with England and the rest of the world, those most prone to bellowing their “Scottish patriotism” and pride in Scotland seem to be those who do not acknowledge that their “country” is or should be a country at all.
We suspect dear Liam doesn’t even understand the contradiction in his comments, bless him. (We did ask him, but as yet have received no reply.) We’re not so sure that Tavish Scott, Jim Murphy, and all the rest whose loudly-asserted “patriotism” doesn’t stretch as far as having their country elect its own government or control its own economy, can fall back on the same excuse as their supporters.
*Some extracts:
“The SNP are anti Scottish for wanting to flood the country with immigrants and for wanting the EU superstate. SNP policies are a big smelly turd that warps itself in the Scottish flag.”
“Is that not a bit like how Hitler killed anyone who disagreed with his point of view..? Scottish Nazi Party is what SNP should stand for. Disgusting racist people with a sick superiority complex.”
“salmond can go take his face for a shite”
“I’m Scottish and the thought of independence terrifies me! I am so proud to be British and it would break my heat if our union, strong since 1706, were to crumble now. I think devolution is ridiculous and I don’t see why the English should have to pay more taxes to subsidise the Scottish for their annual ‘pocket money’.”
“our Dave is right, get in there, show that Fat Shit Salmond who is the Gaffer”
“I’ve never been a fan of David Cameron, but this has changed my opinion of him. What he is doing is for the people of Scotland, he can see Salmond for what he really is, and is trying to make the referendum fair, and stop Salmond and his, quite frankly, racist agenda of ruining the UK for personal Glory.”
“it’s twisted racists like Salmond that twist your minds to believe that England is an enemy”
“SCOTLAND IS BRITISH, FELLOW BRITS/ SCOTS, IF YOU DO END UP BEING SOLD BY TRAITORS TO INDEPENDENCE, WE WILL AID YOU WE ARE YOUR BRETHREN, UNITE AND FIGHT, NO SURRENDER”
“Tartan shortbread whiskey drinking idiots listen up scotland cant and wont survive if salmond destroys the union stop being brainwashed read the facts the union is good for scotland “
“This egomanic and his frigid side kick sturgeon Will destroy Scotland given half a chance”
“alex sammond is dumb i bet he spent more time watching braveheart then watching late night porn in his youth look how hes turned out lol he gets more turned on in hating the english that sums him up i bet he would hate scottish person getting with a english person”
“This fat disgusting moron hates the Scottish people even more than the english. The SNP are a bunch of marxist scum.”
“The idea that a people should be free, in their own state, as long as they wish to be is a flawed one. The territorial integrity of nations and the greater good require that separatists and agitators are often ignored or told to shut up.”
“Alex salmonds a fat wank! RULE BRITANNIA”
LiamHunter64 is not the only Scot out there to comment that they'll move to England if Scotland ever gets to be independent.
I find it quite interesting.
I'd always assumed that those in England would revert to an English identity once Britain and Britishness was a memory even though they continually conflate Britain with England and that the same process would happen in Scotland with Scots taking a purely Scottish identity after independence except the process would be even quicker and easier since Scots, even Scottish unionists, seem to be aware of the difference between Scotland and Britain.
However comments like LiamHunter64's show something quite different. It appears that there are some Scots in Scotland who would transfer their identity to England once the Union is split into its component parts rather than transferring it to an independent Scotland.
It appears that they also conflate Britain and England and would regard England as a Britain (Continuing) after Scottish independence. For them, just as with many English, there appears to be no boundary between a British and and English identity and Scotland once it's out of Britain will not be their nation.
It makes you wonder about all these unionists who protest about their Scottish patriotism.
Here's one that I found. Moore said today, "There are so many ties that bind the people of the UK together… We’re like a family". Look out for this type of line.
However, this is from phone log calls and corresponds with how people actually interact. "If phone calls do not lie, Scotland could secede from the rest of Britain without causing much inconvenience. Based on our landline data, Scotland is very separated from the rest of Great Britain (ie: few phone anyone down south)"
Bascially Moore and these guys work in London, live in London, drink in London, speak to English workmates, etc. Travel up and down. They think everyone acts just like them. Speaking personally, we have zero family ties outside Scotland and know no one down there. It would actually make no difference if we did anyway.
http://www.physorg.com/news/2010-12-redrawing-great-britain-based-human.html
"Family" is the current Lib Dem anti-independence buzzword. Willie Rennie has been banging hard on the "UK family" drum of late, and Tavish Scott trotted the catchphrase out this afternoon too. It's the new "stronger together, weaker apart"!
Interesting link, though. Putting that one out there…