After the initial massive disappointment last September I began to think a little more about what was actually achieved by the Scottish independence movement.  Recently I’ve begun connecting with people on Twitter again and discussing the General Election in May.  And surprisingly I began to realize that the people who voted Yes last September were actually rather brave.  Although it may appear to be completely logical that the Scots would want to leave the United Kingdom, the fact that there was so much fear mongering and threats made the result still impressive.

It takes bravery and single-mindedness to vote for independence when:

• You need to think for yourself and question the foundation of the economic and political system you grew up in.
• Only a single newspaper backed independence.
• You can’t switch on a single television channel without being bombarded with bias while proclaiming impartiality.
• All the main parties including perhaps the one you voted for your whole life band together to scare the hell out of you.
• Business leaders and celebrities plead for you to stay.
• Some of the most important world leaders are saying you definitely shouldn’t.
• You’re told your decision could threaten world order.
• Scottish former cabinet ministers are saying you’d unleash the forces of terrorist darkness.
• Your dominant neighbour has 10 times the population.
• You’re told the oil will run out on the 19th September.
• You’re told by so-called experts that you’re being subsidized by rUK
• You’re threatened with expulsion from the European Union.
• You’re told every notable business will leave your country
• You’re told that you’ll not have a currency.
• You’re told you won’t have access to embassies.
• You’re told you won’t be able to see your family in rUK.
• You’re told you won’t get your (lowest in Europe) pension.
• You’re still doing comfortable enough but you’re more concerned about people worse off than yourself
• You’re a nationalist and therefore a Nazi.