Scots Independent
January 1996

Owned, Edited and Printed in Scotland - First Published in November 1926
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Ring out the old, screen in the new - Colin Campbell

Over the years I have sought to highlight organs of the Media that are not only disapproving of the concept of Scottish independence but which, either openly or covertly, work tirelessly to prevent it.

In what follows next I acknowledge with gratitude the continuing support of the Sun for independence and would suggest that newspaper journalism at challenging tabloid level still plays an important persuasive role. Apart, therefore, from the Record and its stablemate, the Sunday Mail, the electoral effect of the entire Unionist opposition in the Scottish broadsheets and on BBC Scotland is far less than their editors and contributors would like to suppose. Evidence of just how badly they overestimated their influence over Scottish voting intentions has been constantly available since the 79 referendum debacle.

That the small but vociferous cabal of Scottish journalists, who constitute the viscera of our 'chattering classes', have such an overblown view of their own importance does no service to Scotland's political progress towards constitutional change. In effect they impede such progress by obfuscating the debate with their peely wally alternatives to outright independence. But their ineffectiveness as opinion formers (witness today's miserable showing of Liberal Democrats - the natural repository of 'chattering classes') does surely beg the question: who or what, in addition to the tabloids, does inform Scottish opinion these days?

There is now a completely new means of access to the sort of age and social groups on whom the SNP must increasingly depend if it is to make the significant breakthrough that we all hope for and expect in the immediate years ahead. This access lies in the buoyant video market which despite economic sluggishness in most other sectors shows no sign of wavering in its ever upward spiral of popularity. Perhaps the success of 'Braveheart' can point to a route ahead: for what it demonstrated was that there is an insatiable appetite in Scotland for closer encounters with a fascinating history from which we have been largely sheltered for Unionist political reasons that still persist to-day.

As technology becomes more readily available in the home, and equipment and materials become cheaper, here surely is an access to Scottish opinion that the SNP is uniquely prepared to make use of. Within the party there is already an enormous breadth of experience in the commissioning and direction of limited scale video productions. It would surely not be a greatly daunting task to venture into longer and more wide-ranging productions. There is also a host of specialist knowledge in all the phases and nuances of Scottish history within the Party; and if this were to be harnessed by those already in possession of directional and production skills we could well start laying a long term plan to film and screen material on a rolling basis before and beyond the next Election.

Nor should funding prove an insurmountable obstacle to such a project. As already mentioned, production costs are falling and there may even be profit to be made in the longer term. My resolution for 1996 is to help flood Scotland with a flashback of her history until all Scots realise that the strength and self-confidence they can draw from knowing their past can be translated into action to take responsibility for their own, and their nation's future.

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Message from SNP President, Winnie Ewing MEP

It was on a flight home from the US that Sir Hugh Fraser drew out of his pocket a letter he had received from my husband. In the letter he urged Sir Hugh, at that time Scotland's premier industrialist, to join the Scottish National Party and suggested to him why he should take Scotland's side.

Sir Hugh did join and proved to be one of our most generous and influential members for the rest of his life.

The point I make is - don't leave it to Party leaders to take initiatives, to enlarge membership, to increase our pool of talent. Do it yourself. To each and every Parliamentary candidate I say - Go For Gold.

There are no prizes for also-rans. If you aren't up to it, stand aside and let someone hungrier for power take on the job. By JUNE 1996 I want and expect and demand every SNP member to sign on another SIX members. For 1996 my message to the Party is: Six By Six 96.

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Message from SNP Parliamentary Leader, Margaret Ewing MP

There is no doubt in my mind that the constitutional issue will dominate 1996. The closing weeks of 1995 defined independence as the philosophy to which all Unionists must respond.

There will be no let up as the others try to outbid, and condemn each other - and particularly us! The SNP, however, enters a New Year knowing that our bank of principle is unassailable. It gives hope and confidence particularly as we say goodbye to a year in which we made substantial electoral progress.

1996 must be a year of unrelenting campaigning - spelling out our message to Scotland's citizens that economic and social justice can be achieved at home and abroad. Our base is sound, the economic arguments are there for for all to see; our vision of care, dignity and respect for our people is encapsulated in the concept of fairness; mainstream Scotland is a tangible reality.

