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Wings Over Scotland


Latvian lessons 127

Posted on October 24, 2013 by

Latvia has been ruled by others for most of the past thousand years, with Riga even being the largest city in Sweden until they carelessly lost it to Peter the Great in 1710. Independence from Russia came in 1918 and then from the Soviet Union in 1991.

latvia

I arrived in Riga a few months later and stayed for a year and a half. At the time I joked that, apart from my paid work, I was there to observe what they were going through and to take notes for when Scotland became independent. It’s been a long time but some things, I hope, will be relevant to the process over the next year.

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    • Confused on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “I could believe it : https://archive.ph/wip/as3Uc but let’s just have a bit of imperial propaganda to cheer us all up.…” Jun 14, 13:48
    • Andy Ellis on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “@Stuart 11.59am Well, I suppose you might argue that they weren’t solely responsible for the war. Of course this isn’t…” Jun 14, 12:39
    • Captain Caveman on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “*winning Heh. Freudian slip perchance 😉” Jun 14, 12:36
    • Captain Caveman on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “Yes please. Will enhance Reform’s chances of sinning some seats. Good work!” Jun 14, 12:06
    • Stuart on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “Aye Mr Ellis, nor did starting a civil war hold them back either…” Jun 14, 11:59
    • Andy Ellis on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “And your point is, caller….? Not having independence in their name – or indeed being Irish language – didn’t seem…” Jun 14, 11:11
    • Andy Wiltshire on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “Another question asked from a position of ignorance – am I right in assuming that the only Scottish political party…” Jun 14, 10:58
    • Andy Ellis on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “Who are “they” in this context? The SNP? The Scottish media? Scottish &/or British unionists? It all sounds a like…” Jun 14, 10:11
    • Doug on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “Independence supporters should boycott next year’s Holyrood election.” Jun 14, 09:41
    • Doug on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “100%” Jun 14, 09:39
    • MaryB on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “Andy Ellis @ 4.32 pm I think they’re desperate that the SALVO UN work is kept from popular consciousness. Scotlands…” Jun 14, 09:16
    • Lorn on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “As I recall, CC, Salmond and Sturgeon came as a package. He was going to team up with Ros Cunningham…” Jun 13, 23:42
    • Young Lochinvar on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “Amen to that sentiment..” Jun 13, 22:47
    • 100%Yes on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “I wouldn’t be surprised if the SNP party fiances isn’t being directly funded the British labour government, so in return…” Jun 13, 22:31
    • Breastplate on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “Yes James, it’s notable that they recognised themselves.” Jun 13, 21:50
    • sarah on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “Agreed. No-one in power in the SNP seems to have anything in common with the long-time members or voters who…” Jun 13, 21:40
    • McDuff on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “I know i have droned on about this before but i still can`t believe there has not been a rebellion…” Jun 13, 21:22
    • 100%Yes on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “SNP Government rule out Scottish independence convention surprise surprise.” Jun 13, 21:20
    • sarah on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “@ agent x: Angus Robertson’s response to the ICCPR petition. No, I hadn’t read it before. Of course we didn’t…” Jun 13, 21:13
    • McDuff on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “Ain`t that the truth.” Jun 13, 21:11
    • Confused on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “Scotland in 2050 will be Willy McWonka’s Hielan Brigadoon Golf Resort Gated Community, and we, the Scots, if we are…” Jun 13, 20:50
    • Tommo on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “‘(If nothing else, we suppose that’s a strong show of optimism from Swinney, who’s already 61 and will be some…” Jun 13, 20:27
    • Bob on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “I love the 12 mugshots: but what would Jon Snow say? (or, for that matter, Humza Yousef?)” Jun 13, 20:11
    • agent x on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “Sarah – have you read this response to the petition? https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/citizen-participation-and-public-petitions-committee/correspondence/2024/pe2135/pe2135_c.pdf PE2135/C: Implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political…” Jun 13, 20:03
    • agent x on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: ““On the 17th June, a conference at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh will ponder the challenges and issues that will…” Jun 13, 19:52
    • sarah on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: ““What can ordinary independentistas do?” Talk to friends and family about Liberate Scotland so their candidates will receive votes in…” Jun 13, 19:42
    • James on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “Absolutely spot on!” Jun 13, 19:30
    • James on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: ““House”!” Jun 13, 19:27
    • James on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “Unionist Prick Bingo; three in a row – “HOUSE”!” Jun 13, 19:25
    • James on Let’s Not Make Some Plans: “Lol….good post, Breastplate. The yoons ate ramping it up on here, new ‘names’ by the day amongst the same old…” Jun 13, 19:23

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