Yesterday's elections in Scotland yielded an historic result: Alex Salmond, leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), will now have the majority needed to hold a referendum on independence. Salmond's party has followed the strategy laid-out for them by the PQ, in Quebec, who held several referendums, but never quite managed to achieve the majority to fulfill their dream. As an Anglo-Quebecer and Canadian, I was opposed to a separatist Quebec, a distinct province with a significant history that was better served in the federation - but I do welcome the chance Salmond offers his people for their own vote. It seems obvious that Scotland has the culture, infrastructure, and history, to deserve a say in its own governance, and to determine whether it will remain within the UK or become its own country in the EU, like the Republic of Ireland, or Portugal. Economics or fear may hinder the dream, but it may not - we might see a liberated Scotland in the next four years. Meanwhile, in Quebec, it seems that the most recent election saw the tossing out of the Bloc, separatists, in favour of the pro-Canadian NDP. In such matters, voters tend to be fickle, and torn between the devils they do, and do not, know.
THAT HANDSOME MAN A PERSONAL BRIEF REVIEW BY TODD SWIFT I could lie and claim Larkin, Yeats , or Dylan Thomas most excited me as a young poet, or even Pound or FT Prince - but the truth be told, it was Thom Gunn I first and most loved when I was young. Precisely, I fell in love with his first two collections, written under a formalist, Elizabethan ( Fulke Greville mainly), Yvor Winters triad of influences - uniquely fused with an interest in homerotica, pop culture ( Brando, Elvis , motorcycles). His best poem 'On The Move' is oddly presented here without the quote that began it usually - Man, you gotta go - which I loved. Gunn was - and remains - so thrilling, to me at least, because so odd. His elegance, poise, and intelligence is all about display, about surface - but the surface of a panther, who ripples with strength beneath the skin. With Gunn, you dressed to have sex. Or so I thought. Because I was queer (I maintain the right to lay claim to that
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I really don't understand why you opposed an independent Quebec but support an independent Scotland. I can't see any difference. The Scots are certainly selfish enough to break up the UK. Let us hope that they don't succeed.
Best wishes from Simon
'What's selfish about wanting to break up a fictional construct, or any relationship you feel isn't working?' Everything! That's why there are so many broken homes and damaged kids in our society. Losing Scotland would save England and Wales an awful lot of money but most of us still want to keep the union intact.
Best wishes from Simon