[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

GypsyGoth - I totally agree that it would be better for England, or at least Englands national identity, in the long run. My partner is English now living here in Scotland and has commented on how sad it is that England currently has very little national identity as an individual country, whereas Scotland, Ireland and even Wales all have quite strong identities as countries. "English" identity is firmly routed in British identity / the British Empire and now that that empire is dead, England finds itself floundering with very little solid identity of its own. There are great areas and regional micro-cultures buy even those are dying out to some degree. We lived in her hometown in Lancashire for 3 years and it always saddened me that the older generations had such a local identity - the accent, the attitudes, the sense of humour - were all so very "Lancashire" but the younger generations just have generic Manchester accents and no sense of local identity at all.

I think that's what some people living in England fail to understand: they talk about how Scotland will be so small with independence, and won't have that "global" place "on the world stage" that the UK as a whole "enjoys". They find it hard to comprehend that, maybe, we don't WANT a big place on the world stage or in global politics... That Scottish people might be happy to just roll with the punches and be Scottish, in Scotland.

It's the attitude of power and empire that's been handed down through the generations. People find it impossible to change that view that being a "major player" is the be all and end all when, in reality, in our day to day lives, it doesn't matter at all. It's just pride.

Great post, that makes alot of sense