On the 24th June, the English Government awarded the Trident contract to the Devonport Yard. None but the most naive optimists found this announcement surprising.

If it is possible to attribute blame for this course of events, then it surely lies with the Scottish people themselves. Only by their inability to accept responsibility for their own nation, are they subject to the whims of the English electorate. A Scotland of 5 million people (of which an astonishing number are English has no right to demand anything of an English population 10 times greater. If we expect to achieve democracy, we have no alternative than to dissolve the union. Were the Scottish 1 to outnumber the English 10, where therein would lie the democratic process?

If we, the people of Scotland, continue to sport blind allegiance to British (i.e. English) political parties, then we shall surely remain nothing more than a dependency. This cannot be challenged whilst we continue to support the concept of democracy.

At the risk of appearing to agree with a government I despise and reject, it must be noted that they were faced with absolutely no alternative when deciding upon this issue. The Tory party has recently been the subject of too much adverse publicity and internal wranglings to contemplate the possibility of yet another revolt. Were they to award the work to Rosyth, a revolt by their back benches and the subsequent furore would have led to their downfall and heralded a general election they would not win. Devonport (which stood to lose 2,500 jobs) is in an area of strong and traditional Tory seats; Rosyth (which stands to lose 5,000 jobs) is in Labour's easy street, blind Scotland. For this reason alone, Rosyth was a non-starter. Pathetic allegiance to Labour has, once again, done nothing for Scots; still Scots flock, like lemmings, to their cliffs.

The workforce of Rosyth are faced with a period of great uncertainty. They are among the growing number of Scots who may never enjoy the luxury of retiring from their jobs when, and only when, the correct time comes. The "Parcel o' Rogues" whoo, in 1707, surrendered their nation to England's empire, also surrendered the rights of the Scottish People. In the name of Democracy, yet by the least democratic means, they denied us our democracy. Those who, today, vote to continue this tragic and corrupt union, are equally guilty.

The workforce of Rosyth, Ravenscraig, etc., etc., etc., must look to themselves and ask WHY?
Why did we lose our jobs?
Why are we to suffer?
Why are we without voice?
Why are we without strength?
WHY DID WE LET THIS HAPPEN?
It happened because we played David to the English Goliath, yet we didn't finish the story! We didn't learn the lesson! The time is come - we are able! The heart, I fear, lacks.

Support for the English political structure must end now. If there is not the alternative, then it must be created. The SNP are incapable, at present, of delivering Scotland. Freedom wil not be granted to snivelling beggars dancing and singing "please, please, please" to an English tune. Freedom, indeed, will not be granted, it must be taken. The lack of belief in the SNP must not be overlooked. They must become Nationalists - a radical change indeed. If they continue their gutless antics, they will bask in obscurity ad infinitum. Let them be aware that when the sheep of Scotland finally decide to seek their shepherd, that shepherd will have earned their allegiance totally. Inadequacy will no longer be tolerated.

Scotland is a modern and civilised nation, yet by continued acceptance of our present predicament, we elect to languish in the bygone era of empires. Never forget, this is by our choosing; it is by our choosing, things will change. Rosyth must be seen as yet another reminder of our present abominable status. We must never forget our size and our capabilities; we must begin to see the vastness of our present vulnerability and dependency. We must begin to look at the alternatives; if none exist, we must create them.

It is necessary to include that political argument was not the only avenue of discussion surrounding Rosyth. Strong discourse has taken place with regard to environmental as well as economic issues. That they have been largely unmentioned herein should not be misunderstood. The economic implications of this issue may well prove disastrous to Rosyth and the surrounding area. A great many lives will be devastatingly affected. On a wider scale, many companies and organisations may never recover from the impact of this. Opposition to the proposals re Rosyth were also numerous. This opposition was based on environmental grounds which also warrant discussion. The word nuclear still infuses great and justifiable fear among the population. The argument between these camps is one for the people of Scotland, only, to decide.

Both the economic and environmental factors are secondary to the outcome only because the political rat was in a corner. Self preservation (of the Tory party) was the deciding factor. The preservation of an English England far outweighed the rights of Scotland. The systematic dismantling (and often self-destruction) of Scotland began in 1707. Through the clansmen, crofters, weavers, shipbuilders, miners, steel-workers and now dockers, plus countless more, our way of life has been decided by the English.

No bloody more! Surely!
If humans evolved from apes, are we Scots yet chimpanzees?

© Siol nan Gaidheal, 1993