“The aim of politics is to keep the populace alarmed by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins... all imaginary.”
The British ‘Establishment’ feels it has the independence movement in Scotland well 'sussed'. It is a practised machine at undermining independence movements and has a vast experience of quelling any form of peasants uprising and has fought every single one of the 59 Countries that have become independent tooth and nail.
The British 'Establishment' has successfully infiltrated every protest group that has ever dared challenge its status quo. It has burrowed deep into the Trade Unions, the political parties, every "Think Tank" you can think of, CND, and even has a bunch of anti-fracking Nanas in Yorkshire on its “to do” list.
But consider this: Sometimes, they don’t even have to plant people in amongst us to sabotage our progress towards Independence. Sometimes, all they have to do is distract us and the easiest way for them to do that is to send us scurrying in all directions by dropping an #OBomb. A communication specifically designed to make us angry.
For example:
A UK Government Policy that they have no intention of implementing is mooted...
"Outrageous!!!!! I’m totally outraged at this and I’m going to..."
Or a sexist/racist comment is made in Parliament or in a Conference speech...or an MP "woofed" at...
"This is outrageous!!!!! How very dare they!!!!"
Murdo Fraser tweets a shocker of a comment...or as they have become known in Scotland:
"There's been a Murdo!!"
"I've never been so insulted in all my life!!!!!"
They want us to lose our rag with them. They want us to bicker and fight amongst ourselves. They want us to spend weeks analysing the hurt. They want us to waste time. It's just a game to them. So when they drop an #OBomb, are you outraged or are you just playing ‘fetch’?
I'm not saying that #OBombs should be ignored. I'm saying that we might first view them as a deliberate provocation and take a deep breath before giving our measured response.
I'm as guilty as anyone of being outraged. But if we are to stay the course of the independence movement, we're going to have to adapt how we react and how we react to each other.
Make no mistake, the #OBombs are going to go off like artillery fire. They will keep coming. They will never let up until the very hour of Scottish independence.
So, rather than live the constant state of alarm that they design for us, let's ease up on ourselves and recognise when we are being poked with a stick.
It is time for us to get back on message. All the things we discuss should be about how we leverage independence. Let’s put all #OBombs through the independence filter and focus.
Blair Jenkins of the original YES Campaign said that all we had to do was each get one NO voter to vote YES. That is still all we have to do. That's our focus.
It’s not a big Nation-wide campaign that will get us to our goal. It is everyday stuff: random chats with strangers on the bus; chapping doors for your local YES group and taking the time to speak and listen to our neighbours and friends. Obstinate questionings: “Are you YES yet”?
As for the #OBombs, yes, of course, register your outrage - just do it in a way that distinguishes what our independent Scotland's approach will be.
“I’m outraged by this (insert #OBomb) but, this is how we will do this better/differently in an independent Scotland.”
Problem and solution must be presented together, not just the problem and a great big bucket of cortisol fuelled outrage.
The late Hans Rosling of http://www.gapminder.org/ who died recently was a big fan of the Yes movement's “Hope over Fear” slogan. His last message to the world was:
Spread your hope over their fear.
"In an independent Scotland we will do this, and this, and that, and this and this..." you get the picture.
Start painting that picture of the Scotland that we know we can be.
The unionists have an unerringly positive message:
“Let’s all pull Together” and we are “Stronger Together” and they stick to it come hell or high water. It may be “BS” but it’s a positive message. They don't have to prove that doesn't suit Scotland. They own the status quo.
In comparison, when we react badly to the latest #OBomb then even some of our closest buddies say: “Oh do shut up!”
The British "Establishment" will run us ragged if we let them.
Hope over fear fellow Independistas. Hope over fear.
Saor Alba Gu Brath
For example:
A UK Government Policy that they have no intention of implementing is mooted...
"Outrageous!!!!! I’m totally outraged at this and I’m going to..."
Or a sexist/racist comment is made in Parliament or in a Conference speech...or an MP "woofed" at...
"This is outrageous!!!!! How very dare they!!!!"
Murdo Fraser tweets a shocker of a comment...or as they have become known in Scotland:
"There's been a Murdo!!"
"I've never been so insulted in all my life!!!!!"
They want us to lose our rag with them. They want us to bicker and fight amongst ourselves. They want us to spend weeks analysing the hurt. They want us to waste time. It's just a game to them. So when they drop an #OBomb, are you outraged or are you just playing ‘fetch’?
I'm not saying that #OBombs should be ignored. I'm saying that we might first view them as a deliberate provocation and take a deep breath before giving our measured response.
I'm as guilty as anyone of being outraged. But if we are to stay the course of the independence movement, we're going to have to adapt how we react and how we react to each other.
Make no mistake, the #OBombs are going to go off like artillery fire. They will keep coming. They will never let up until the very hour of Scottish independence.
So, rather than live the constant state of alarm that they design for us, let's ease up on ourselves and recognise when we are being poked with a stick.
Blair Jenkins of the original YES Campaign said that all we had to do was each get one NO voter to vote YES. That is still all we have to do. That's our focus.
It’s not a big Nation-wide campaign that will get us to our goal. It is everyday stuff: random chats with strangers on the bus; chapping doors for your local YES group and taking the time to speak and listen to our neighbours and friends. Obstinate questionings: “Are you YES yet”?
As for the #OBombs, yes, of course, register your outrage - just do it in a way that distinguishes what our independent Scotland's approach will be.
“I’m outraged by this (insert #OBomb) but, this is how we will do this better/differently in an independent Scotland.”
Problem and solution must be presented together, not just the problem and a great big bucket of cortisol fuelled outrage.
The late Hans Rosling of http://www.gapminder.org/ who died recently was a big fan of the Yes movement's “Hope over Fear” slogan. His last message to the world was:
Spread your hope over their fear.
"In an independent Scotland we will do this, and this, and that, and this and this..." you get the picture.
Start painting that picture of the Scotland that we know we can be.
The unionists have an unerringly positive message:
“Let’s all pull Together” and we are “Stronger Together” and they stick to it come hell or high water. It may be “BS” but it’s a positive message. They don't have to prove that doesn't suit Scotland. They own the status quo.
In comparison, when we react badly to the latest #OBomb then even some of our closest buddies say: “Oh do shut up!”
The British "Establishment" will run us ragged if we let them.
Hope over fear fellow Independistas. Hope over fear.
Saor Alba Gu Brath
Good advice for all as we march towards independence - thanks Mr M
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