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Union soldiers 1863.
How easy might it be for Texas, or Scotland, or Western Ukraine to become independent?
In 1861, the USA fought a civil war to prevent a break up of the union.
Since the 19th century, the Kurds have been trying to break away from Turkey. 35,000 people have been killed in the recent Turkish-Kurdish conflict.
In 1905, Norway voted in a referendum to become independent from Sweden.
Sweden briefly considered war.
Then the Swedes let Norway break away peacefully.
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1916 Easter Rising in Dublin
Britain put up a fight to prevent Irish independence, but eventually gave independence to the South in 1921.
Britain has used violence to prevent the North from becoming independent.
In 1956, the Russians used violence to put down the Hungarian revolt.
In the 1968, the Russians used violence to put down the revolt in Czechoslovakia.
In 1991, the break-up of the Soviet Union was peaceful.
However, the Russians have fought a war to prevent Chechnya from becoming independent.
In 1993, Czechoslovakia was peacefully split into two countries, one for the Czechs and one for the Slovaks.
Alex Salmond's plans.
A Chinese diplomat told journalist Gideon Rachman that "England would never accept Scottish independence. It would invade."
Scotland can be a model for how to handle separatism - Gideon Rachman - Financial Times - 17 February 2014.
Rachman writes: "The UK government’s willingness to allow the centuries-old union to be dissolved peacefully is a boost to the country's reputation."
Scottish independence.
However, it should be noted that the London government, and its allies, are doing everything they can to prevent Scotland becoming independent.
Scotland has strategically important waters, huge energy reserves, and important military bases such as the nuclear submarine base at Faslane.
NATO, London, the EU and the USA would be enormously keen to see an independent Scotland remaining a close ally.
The most likely outcome of the 2014 referendum in Scotland is a 'NO' vote, followed by London giving more powers to the existing Scottish parliament.
5 comments:
Glad you are back!!!
I too, am glad to see you back on deck Aangirfan.
This presentation reinforces for me how people all over the world really want autonomy and freedom.
Alas, the Big End of Town rules through fear, intimidation and the usual tyrannies: whatever works.
Each and every one of us must stand up and fight for this precious freedom.
Please do not perpetuate this myth that London will give more powers to Scotland in a no vote. THEY WILL NOT. They will take powers away.
Please look into our referendum in 1979 and the broken promises there.
I believe Scotland will vote Yes come September. The momentum is with Yes. The grass roots campaigners are with Yes. The only thing we don't have is the media, and the wool is slowly slipping from it's back.
The English are never asked. The first country to be invaded by the British Empire and the United Kingdom was England. From the very start the United Kingdom was designed to denigrate and eradicate all things English.
The Scot Ian Hay wrote about it nearly 100 years ago http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41448
Far from invading Scotland, the English would more likely erect barbed wire and concrete borders.
How very interesting that last night's Smithsonian channel featured a show on Boudica and the Romans and Harian's Wall.
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