As someone who's lived in both Australia and Canada I could never quite get the fawning. It's bizarre.
Harper is a goon though.
As someone who's lived in both Australia and Canada I could never quite get the fawning. It's bizarre.
Harper is a goon though.
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
Wonder if an unlikely Scottish win tonight would boost the "Yes" campaign? Or if a tanking could do the opposite?
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
I understand completely what you are saying but that kind of mindset by those "groups/communities/identities" is illusionary. Lets say we take a person from the Ulster Scots and take one person from the Irish and they never told about the history of either groups, what then those one call itself? The notion of these groups gives the people a feeling that they are different, superior, patriotic etc. and gives a meaning to their lives that otherwise would be boring and pointless. Some may think that these groups have positive elements to them, and they may well be right but in saying that you have to look at the other side, it causes division amongst people which on larger scales causes wars. So for me, the fact that these groups cause division/wars is something that this world can do without.
So the latest poll from TNS has the yes and no camps tied at 41% each if you exclude don't knows.
It's been a remarkable few days.
Interestingly the Devo-max timetable should be announced today.
Offers of Home Rule in 2014...interesting.
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
My latest on this thoroughly compelling campaign:
http://www.krank.ie/category/opinion...ce-referendum/
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
If that's the case, what human feeling, sentiment, emotion, identity, culture or ideology wouldn't be an "illusion" or a manufactured/notional means of escaping this boredom and futility you mention? You appear to be distinguishing the ideology of nationalism from other ideologies, or singling it out as being particularly or uniquely flawed. That would imply that you feel there may be other ideologies that aren't illusory and flawed; if so, what ideologies are they? The ones to which you conveniently just happen to subscribe, surely not? I submit that any distinction you invoke will be no more than arbitrary. By your logic, all ideologies and feelings of connection could be said to be figments of our imagination.
Just because something is a means of escape or a means for creating meaning, value or essence in one's life, it doesn't necessarily mean it is flawed and illusory; rather, the tool or mechanism of escape is perhaps itself the very fabric of real, meaningful life and human experience. Of course your test cases wouldn't know who they were if they were stripped of their histories and experiences - the things that define their essence - for they'd be blank and unblemished canvases. But no human is like that. Essence is an integral by-product of existence. By our very existence, life's environment moulds us and gives us essence; that's not something that can be denied or erased. It's those very histories and experiences that have made these people who they are. Their communal histories and experiences are very real for them and integral to their identities.
I suspect national identities are more an effect rather than a cause of division. People will always be divided by interests and will always construct (wittingly or organically/unwittingly) and exploit conflicting ideologies or dogmas to morally justify and reinforce those respective interests.Some may think that these groups have positive elements to them, and they may well be right but in saying that you have to look at the other side, it causes division amongst people which on larger scales causes wars. So for me, the fact that these groups cause division/wars is something that this world can do without.
My daily missive on the referendum:
http://www.krank.ie/category/n_ca/wo...ce-referendum/Six Points of Separation: The Scottish Independence Referendum
So up from London they came; David, Ed and Nick, determined to show the Scots that they really really wanted them to stay part of the United Kingdom. On top of that, Lord (John) Prescott, former Deputy Prime Minister under Tony Blair, made an appearance. The big guns are out for Better Together. On the other side of the debate, Yes Scotland continued the grassroots contact that has served them so well so far. No change there.
Meanwhile in England, there was a bit of a kerfuffle made over the differentiation of the Scottish and English editions of national newspapers, most notably The Daily Mail, having different headlines and policies towards published articles and “feelings” towards the referendum in Scotland compared that that in England. This is exactly the same as what happened to the Daily Express back in April when, in England, it stated that their would be a “Pension Shock For Millions” whereas in Scotland the headline state that “Pensions [were] Safer In [the] UK”. Hardly what could be called unbiased coverage one would think.
The big news on the trail today was, of course, the Survation poll for the Daily Record which showed a 6-point gap in favour of No when the undecideds were omitted. Whilst this may appear to be a huge jump from the last two days, the interesting thing to note is that the Survation poll has consistently undervalued the Yes side and has shown only a 1-point change in the “don’t knows” since last month. It also shows a huge 6-point swing (Yes +3%; No -3%) since the last poll.
The smart money is on a race that is still too close to call and the perceived wisdom that the flight of Ed, David and Nick to England’s Attic was as a result of some private polling which shows a flight of undecided voters to the Yes camp over the last two weeks.
