It’s taken me the better part of a week to get my head around the events of last Thursday. I’ve read a few post-mortem hot takes of the situation, but I’ve come away with just one hard fact – Scotland and England are travelling in different directions, and the chasm is vast.
I had a feeling Johnson would win his big majority by employing the same dishonesty he used in the EU referendum, so I’m not surprised or shocked. In fact, I’m calm. The cacophony of near-hopeless options – cancelling Brexit, a second referendum, the Norway option – have settled into a single clear note, the many narrow roads out of this disaster converged to just one. Independence. It’s the only way now.
You may think I’m callous or uncaring towards vulnerable people in the rest of the UK. I can assure you I’m not. As much as I want to protect them, I can’t. Scotland can’t, especially now that Johnson and Co are insisting we get back in our box.
To hell with that.
Our votes and voices may not be able to save everyone, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t save those we can. Despite the mitigation of the Scottish Government, there are vulnerable people in Scotland who need help. We can save them by cutting ourselves loose from the malignant forces in Westminster and nurturing the compassionate society that exists here in Scotland.
It’s not just the only thing we CAN do – it’s the one thing we MUST do.
Fig and Pen 
Exactly the same conversation and conclusion I had with my son at the weekend.
Regardless of what our opponents say (that we need to wait even longer to see what Brexit will bring us) the fog has now lifted, the road ahead has cleared, and our choices simplified. There is only one way forward for our country but it won’t be easy – Nicola and the SNP will have a helluva job dealing with the deviousness of a Westminster government. We the people need to show that we are four square behind them!
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We do have a hard fight ahead, and I have to say I’m a little baffled all Scottish parties are not seeing that we need to stick together on this. Sink or swim time. Are you going to the march on the 11th?
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Yes, if my wife lets me – I’ve got a gammy leg atm, (femoral nerve damage) but it is getting better. I’ll probably join in about Charing Cross and hobble my way down to what is being called Freedom Square. I’m guessing you won’t be able to be there since you live way out west?! I’ll flutter my saltire a bit harder on your behalf 🇧🇷 (no saltire emojis available, Brazil is my second national team 😀).
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Sorry to hear about your leg! My husband and I join marches late and leave early. I get a bit wiggy in crowds.
I’m in central Scotland, so it’s only a 10 minute train journey to Glasgow. I hope we can be there.
I used to live in Brazil – always happy to see their flag. I was there for the 1998 World Cup. All we had to do was open our windows to know how the national team was doing!
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Belatedly, Merry Xmas, Elizabeth, and I very much hope a Guid New Year!
The gammy leg is getting incrementally better and I have had the go-ahead to limp my way into the city centre on 11January. If you look out for a hobbling pensioner (of which there may be a few) this side of Pitt Street with a navy blue saltire baseball cap then it surely will be me! I will not take the loss of my nation lying down!
Hope you had a fine festive time and say chook chook to the chickens. Chook chook x
DAVID
Ps: I do not know what gave me the idea you lived in the Outer Hebrides, it must have been the accent 😀🇧🇷!
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We have a little flat on the Isle of Bute – I bet that’s what you were thinking of.
I hope you had a lovely Christmas – and all the best for 2020 when it arrives.
I’ll keep an eye out for you at the march. Last time my little chihuahua Nell was with me, so if you see a middle-aged lady with a tiny ginger dog, it’s probably me!
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