Separatism: yay or nay?

[Z]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/nov/03/alex-salmond-scottish-independence?CMP=twt_gu

The president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, has posted a video on YouTube giving his opinion on Scottish and Belgian separatism.

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What are your views? Scotland seeks independence from the United Kingdom, and Flanders seeks independence from Belgium. Do you agree with Van Rompuy that separatism can't help and that 'union' is the word of the future; or do you think the people in those respective regions should be able to secede from their respective unions and become separate entities?

[Lee.]

I'm not going to watch it as I can see on the front pic that itr calls The Nationalist's work "evil" WTH??

And yes, I am all for independence. I don't know why it is being called "seperatism"

[lostalex]

Yikes, he's scary.

He says the world of the future must be a "union", not separatism. Well, I think many Eastern European countries would disagree with him. Being a "union" didn't work out so well for eastern European countries under the USSR did it?

You don't have to be part of a "union" to still work together with other countries on bigger issues.

[Novo]

Scotland can have their independence but in return they must give us Rangers and then they can rightfully play in our great league where they belong

[joeysteele]

Personally,I would rather see Countries coming together more rather than dividing. I hope and feel sure that the Scots will not vote for Independence,however I believe the Scots deserve far better from Westminster Parliaments than they have had for some time now.

Mt Family who live in Scotland willnot be voting for independence so if I lived there and had a vote neither would I just as I likely wouldn't as to the Belgian issue too.

[Shaun]

Nay. Petty nationalism.

[Z]

Yikes, he's scary.

He says the world of the future must be a "union", not separatism. Well, i think many Eastern European countries would disagree with him. Being a "union" didn't work out so well for eastern European countries under the USSR did it?

They were illegally occupied and sought European Union membership to get as far away from Russian influence as possible; I don't think there's much to compare between that example and the two in this thread, personally.

[joeysteele]

Yikes, he's scary.

He says the world of the future must be a "union", not separatism. Well, i think many Eastern European countries would disagree with him. Being a "union" didn't work out so well for eastern European countries under the USSR did it?

Having said what I did in my previous post above,I then though read yours lostalex and as ever you make a very valid and correct point.
I would have supported those breakaway Nations from the USSR definitely.

[lostalex]

They were illegally occupied and sought European Union membership to get as far away from Russian influence as possible; I don't think there's much to compare between that example and the two in this thread, personally.

European Union membership is not the same as National Unity. The Separatism we're talking about and this guy in the video is talking about is National unity and being part of a nation state. EU members are still independent nation states. Scotland and the Belgian place would still be in an alliance with the UK and other European countries, they'd just be new independent nation states.

[Kizzy]

The question is why?
What is in it for them, what are the benefits.. Is there some resource they have they don't want to share?
I can't see the vid but this splintering surely cannot be a good thing, united we stand, divided we fall and all that...

[MTVN]

Not really a very good answer from him there, separatism doesn't mean isolation, if Scotland were to become independent they'd still co-operate and work with the rest of the UK and the EU

[arista]

I'm not going to watch it as I can see on the front pic that itr calls The Nationalist's work "evil" WTH??

And yes, I am all for independence. I don't know why it is being called "seperatism"


You Are Most Wise

[Nedusa]

Scotland can have their independence but in return they must give us Rangers and then they can rightfully play in our great league where they belong

I agree bring Rangers ( and Celtic) into the Premier League and let's see how they cope with the competition at this level...!!!

[Lee.]

I agree bring Rangers ( and Celtic) into the Premier League and let's see how they cope with the competition at this level...!!!

What? Both Celtic and Rangers are long established Scottish teams. Why would you want them to join the English league?

[MTVN]

Because Scottish football is on about the same level as the Blue Square North