If there are riots in Britain after the hard Brexit Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Conservative Party cronies have scheduled for Halloween, will mainstream media in Canada describe them as “pro-democracy demonstrations” as they do when similar violent outbursts take place nowadays in Hong Kong or Moscow? On the
Continue readingTag: Scottish independence
Montreal Simon: Why I Support the Struggle of the People of Catalonia
It's hard to believe it's happening in Europe, and in an ostensibly democratic country like Spain.But just as the autonomous region of Catalonia was planning to hold a referendum on whether or not to secede from Spain, the Spanish government has tried to block it by arresting some separatist leaders. The
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Scottish Independence and the Brexit Nightmare
In a few hours I'll be leaving the country and setting off for Edinburgh, to attend the wedding of one of my oldest friends.And since I'll be racing between that city, and my family home in the north of Scotland, I probably won't have time to blog until I return.Read
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Why the Independence of Scotland is More Necessary Than Ever
About four years ago I made three political wishes. The first one was that Stephen Harper and foul regime be totally destroyed.And that one was granted.My second wish was that the Republican Party suffer the same fate. And whoever wins the U.S. election that also seems likely to be granted.Which leaves
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Scottish Independence and Some Lessons For Alberta
Last Sunday was the second anniversary of Scotland’s independence referendum, which as you may know, was for me a day of great disappointment.
And one I’ll always remember.
But I haven’t dared even mention the anniversary when talking to my family in the Scottish highlands, because for them it’s a day best forgotten.
They don’t want to talk about it. It’s too traumatic.
And they all voted NO.
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Montreal Simon: Can Scotland Really Stop Britain From Quitting the EU?
As Britain tries to recover from the shock of the Brexit referendum result. With its economy and its political scene in a turmoil.And its racist bigots on a rampage.I'm sure many of its REMAIN supporters were glad to hear Nicola Sturgeon, the First…
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Brexit Fiasco: Now Some Say They’re Sorry
It's been barely two days since the Brexit referendum, and no doubt some LEAVE supporters are still celebrating their big victory.But not all of them. Some of them it seems are now having sober second thoughts.And what with the pound having fallen …
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Brexit Referendum and the Independence of Scotland
I knew the LEAVE side was going to win the Brexit referendum hours before the polls closed.When I heard that the poor who live in the Britain's rundown Council estates were turning out to vote in massive numbers.And the reason I did is because if y…
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Building an Anti-Harper Movement and the Lesson of Scotland
In my last post I told you why I believe progressives need to build a mighty Canada-wide movement to ensure that Stephen Harper and his foul Con regime are defeated in the next election. I said I believe that a movement would make our struggle look more like a sacred cause,
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Scottish Independence: The Glorious Failure and the Glorious Revolution
It hasn't been easy being a YES supporter in the 48 hours since Scotland's latest glorious failure.First there was the pain of defeat. Then a mob of unionist bigots descended upon them in Glasgow's George Square where they had been peacefully camping out for days… Tossing flares, singing Rule Britannia, chanting the Orange
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Scottish Referendum and the Fatal Lesson of Quebec
Well it was a long night and a disappointing one. The YES side in the Scottish referendum didn't do as well as I had hoped it might.Scotland will have to wait a little longer to become independent. And fear conquered hope.Scotland voters have opted to continue as part of the United
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Scottish Independence Campaign and the Velvet Revolution
And so it ended, with wild rallies all over the country. After two long years Scotland's amazing referendum campaign is finally over. And as I write these lines, Scots are heading to the polls to decide whether Scotland should become an independent country.The campaign ended with a final message from
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Dear Scotland: Do whatever you think is best … but remember, the Globe and Mail never has your interests at heart
A typical Western Canadian scene: snapped in Edmonton, Alberta, in 2014. The Scotch, as we used to say when I was growing up in B.C., pretty much built Western Canada, leastways the European superstructure of buildings, roads and railways that lies atop the land of the first inhabitants. You need
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Why Canadian Progressives Should Have Supported the Scottish Independence Struggle
With one day to go before Scotland's historic referendum vote, the excitement is building and the polls are narrowing. Support for the Yes campaign is increasing but it still lags just behind No on the eve of Scotland’s independence referendum, an exclusive poll conducted for The Scotsman reveals today. The Yes vote
Continue readingMontreal Simon: David Cameron and Scotland’s Butterfly Rebellion
Well there he was today, David Cameron, the leader of Britain's savage Con regime.The Prime Minister who has inflicted the most pain on the British people since the bestial Margaret Thatcher.Trying to bully the Scottish people into voting NO by threatening them with a "painful divorce." Read more »
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Scottish Referendum and the Attack of the NO Side Bullies
There couldn't have been an uglier sight. Thousands of members of the anti-Catholic Orange Lodge marching through Edinburgh to show their support for the NO side. Or one more representative of the NO side's attempt to bully the YES side into submission. For by now the combined forces of Big Business,
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Scottish Independence: The Empire Strikes Back
With one week to go in the Scottish referendum the YES side's surge to independence appears to have been at least temporarily halted, with a new poll suggesting the NO side is leading again. The YouGov survey for The Times and Sun newspapers put supporters of the union on 52 per
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Why All Progressives Should Support Scotland’s Independence Struggle
It's been hard trying to explain that what's going on in Scotland is a bigger story than many progressives in this country can imagine.And that they should rejoice at the last minute surge of the YES side, because they are fighting for our kind of values, and we can use
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Why the Scottish Referendum Is NOT the Quebec Referendum
I've been seeing a lot of stories in the Canadian and British media, comparing the Scottish independence referendum campaign to the one in Quebec in 1995.And I've resigned myself to seeing a lot more of them after this latest development. Because it is so familiar.But here's the thing eh? I've seen
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Scottish Independence: The Triumph of Hope Over Fear
With less than two weeks to go before the Scottish independence referendum a new poll has shown the YES side ahead for the first time. Some 51% of those who have made up their mind and intend to vote back an independent Scotland while 49% plan to vote no, the YouGov
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