Conflict of nations

[ANDY-J]

Hirta,
When independence is achieved the population of Scotland, regardless of their ethnic background,will express their wishes as to how they are governed through the means of the ballet box.It is right and proper that only those who live in this country should have a say in how it is governed.

[Hirta]

Originally posted by ANDY-J
Hirta,
When independence is achieved the population of Scotland, regardless of their ethnic background,will express their wishes as to how they are governed through the means of the ballet box.It is right and proper that only those who live in this country should have a say in how it is governed.

Then if you do not advocate government along ethnic lines what's wrong with having a whole island as one country (which would seem a much more logical geographic boundary then the current ones!).

[Edited by Hirta on 1st March 2002 at 16:35]

[ANDY-J]

The Scottish population has always been composed of a variety of ethnic and cultural minorities.These minorities have historically embraced Scottish culture and taken pride in seeing themselves as Scots.The ethnic mix of Scotland is broadly similar to that of England and our system of values and attitudes is broadly similar.However there are numerous cultural differences between us that give Scots a seperate national identity from the English.Scotland is one of Europe's ancient states and it is rightful that our status as a sovereign independent nation should be restored at some point in the future.

[Danny]

Although the border between England and Scotland was very close to what it is today, at the time of King David I it would not have seemed immutable. This was within living memory of William IIs annexation of Cumbria and bringing Northumbria under the crown. The significance of the area to the Norman kings of England would still appear to be wholly strategic - successive Kings were willing to concede Northumbria to David, it was only the castles that were a sticking point.

Originally posted by Hirta
Then if you do not advocate government along ethnic lines what's wrong with having a whole island as one country (which would seem a much more logical geographic boundary then the current ones!).

So which parts of the current UK are you proposing be cut adrift? The Shetland Isles? The Orkneys? The Hebrides? Or maybe it's just Northern Ireland you want rid of? You see, there's more to the UK than the island of Great Britain, and if it's OK to have a UK which extends beyond the one island, why is it any less logical to have a country which doesn't hog the whole island? Besides, what would you call this whole-island country? How much would you be willing to bet that most of the World wouldn't go on calling it England just as they do now?

[Hirta]

[quote]Originally posted by Neil_Caple

So which parts of the current UK are you proposing be cut adrift? The Shetland Isles? The Orkneys? The Hebrides? Or maybe it's just Northern Ireland you want rid of? You see, there's more to the UK than the island of Great Britain, and if it's OK to have a UK which extends beyond the one island, why is it any less logical to have a country which doesn't hog the whole island? Besides, what would you call this whole-island country? How much would you be willing to bet that most of the World wouldn't go on calling it England just as they do now?

Maybe having all of the British Isles as one country would be best!
I disagree with your point of the logical reasoning behind carving up Britain being the same as the current UK borders because I would argue that this is inefficient and counterproductive economically, socially etc.

Now, bearing in mind that Scots make up 9% of the current UK. Now, do you call Turkey Turkey? Hang on, it's 20% Kurdish! Or Burma Burma? Well it's only 68% Burmese. Surely these countries should be called something else, if we are to employ the logic of your last point. Unfortunately countries are often called by foreigners after the major ethnic group. Can you really complain if this happens? After all, I'm sure you're guilty of it yourself!

So now you are proposing to reintegrate the Republic of Ireland into this new country and call the whole show after the largest population, i.e. England! That is your idea of unity is it?