Sean Connery on Scottish Independence

New Staesman ^ | March 4, 2014 | Sean Connery

[all the best]

Having been on this journey to independence for more than 50 years, it seems to me that the arguments have been kicked about like a bladder on a beach.

But as the 18 September approaches and, one by one, the scare stories are burst, a new sense of opportunity and hope for the future is now in sight. Scotland has an opportunity to make a step change.

More than anything else, culture defines a country. It provides international visibility and stimulates global interest more than a nation’s politics, business or economy ever can.

So, with our colourful history, strong identity, deep-rooted traditions, a commitment to artistic innovation and diverse and beautiful landscapes, Scotland is truly blessed.

All these attributes mean that Scotland is one of the most familiar countries on earth. As a Scot who has lived much of his life furth of Scotland, I am always amazed by people’s knowledge of and affection for the nation.

I have no doubt that this is due to our reconvened Scottish parliament. It seems to me that devolution has encouraged a new expression of cultural values, fostering a new pride in our national heritage and providing a support framework for everything from the Gaelic language to cutting-edge architecture. Attending the opening of the parliament in my home city was one of the proudest days of my life.

I believe Scotland can and will go further. A Yes vote in September will capture the attention of the world. That inevitably means there will be a renewed focus on our culture as well as our new politics, presenting us with an unparalleled opportunity to promote our heritage and creative excellence.

The powers of independence will allow Scotland to develop and enrich its culture as well as marketing it more effectively.

[C19fan]

Just curious where Sean Connery keeps the millions he earned as a Hollywood A level star.

[fr_freak]

Starting to more clearly understand the Jeopardy parody skits where Sean Connery is portrayed dumb-as-a-rock.

They portray him that way because Connery is an old school man's man, and the Left hates that. The Left likes their men girly and submissive.

[Jim from C-Town]

One of the reasons they may want to break from the UK is to avoid the inevitable Islamofication of England. With Independence they can make their own immigration policies.

[massgopguy]

Scots living abroad cannot vote. But Croatian Muslims living there can.

[DannyTN]

"And kicking bladders around on beaches. I don't think I woul have brought that up. "

Shades of "Ow my balls!!"

[gr8eman]

Agree with you, but socialists never give it up! They will double-down when the money stops flowing from London and chaos will ensue!

[Red Badger]

Well, I really like their whiskey and tape.....................

[RJS1950]

Be careful what you wish for. The battle of Culloden was 267 years ago and that is a lot of change, integration and blurring of two sets of national interests. The clans were essentially destroyed and with that the sense of identity and fealty to the local lords, lands and traditions. At the least that has been weakened over the centuries whether the Scots realize it or not.

I have little doubt that many Scots still feel the devotion to a free Scotland that lost true force when the Jacobite rebellion was put down but Scotland as a whole has moved on to integration over all those years just as other national groups such as the German States, the Frankish kingdoms, the kingdoms of Italy.

The many economic and social ties to Britain may not or will not last and in the end there may be more downsides than upsides to a split.

Wouldn’t be the first time but again, it is their choice. They just need to be ready to live with any bad that comes with the good.

[MadMitch]

I was always lead to believe that the US top brass thought of the British nukes a prestige thing for Britain. No way would they be allowed to use them without US approval and would rather Britain spent the £100 billion pound cost on conventional forces.

[Chickensoup]

Just as long as I don’t have to bail anyone out or fight someone else’s war, I don’t care.

[llevrok]

Lord help us if the Scots ever become Muslim.

May be more true than we know. I've read that the immigrants (asian, muslims, EU) are a huge voting block with little affinity for the UK and Scotland's history. They may carry the vote to break off Scotland.

The elderly are being rallied to vote as they are the largest voting group of true Scots left.

This is not unlike French Canada and soon places like the US southwest.

[MrB]

King George III called it way back then - if they lost the American Colonies, that would be the end of the empire.

[DoodleDawg]

Scotland will be the 22nd new country since WWII......

