Letters / Impossible not to go
The subject of the Rally for Independence in Edinburgh on the 21st of September came up during a tea break in Symbister today and I was asked: “Is du goin’?”, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
And I heard myself say: “Am no sure, it wid be twartree days aff work, kinda dear tae geen doon….”
And then I thought of why it’s impossible for me not to go.
I thought of all the people over the years who complained they did not vote because “they’re all the same” or “it disnae affect me” or “it makes nae odds”.
I thought of all the people – old, infirm, in poverty – who die of hypothermia in my country surrounded by more energy resource per head than anywhere in Europe.
I thought of all the nuclear weapons situated within 30 miles of my country’s largest population.
The shocking life expectancy in parts of Glasgow, my home town.
I thought of all the people being hit by the vile bedroom tax, 200 of whom live in Shetland. Are you affected? Do you know somebody who is?
I met and spoke with one: given a three-bedroomed house because that’s what was available, but then taxed on the empty room because there are only two kids and no two-bedroomed house on offer to move to. Working to just keep the whole household above water and hit with a monthly bill – unaffordable.
I thought of all the yah boo millionaires sitting in Westminster who are so rude, so arrogant that they shout while the other tries to speak. Eating subsidised food, while thousands in my country go to food banks.
I thought of the thousands of people slaughtered as the UK went to illegal wars and supplied chemicals to Syria.
I thought of all the lies about Scotland’s last attempt to gain independence and how our resources were “talked down” as Dennis Healey admitted – only 30 years too late, and how Scotland pays more per head in tax than rUK, but is told we get more per head via the Barnett Formula.
And then I realised I had no choice as a serious campaigner for Yes in 2014 not to attend the Rally for Independence in Edinburgh, for all the people above, and the thousands who cannot attend.
For independence is not about me; it is not about the SNP, nor Alex Salmond nor Labour, nor Tory nor LibDem, nor any political party.
It is about you and 5.3 million others.
Many fought and died to get the vote, to get independence. All you have to do is put a cross in a box…and allow those living in Scotland to make the decisions about Scotland.
Douglas Young
Sumburgh
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