These are the moments that ordinary people chose a path
of idealism for the better future of their fellow citizens and claimed their
right to determine their own future. Nine times out of ten such people never
intended to get involved beforehand – but just did what they thought was right
when the moment presented itself.
Rosa Park's refusal to conform to racial segregation laws on public transport sparked mass public support for the Civil Rights movement in the US and eventually equal rights legislation |
We look back at such moments as ‘history’ and somehow
they feel remote, not like things we could do ourselves. BUT the vote on 18th
September is such a moment – almost uniquely this moment has been brought about
not by protest or bloodshed, but by democratic process. We have a chance to
gather the need for change and set in motion a chain of events that could result
in new ways and means in our society that future generations will look upon
with the same pride that we have for the Welfare State.
It is human nature that, when the wind of change comes,
those currently in power act to defend the status-quo. They do this by telling
us that we will risk what we already have by demanding better and that we are
not capable of understanding the great complexities of the world that we seek
to change. They promise us small bonuses and inducements.
We face this moment on 18th September because enough people
felt unease about the direction our society was taking and feared for the future of
our children and grandchildren. One of the key reasons for this unease was the
erosion of the principles and parts of our society (eg The Welfare State) that
have been created by similar moments in the past. If we listen to voices
telling us to ‘get back in our place’ all that will happen will be a collective
sigh of relief from those in power and then it will be back to business as
usual. This moment will just be recorded as another failed attempt by a bunch
of ‘misguided radicals’ to disrupt those whose sole aim in life is to
accumulate wealth and power.
Any decision involves risk – the future is uncertain if
we vote Yes or if we vote No.
If we vote Yes on September we are voting to begin a
process of change in our society – and most importantly we are voting to go
into that process WITH a democratic voice in the way we shape our future. The
negotiations will be twofold:
- To decide on the way Scotland governs, organises, resources and conducts itself for its own people and in relation to the wider world
- To agree a way of working in partnership with our nearest neighbours in the British Isles
This second part is perhaps the most crucial in the
context of deciding to make Scotland’s government independent of the rest of
the UK. What will happen will be one of the most important processes in the
history of our society in Britain. All of the systems by which we live will
become transparent as never before as decisions are reached about the way we
share and the way we work together in the future (on defence, currency,
immigration, education, health etc). Because of what is happening in Scotland
just now and the way contemporary society works with so much access to
information…this process will happen in public, because of this, the people of
England, Wales and Northern Ireland will also have a voice in the bigger
conversation about their own society and the way it is organised.
A vote for Yes will bring about a process of reflection
and action on the big issues of being human and how we live together for the
benefit of all. Thinking positively and constructively about our future is a
very different vision of the world from one of a perpetual fight to protect the
little we have. History will judge us on our courage to seize this moment for
change – a change for the benefit of all citizens of Britain – not just those
of Scotland.
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