You might want to go over those calculations again. Most of Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean became independent since World War II.

[what's up]

Because we were united we were able to be victorious in both World Wars.

One of the reasons we split from the UK was that a huge natural barrier (the Atlantic) separated us. It resulted in the UK not being able to empathize with the colonies' needs (and would have been the same going forward if we had remained in the sitatuion).

Not so with the continental US of A. There's more power in unity here.

[Bender2]

Re: Zardoz. One of the dumbest damned movies I have ever seen.

Gadzooks! One of the few Sean Connery films... I have never seen!

A little traveling music, Sam... * we are off to Wikipedia--

From http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=3204593%2C25

In a future post-apocalypse Earth in the year 2293, the human population is divided into the immortal 'Eternals' and mortal 'Brutals'. The Brutals live in a wasteland, growing food for the Eternals, who live apart in 'the Vortex', leading a luxurious but aimless existence on the grounds of a country estate. The connection between the two groups is through Brutal Exterminators, who kill and terrorize other "Brutals" at the orders of a huge flying stone head called Zardoz, which supplies them with weapons in exchange for the food they collect. Zed (Connery), a Brutal Exterminator, hides aboard Zardoz during one trip, temporarily "killing" its Eternal operator-creator Arthur Frayn (Niall Buggy).

Arriving in the Vortex, Zed meets two Eternals — Consuella (Charlotte Rampling) and May (Sara Kestleman) — and is experimented upon by one of them before being made to work for another Eternal, a troublemaker called Friend (John Alderton). The Eternals are overseen and protected from death by an AI called the Tabernacle (a large crystal mass in appearance) and have problems themselves, falling into catatonia through an odd illness or being deliberately aged into senility for violating a complex set of social rules.

Zed discovers an old book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and he realizes the origin of the name Zardoz. It is then revealed that Zed was created by Arthur Frayn to destroy the Vortex and restore death to the bored Eternals. Zed finds a flaw in the Tabernacle and destroys it, after which the Brutals bring death to the majority of Eternals. A few Eternals escape to make a new life outside the Vortex. The bitter-sweet ending shows Zed and Consuella producing a child, growing old and dying naturally, whilst the sound of the second movement of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony swells in the soundtrack.

Gadzooks! It couldn't be dumber... than that damn crap I just read--

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ydqYmP_5iXg/T-EL89iVJ9I/AAAAAAAAE0w/uVpadlRIr3A/s320/Jackie_Gleason_Miami_Beach_1968.jpg

[Lower Deck]

The UK’s nuclear missiles are in Scotland and the Scots, if they become independent, likely will shut them down. That will leave England to build new ones in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland.

The UK's nuclear missiles are all on four Trident ballistic missile subs which are pretty mobile. There's already talk that if the Scots vote to leave then the Brits will rent space from the U.S. at Kings Bay in Georgia where the U.S. Atlantic Fleet Trident subs are homeported.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Lord help us if the Scots ever become Muslim.

No kidding! The sight of those plaid burquas will cause my retinas to explode.

[Hieronymus]

Perhaps you live in the Boston-D.C. corridor. Many people west and south of that hallowed land sometimes wonder about the ability of those people, and of those living in blue cities, to empathize with the needs of those outside of those places. The geographic barrier may not be as large, but the psychological distance is far enough.

[John S Mosby]

There’s an excellent BBC scotland program on youtube about
“who owns scotland”. Turns out that the largest estates in scotland (that is, most of scotland) is held by titled inheritance. The title to the land is ultimately held by the English Crown. So there is that bit of “settling up” to be done for the transfer into private hands. One of the large landholders is a Danish soccer star, who has to pay taxes on the land not only to scotland, but also to Denmark. Imagine that!

The Men who Own Scotland: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2kTGLUh_c4

[Captain Peter Blood]

At least he puts his money where his mouth is. Mr. Connery has donated large sums of money to various Scottish Charities and Causes for a very long time with these monies running into the millions.