All-in-all, the effect of their arrival seems to chime with the panic that is being felt across the Better Together camp that they could indeed find themselves on the losing side. With only seven days left until polling day, this campaign will get nastier and nastier as the tension mounts.
The campaign is truly on a knife edge and that knife has killed the UK as we know it.
Scotland’s presence in the UK is still very much up-for-grabs.
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
Bold Davie Cameron:
https://twitter.com/Peston/status/510099132334481409
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
Yes in the lead according to ICM poll:
http://postimg.org/image/a2trwatst/
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
All my points refer solely to nationalism (due to this thread) and reasons I feel why it is outdated caveman style of living our lives, I never implied that the other ideologies are better or worse cause I never made any claim to that. I do however agree that all ideologies are illusionary, it fails to make an individual think for themselves. We should all have political viewpoints independent of groups/ideologies etc., cause we have to as an intelligent species be able to live our lives to the best we can, unfortunately nowadays most people who live on this planet are just happy to sit back and allow this fake nationalism to control their lives. I think I've made my point.
Last edited by TheBoss; 15/09/2014 at 6:07 AM.
Ha, yes, I think you have.
The referendum is as much about enhancing democracy as it is about the coming of age of a nation though. As an aside, I've found it interesting that Scottish nationalism and unionism aren't really aligned to ethnicity or religion in the same way that Irish nationalism and unionism broadly are. George Galloway, of Irish Catholic descent, for example, has often made a case for 32-county Irish republicanism, yet he's a staunch Union-supporting socialist in terms of Scotland's place in the UK. Obviously, the two nation's respective histories and interactions/conflicts with England/Britain have influenced that, but interesting nonetheless.
Dan Snow of the 'No'/'Better Together' campaign was arguing yesterday that it didn't make sense to divide an island into two separate political jurisdictions. The irony of the situation was completely lost on him as he made the claim whilst donning a pro-Union t-shirt featuring a partitioned Ireland. He made no case for the re-unification of Ireland, meanwhile.
Last edited by DannyInvincible; 16/09/2014 at 10:05 AM.
Just glancing at the odds today, PP pretty set on the likelihood of a "No", given as 77% chance. Just don't see it happening.
It'll be interesting to see how fast Cameron actually does try and implement "Devo Max", or if it was a just a fake carrot on a stick, left unimplemented by the time the next GE comes around.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
Yeah i also had a quick gander at the PP odds, bit surprising, but they have got it wrong before with elections (Obama/LMF)
He should have a look at this list of divided islands. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_divided_islands There are a lot of them and the one divided between Germany and Poland caught my eye. Never knew that.
I suspect Celtic supporters will be voting to stay in the UK for if Scotland exits, that's their last chance of playing in the EPL.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Not necessarily. Why would union, or the lack thereof, make a difference there? FIFA/UEFA already consider Scotland and England as distinct footballing territories anyway. Furthermore, there are numerous examples in world football of clubs from one jurisdiction playing in the league of another state/jurisdiction; Derry City, for example.
Interestingly, a lot of Celtic fans are wary of the SNP and Scottish nationalism, or at least were a few months ago anyway: http://www.irishpost.co.uk/sport/ind...sh-nationalism
I have a feeling many would be traditional Scottish Labour supporters - Glasgow being an old industrial/shipyard city - and, obviously, Labour are pro-Union. It's an economic thing rather than an ethno-cultural thing for them. Independence has seen support rise steadily in the last few weeks, mind, presumably from all sections of Scottish society. I don't think it'll happen myself though, but it will be a very tight call.
Last edited by DannyInvincible; 17/09/2014 at 10:04 AM.
Betfair are recording a much higher volume of "Yes" bets, but more money being placed on "No" gambles. It's a bit confusing, the site is apparently paying out on some "No" bets already: https://betting.betfair.com/politics...98967&mpch=ads
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
Gorgeous's allegiances are a bit inconsistent. Celtic one week, Dundee United the next. Ditto proud Socialist and MP for an ethnicity-based party.Originally Posted by Danny Invincible
Dan Snow is a professional historian albeit not specialising in Ireland. He's oversimplifying/ bull****ting for his English audience.
I doubt thatOriginally Posted by "Owls Fan
a) Celtic-supporting voters tend to have that support as a major factor in their choice
b) any political change tomorrow will make any difference to their presently negligible chance of joining the EPL
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