Thursday 11 September 2014

Scot's Wha Hae

In the nearby village of Gatehouse of Fleet there is a hotel, the Murray Arms, where it is claimed, in the hotel's old snug, Robert Burns first penned the words of 'Scots Wha Hae'. Further down the street in the Ship Inn, Dorothy L Sawyers wrote 'Five Red Herrings' around a century or so later. Quite the literary hotspot, is our Gatehouse of Fleet.

Listening to the three stooges attempts to scare us into a 'No Vote', yesterday, accompanied by the rising tide of their shield slapping media lackeys, their shrill cries of anger, despair and out right denial. My mind flicked to my recent visit to Bannockburn and the key reason for the Scottish success that day:

Steadfastness and self belief in the face of massive opposition -

with Bannock Burn comes 'Scots Wha Hae' like bread is to butter.

"Wha for Scotland's king and law
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand, or freeman fa',
         Let him follow me!"

When your opponent resorts to name calling and scapegoating you know they are beaten - just do not be sucked into their bitter and twisted little world.

Take the RBoS; if they move their name plate they will not be able to issue Scottish notes or coin in an independent Scotland. This means a big loss in market status and potential profit for the bank - especially if Scotland decides against a formal currency union after March 2016.

The next few days will be much akin to holding back a suicidal 'banzai style' attack from the No Campaign. Stay steady, hold the line and the attack collapses - try to attack or (worse) run and they will break through.

The Yes Campaign's modern day 'schiltroms' need to stand fast and let the opposition break harmlessly over us - left throwing useless and ineffective weapons in our general direction while we continue with our steady and evenly paced advance, they will break and run, military history shows they always do.


"Now's the day, and now's the hour;
See the front o' battle lour;
See approach proud Edward's power—
         Chains and slavery!"

Having been involved in combat - it is the calm, thoughtful and steady who win through. The angry, patriotic filled hot heads and the rash are the casualties.

Nobody, with any sense, fights for a flag, in combat, your fight is to keep your mates safe, first and foremost.

To keep the people of Scotland safe from the rapacious greed and self interest of Westminster and the City of London it is worth fixing this reality in your mind:

Next Thursday is about keeping your friends and family safe - first and foremost.

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