Weekend Distractions: Scotland Shows How It’s Done With Non-Violent Referendum

A big day in the United Kingdom this week. The people of Scotland had the opportunity to vote for their independence from the rest of the union.

Think about that for a moment.

They got to vote…

They got to choose…

How often has that happened in the history of the world?

Historically a country’s independence is forged in blood.  An insurgency against the “power” in charge leads to rebellion and civil war. A lot of people end up dying for “the cause”.

But that didn’t happen in the U.K last week.  And when the people of Scotland ultimately decided to remain within the union the leaders of the the Scottish National Party who advocated independence were not rounded up and executed.  There were no charges of treason or insurrection.

Other than some incidents of passionate voters getting carried away there was no violence whatsoever.

Incredible!

A Chinese friend of mine this week mentioned how the Chinese government looks at what happened in Scotland this week and it makes them nervous. “Steve, think of how much smaller China would be if different areas could vote to leave the PRC?  Tibet, Xinjiang Province, Inner Mongolia… all would leave if they could just vote.  Beijing would be against the idea of what happened in Scotland this week but they can’t even understand it”

Think about it.  The Scottish Nationalist Party has been openly advocating Scottish Independence since 1934 and the party is allowed to exist by the “powers” in charge.  On top of that it actually has Members of Parliament voted in and representing the SNP in Westminster. Essentially you have a party whose ultimate aim is to break off a large segment of the country and go independent operating normally within the governing framework of the existing “power” .

A government has to be incredibly secure to tolerate that.

Can you imagine a person advocating Tibet or Hong Kong independence representing a recognized party in Beijing?

I’ll let that thought marinate for a minute…

The irony of allowing freedom of choice in the Scottish referendum resulted in the people of Scotland ultimately choosing to stay.  

I know there was very passionate opinion on either side of the Scottish referendum and I has friends who were very disappointed with the result but rather than take up arms and start a violent rebellion they are simply going to the pub, ordering a pint, and saying, “Oh well, maybe next time.”

So three cheers for the U.K. and the people of Scotland for showing the rest of the world how it’s done!