Guilt Free Railing 5

[WouldBeGood]

Just in case railing remains required.

@Groovee ooh that looks good. We're having stir fry tonight but I might nip out tomorrow to get that for tomorrow nights dinner.

"What's happening over in Northern Ireland is scaring the shit out of me."

Me too. I don't know if the extremely high level of general anxiety I have right now, but I can't help thinking this is the way Scotland is heading too. It just feels like divisions are getting deeper, with us split right down the middle on a constitutional question that doesn't allow any real compromise. We don't have much in the way of violence (yet) but there is certainly a lot of nastiness and I do worry that if by chance independence was snuck through on a narrow majority, leaving half the country disenfranchised, it wouldn't take much to spark it all off.

I agree about Northern Ireland. And it shows the huge potential problems about a border.

The politicians travelling and posing is really really getting on my tits too.

@Y0uCann0tBeSer10us you articulate it much better than me. I also have a family member in the army and he's concerned they will send him over. He's not a drama Queen by any stretch and it's the one place he has always said he would hate to work.

My dad was in the army from about 1974 - 1990 and was posted in NI for quite a while. He had nightmares for years after he left the army about it.

@Scottishskifun I couldn't even be arsed to have a takeaway on my birthday so we ate the lasagna I'd made for the next night. Takeaway tonight though and looking forward to my lamb shwarma and baba ganoush

@Y0uCann0tBeSer10us

"What's happening over in Northern Ireland is scaring the shit out of me."

Me too. I don't know if the extremely high level of general anxiety I have right now, but I can't help thinking this is the way Scotland is heading too. It just feels like divisions are getting deeper, with us split right down the middle on a constitutional question that doesn't allow any real compromise. We don't have much in the way of violence (yet) but there is certainly a lot of nastiness and I do worry that if by chance independence was snuck through on a narrow majority, leaving half the country disenfranchised, it wouldn't take much to spark it all off.

Well nearly half the country was left feeling bit disenfranchised in 2014 and there was no violence so I wouldn't worry about that.

I'm disgusted at what's happening in NI. Brexit was always going to destabilise the situation there and nobody in UK gov ever gave a shit. It's appalling.

@forfucksakenett I would argue that that situation was different because the status quo was maintained rather than there being major upheaval. Unionists celebrated or, as in my case, breathed a huge sigh of relief, while Nationalists were upset but immediately started campaigning for another vote so their disappointment had somewhere to go. If Scotland did vote to leave the UK, I can't see around 50% of the country just shrugging their shoulders and accepting it, because as much as you want to be independent, that's how much many of us want to be British. If there are no political outlets for that, which may well be the case if the SNP/ALBA fix a supermajority, I do worry about where that anger will go. Having spent the last god knows how many years demonising Westminster (I mean, have you seen the latest SNP campaign video??), I can't see NS suddenly becoming a unifying force. If you then start to factor in a difficult divorce, likely austerity, recovery from the pandemic, and a long wait for reentry to the EU (if at all) you have a perfect storm of conditions for civil unrest.

I really hope I'm wrong and this dread I feel is just a symptom of the anxiety disorder I've developed, but I have an awful feeling it's not.

Sharing that dread on the consequences of division within Scotland @Y0uCann0tBeSer10us.

Just seems like there’s never peace.

I think as well a year of restrictions the tensions are incredibly high.

@Y0uCann0tBeSer10us I agree with your post.

Well all I'm hearing there is that last time it was okay because I agreed with it and this time it won't be okay because I don't. To be fair it is a guilt free railing thread though

In 2014 many, many people were heartbroken and just had to get on with it. Since then we've seen nothing positive to reward the union with Brexit being the cherry on the cake.

If we secure independence then those who don't want it will similarly just need to suck it up and get on with it just as we did. It's not ideal I appreciate that but why should nearly half the country, maybe more depending on what poll you believe, just give up on their political goals?

I agree that Scotland trying to become independent could very well cause civil war.

Brushing up on my Irish history. I have a memory of the troubles and memory of Tony Blair working to get peace in NI.

Prior to the RoI and the UK being in the EU was there a hard border in Ireland? Did both countries join at the same time?

@forfucksakenett I honestly don't think the situations are comparable. There is actual riots happening in NI. Kids as young as 12 involved.

I'm too young to remember much about the troubles but that sectarian divide exists here across the water I can only imagine it's 100 times worse. I don't want to see riots anywhere I don't want my kids in that. It has shag all to do with independence.

That spills over her then indyref2 will be the least of our worries

I don't think the situations are comparable. I can't see there being violence as easily in Scotland as there is in NI.

I agree with you there. It would take a lot more.

I am concerned that if Boris chooses to intervene then I have a relative who will most likely get sent over. I'm bloody scared. If it goes on much longer the UK will have to do something. Maybe I should start a thread apologies for derailling this one

Of course the UK will need to do something about the riots happening in the UK.

What I mean by that is it's too important for him not to get involved in some way.

It's actually heartbreaking.

Who knows what will happen.

A lot of Remainers in Scotland are the older people, who have money / good jobs behind them. Many would up-sticks and move, causing a house price crash.

I just don't know what Boris could do, don't know that a return to the Army on the streets is the right move.
I guess it's get back talking to Brussels.

The army back on the streets is a sure fire way to kick start a drive for reunification.

It's unthinkable to send the army in (for the sake of the Irish people) but he'll need to do something in connection with Arlene surely? Can't just kid on it's not happening which seems to be the approach just now.

I’ll just demand another referendum if there is one and it doesn’t go my way 😃

Seriously though, I am old enough to remember the troubles and would never want that again.

@WouldBeGood

I’ll just demand another referendum if there is one and it doesn’t go my way 😃

Seriously though, I am old enough to remember the troubles and would never want that again.

And that would be your right! you could start a let's get back together political party.

I think you only have to look at other parts of the UK to realise how much has simmered over. Riots in Bristol which is a very liberal city more likely to have a poetry reading and farmers market then a riot.

A lot of sense has gone out of the window people are fed up generally having something to direct that to will cause unrest in cities. it's a bit happy go lucky thinking to ignore that's a real possibility in Scotland.

How much effort had to put into the old firm game to stop "fans".... They knew if people came out onto the streets it would result in violence.

@forfucksakenett I might! 😃 All peace and love and no borders.