Ok folks, the time has come to be brave and nail my colours to the - TopicsExpress



          

Ok folks, the time has come to be brave and nail my colours to the mast. I do so in the form of an open letter to my dear friends and colleagues from all parts of the United Kingdom and for the selfish purpose of crystallising my own thoughts and nothing more. (Warning: Cliches and tired epithets follow) The decision that befalls us on Thursday is not a matter of you and us. When I was growing up as a young man I felt a profound sense ‘Britishness’, to the point where I harboured a strong ambition to swear my allegiance to Queen and Country and join the Royal Air Force to become a fast jet pilot. Now as it turns out I was not talented, clever or motivated enough to achieve that goal but I’d like to consider the consequences for a moment if I had been successful in that endeavour. Had I been of strong enough calibre to don an olive green flying suit and helmet then I would have been engaged in combat in three conflicts; Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. On the orders of the incumbent Government, I would have rolled down the runway laden with ordinance in an offensive action that, certainly in the case of Iraq, was based on lies, deceit and the vested interest of corrupt people. The missiles and bombs that I released would have killed innocent men, women and children. Within the boundaries of this thought experiment, this is a fact and is undeniable. What if I was given the chance to divorce myself from the establishment that perpetrated this evil upon the world? The fact of the matter is that, this coming Thursday, I will be faced with a choice. Either way, the consequences of this decision are entirely unclear. The realities around currency, economy, EU membership, supermarket prices, standards of living, passports, borders, pensions, oil, education and healthcare cannot be known in advance, guarantees cannot be given. It is, in my opinion, likely that in the short term we will be worse off. The notes in our pockets will be worth less, taxes increased to bolster the foundations of a fledgling nation, mortgages harder to secure, public services affected etc. But, in the words of the First Minister, “It is about the opportunity that the people of Scotland have in each and every future election in an independent country to get the government of our choice.” In the event of a yes vote, I will be able to determine the direction of the country to which I belong. The politicians and elected officials that represent my nation will be a reflection of the values and principles that Scottish people believe in. It is my belief that, regardless of personal economic circumstances, this is worth something. The net effect of this transition will mean that I will live a better quality of life. I am not a person of religious faith, but I believe in this with all of my being. When I stand in the polling booth in 5 days’ time and put pen to paper it will not be without feelings of trepidation and fear. The unknown lies before us and never in my life have I been given the power to make a decision that may have such profound and dire consequences. When I have been mulling over this moment in recent weeks the lyrics of a song called Scots Wha Hae reverberate in my mind. “Now’s the time and now’s the hour”. This is the chance that I have to make a difference and it is proper and correct that I feel scared but I will confidently place a cross in the ‘Yes’ box because that’s what I believe is right for me, my family and country. Alba gu bràth (Scotland forever) P.S. I warned you about the cliches…
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 11:35:28 +0000

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