"I'll drink a toast to Scotland yet, whatever yet may be."
(Davy Steele)
On September 18th Scotland will vote on whether to become an
independent country. Scottish nationalists have longed for this day since their
18th century Jacobite ancestors tried and failed repeatedly to overthrow the
German king on the British throne and bring back the Scottish Stewart
dynasty.
As a foreigner, I cannot vote on in the independence
referendum, and I prefer it that way. People I love are spread across both
sides of this debate and I can understand all their arguments. The “Better Together” campaign stresses the
economic stability of the United Kingdom and warns this may be threatened if
Scotland breaks away. We don’t know what currency
would be used in an independent Scotland, and people are understandably
concerned about their pensions and homes being devalued by a change in
currency. My husband and I have our own savings and
pensions and don’t want to lose them. And while I’m certainly no economist, I
do know that uncertainty over currency and trade can cause instability in the
market. No one wants that.
In today’s Britain many people move around and don’t remain
in the region of their birth. According to the 2011 census,
8% of Brits living in Scotland identify as “British only,” and 18% feel both
British and Scottish. That means 1 in 4 Brits in Scotland (my husband included)
have cross-border identities. It’s understandable that people from this group
might lean more towards British unity than Scottish independence. That’s not to
say that people identifying primarily as Scottish speak with one voice about independence.
Scottish people speak multiple languages, practice
multiple religions
and these diverse people with diverse interests have never marched to the same tune.
It seems to me that those arguing for and against
independence are speaking two completely different languages. Those arguing
against independence are talking about economics and trade. But
those in the “Yes” campaign are
singing an impassioned love song of devotion about their mother country that is
much broader than any single issue. Scotland has a certain magic that takes
root in her children and acts as a siren-call to enamoured foreigners like me.
This wild, wind-blown, painfully beautiful land and its people have endured
centuries of sorrow. Clan warfare, English and Viking conquests, pillaging and forced
migration have not succeeded in breaking the spirit of the Scottish people.
For the nationalists, they feel that they have an opportunity to take their
country back after it was stolen against their will in 1707
when Scotland and England became one nation practically overnight through a parliamentary handshake. Many are still angry about this. No one
ever asked the people of Scotland if they wanted to be part of the United
Kingdom . . . until now.
The politicians on both sides have been slinging plenty of
mud. The campaign leaflets that have come in the mail have included more photos than factual argument and as a former political science student I'd say both sides could use a truckload of think-tank research and public relations experts. But as an American who grew up being taught to cherish my right to vote,
it’s the Scottish people and not the politicians who have my support and attention. They have
a chance to speak for themselves and decide their own future for the first time
in centuries. I want the people of Scotland to be given the respect and space
to make up their own minds about what’s best for them. I love Scotland and consider it a privilege to be here
walking in the footsteps of my ancestors and enjoying prosperity in modern Scotland that my impoverished fore-bearers could never have imagined. I support the Scottish people
and their right to choose the future they want for their country and I will embrace whatever decision they make.
To close, I’ll share a beautiful song by late Scottish
songwriter Davy Stelle called “Scotland Yet.” I’ve included a translation below
for those of us who don’t understand Scots so well. Click on the youtube video
to have a listen. It’s one of my favorites.
‘Gie noo a thocht to what we hae, in this land o’ the
leal
The Highland glen, the Doric stream, the fertile
Lowland field
They seem tae offer different views when looked at
from within
Can strangers be the only eyes to see us a’ as yin?‘
Chorus
‘The choice will be upon us soon, tae set oor destiny
I’ll drink a toast tae Scotland yet, whatever yet may
be.‘
‘Oor mither tongue spoke different weys, that
past tae present ties
Each seperate and yet entwined, that’s where oor real
strength lies
For should one strand unwind itself the others tae
forsake
Than a’ would be forever lost, fur a’ the strands
would break.’
Chorus
‘While we still seek to blame oor woes and pains on
someone else
We’ll never have the strength tae solve oor problems
for oorselves
In truth we fought each other mair, learn this from
oor past
Then together we can choose fur oorsells at last.’
Translation:
Give now a thought to what we have, in this land of the leal
(paradise)
The Highland glen, the Doric stream, the
fertile lowland field
They seem to offer different views when looked at from
within
Can strangers be the only eyes to see us all as one?
Chorus:
The choice will be
upon us soon to set our destiny
I’ll drink a toast to
Scotland yet, whatever yet may be.
Our mother tongue spoke different ways, that past to present
ties
Each separate and yet entwined, that’s where our real
strength lies
For should one strand unwind itself the others to forsake
Then all would be forever lost for all the strands would
break.
Chorus
While we still seek to blame our woes and pains on someone
else
We’ll never have the strength to solve our problems for
ourselves
In truth we fought each other more, learn this from our past
Then together we can choose for ourselves at last.
