Scott Free: Scotland's Bid to Become its Own Country Again

Fontana, CA – Last year it was decided with Royal Assent that on September 18 of 2014 a referendum would be held in Scotland bearing the question "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

In 1603 Queen Elisabeth died without leaving an heir. A knight saddled up and rode through the night to tell the king of Scotland the good/bad news. The bad news was his aunt was dead, (or was it the other way round?) the good news was he was now king of England. And so James VI of Scotland became James I of England, he translated his famous Bible, and two countries of Scotland and England united and stopped fighting, (sort of) and merged into The United Kingdom.

But now Scotland is, like the proverbial Prodigal Son, wishing to leave its father’s house. For a long time now there have been stirrings in Scotland, of people wishing for Home Rule. The fires stoked by the Scottish Independence Party, although dropped from the Labor Party’s agenda. (England and Scotland’s form of Democrats.)

All three major parties in England are favoring the campaign “Better Together,” and trying to keep Scotland in, even offering greater autonomy. Some have even suggested that David Cameron, the Prime Minister of England and a Tori, should Scotland secede, may have to resign, as he has so identified with keeping Scotland with England.

David Cameron, Prime Minister of Great Brittan
and opponent of Scottish Referendum.

As for his major opponents, the Labor party, they also have much to lose. Even though they are expected, in the upcoming election to win a majority, along with their coalition, in the house of Commons, if in 2014, Scotland were to vote to leave, in 2016, when the date would be set for actual break away, Miliband, head of Labor would find himself losing 40 members of parliament, and possibly his new found majority.

For a long time it looked like the referendum would receive a decided NO vote. But now, suddenly, the polls are showing a slight lead for the YES vote. Officials are now scrambling in England to call Scotland back, with the days ticking down to the vote. Even reminding them that they will not be able to use the British Pound should they decide to succeed.

There are now nine days left. The stocks in England and elsewhere have fallen due to fear of a YES. Were Scotland to vote YES, and leave, no one is quite sure what would happen next. They have been a part of the Empire for four-hundred years and more. Ever since that night when the rider galloped through the night with the news. Much has changed, but Scotland is still Scotland, and they now have the chance to decide if they want to, as they always did before that night, sometimes on rough roads and sometimes on smooth, go it alone.

Andrew C. Abbott