That’s it. I’m going public with my position on September’s independence referendum.
There are is only a handful of months until we have to decide whether or not Scotland should go it alone or not. So I’m declaring that I’m officially a card-carrying member of the ‘don’t know‘ brigade.
There, glad it’s out in the public now. It feels a lot better.
I suppose you’re feeling a bit cheated by that. I know I would be, but I’ve got good reason.
I’ve gone from feeling a bit weird about it all, to properly understanding what’s at stake and to listening to debate on the subject. I’ve pondered long and hard and chewed it with the passionate on all sides of the fence.
Informed discussion is crucial – and even the uniformed variety can be illuminating. However, for some, the ones at the furthest ends of the spectrum, the ones waving their flags the hardest, debate is the same as dogma.
It feel to me like hoards of desperate scavengers are screeching away nearby. They lurk like vultures on the cliffs overlooking the burbling brooks of social media, ready to swoop. And the moment you wobble from the fence, however slightly, into their side they dive down and gather you up as their own.
The thing is I don’t want to be crowed over triumphantly and borne off to the lofty eyrie of either the Yes camp or the Nos. I’m not joining your gang, or yours. There’s much to dislike in either nest and, in any case, it’s not about the politicians, it’s about the nation and the shape it should be.
Therefore, whatever way I’ve decided to vote, until September 18 (and probably even after that) I’m not telling you. I won’t be a victory for propaganda and I won’t be swayed by polemic, I’ll make my own mind up.
Good for you. Have to say I've had a bit of “spirited debate” aimed at me since my Britmums post on why it's a No from me. Some of it getting quite aggressive. And I was open to listening to the other side of the fence and even *whispers* changing my mind if I could be persuaded it was the right thing for Scotland. But when people start spouting hatred at me, I shut down, and wish I'd kept my views to myself.
I saw some of that. It's a very hard thing to discuss in some areas because the conversation in the middle ground just gets swamped by the rhetoric.
I know that i'll be changing my mind at least 20 times stood in the ballot box on Sept 18th!
I suspect I'll be like that too.
After seeing the Britmums post and what was being said to Donna @mummycentral I think it's best we keep it to ourselves. I am concerned people are voting for the wrong reasons; like not voting independence because they don't like Alex Salmond, even though it's not a vote to get him in. Or voting independence as they think it's Braveheart film and we'll build Hadrians wall again. Have people thought about what will happen to our business'? Will they survive the need for a currency conversion? What about or mobiles, apparently we'll be on international roaming if we are vodafone UK. I don't feel we are getting the answers for much needed questions on independence. Are we better together? Well we know what to expect then.
You're right. There are so many unanswered questions, many of which can't even be discussed until and if there's a Yes vote. There's not doubt at all that a Yes vote is one for uncertainty.