With Scottish independence on the agenda it is good to hear the various points of view being put forward. I for one have never quite got my head round "what is a nation". Having been born in "Scotland" and lived there for most of my life I have often wrestled with the question, "what is Scottish", after all the border between Scotland and England has moved several times in history. It is a geographical location where at least three languages have struggled for survival, and with languages comes as many cultures. As a citizen of Glasgow, a post industrial city, I feel I have more in common with the people of Liverpool than I have with the people of the highlands and islands. I am also loathed to get involved in a debate between the various party political clans as how best to carve up a capitalist entity, so that, that capitalist entity can best serve a particular section of the population. I would rather debate how do we get rid of that capitalist entity and best serve the interest of the people. To me, nationalism and capitalism belong in the same bed, and it is a bed soaked in the blood of the ordinary people. Would it not be better if the debate was about what is happening in Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Cyprus, Ireland, Turkey, Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, Syria, Iran, and find the connection to what is happening here?
To add to the debate here is an extract from an interesting article in
The Commune:
"--------In Britain today, the mainstream socialist left, in defiance of
history, still regards internationalism as abstract propaganda and is
campaigning for a yes vote for Scottish nationalism and independence for
Scotland, which is not an oppressed nation. In a globally integrated
world economy, dominated by transnational corporations and world
financial organisations, such as the International Monetary Fund, the
entire question of national independence becomes hollowed out as in
Greece. And how can the creation of another capitalist state, based on
cutting business rates and corporation tax, and other measures to
attract capitalist investment, benefit the working class ? Loyalty to a
new Capitalist State would renew nationalism and class collaboration
and blunt any class struggle for a post Capitalist alternative.
Independence lite, the programme of the SNP, sharing the Bank of
England, the army, the Monarchy and a currency will not represent the
break up of the British State. But the left in Scotland is putting its
hopes on steering the state left . The Radical Independence Campaign
is ”a coalition that does not even pretend to be based on the goal of
Socialism. Indeed, this emerging coalition is very much in the
tradition of welfare provision in Scotland and England for a century ”
(18) Nationalism given a Social Democratic gloss to attract the
working class. ”The only way in which the grip of a capitalist world
system on individual countries, can be broken, is that if the system
itself is destroyed. And no national struggle can achieve this, only the
international working class” (19) Working class self emancipation from
below cannot be built on a nation, utilize the nation-state, or be
confined to the nation-state.
Read the full article HERE:
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PATRIOTISM.
No, I shall not die for the fluttering flag,
if truth be known, ‘tis nothing but a multi-coloured rag
held aloft by some foolish hand
inciting worker and peasant to kill
on some green and wooded hill,
peasant and worker from some other land.
Nor shall I shed blood for the fluttering rag
that brings out fools to stand and brag
of brutal deeds painted grand,
deeds where rustic and craftsman lie so still
killed by my brothers' misguided hand.
No allegiance have I for the Nation
this man made autocratic creation
that divides my brothers in a world so small,
binds us to a country's cause, right or wrong,
bids us follow its drum, sing its song,
then sheds our blood in some border brawl.
No, I'll be no slave to flag or nation,
have no ear for power oration,
though its iron heel is on my breast,
my back feels its leather thong,
at patriotism's barracoon, I'll be no guest.
ann arky's home.