Miracles do not happen overnight. But with political will, guts and determination we can win the minds and hearts of our voters. At Conference I used the phrase "We can do it"; I know we can. That means hard or even harder work for all of us; we are all part of the drive. Let us resolve that 1996 will be the year in which Scotland's democratic deficit is demolished; let us with brave hearts and strong minds build a nation of which we can be justly proud.

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Ti Flow, or No - by D Kerr, Armadale

The thocht recurred the ither day,
why should the Scottish Nation,
wi aa the talents that we hae,
wir energy resources tae,
wyce views on justice an fair play,
vote aye for subjugation?


Ti some, we Scots seem gled ti gie
away wir independence.
While ither nations aa agree,
it's aye worthwhile jist ti bi free,
we're Unionist an seemingly
are thirled ti blin 'dependence.


Efter the ebb the tide will turn
an flow back up the beaches.
Oor nation, likewise will return,
despite Westminsters anger't girn
or gold ti tempt us. Mind and learn
the lesson hist'ry teaches.

D. KERR,
Armadale
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Luchd-Ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig - Alasdair MacCaluim

Bha dà choinneimh chudromach ann an Glaschu air an 3mh agus 4mh den t-Samhainn. B' iad sin dar-na Co-labhairt An Luchd-Ionnsachaidh agus coinneamh bhliadhnail ChLI (Comann an Luchd-Ionnsachaidh).

Aig a' cho-labhairt, bha oraidean agus beachdachadh ann. Bhruidhinn Iain Galloway mun rannsachadh aige air àireamhan luchd-ionnsachaidh. A-rèir Mgr Galloway, tha 8000 duine ann an Alba agus 1600 ann an Sasainn ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig. Tha e a' creid-sinn cuideachd gu bheil an t-àireamh a' fàs. Thuirt Peadar Morgan bho ChLI gu bheil a' bhallrachd aca a' fàs. Tha faisg air 800 ball aig CLI an dràsda an taca ri 700 an-uiridh agus 350 ann an 1989.

Tha T.Bh glè chudromach ann an "ath-bheothachadh na Gàidhlig" agus air an adhbhar seo bha Rhoda NicDhòmhnaill agus Alasdair Moffat bho Thelebhisean na h-Alba an lathair. Bhruidhinn Ms NicDhòmhnaill mu dheidhinn Telebhisein anns an fharsaingeachd agus "Bruidhinn ar Cànan" gu h-àraidh. Thuirt Mgr Moffat gu bheil Gàidhlig uamhasach fhèin cudromach do dh' Alba agus bhruidhinn e mu dheidhinn adhbharan airson Gàidhlig ionnsachadh.

Bruidhinn riochdairean bho Shabhal Mòr Ostaig agus Colaisde Inbhir Nis (Ionad a' Ghearasdain) mu dheidhinn nan cùrsaichean urà aca. Thòisich an "HNC ann an Gàidhlig agus Sgilean Conaltraidh" o chionn dà bhliadhna aig an t-Sabhal Mhòr. Tha an cursa seo do luchd-ionnsachaidh a tha a' sìreadh fileantachd ach aig a bheil mòran Gàidhlig mar thà. 'S e cursa bogaidh do luchd-tòiseachaidh a th' anns a' chursa aig Colaisde Inbhir Nis anns a' Ghearasdan. 'S e adhartas mòr a tha seo gun teagamh sam bith. Bidh eadar 30 agus 40 luchd-fileanta ùr gach bliadhna bho na cùrsaichean seo agus tha CnaG dòchasach gum bi cùrsaichean bogaidh ùra a' toiseachadh air feadh Alba an ath-bhliadhna.

Bha Peadar Morgan -- stiùiriche ùr ChLI -- a' bruidhinn aig an dà choinneimh. Tha CLI ag atharrachadh agus a' fàs nas treasa. Tha stiùiriche làn-thide, oifisean ùra agus irisean nas fheàrr aca a-nis. Tha CLI cuideachd a' dèanamh iomadh iomairt aig an àm seo. M.e, ghearain CLI ri Telecom Bhreatainn mu dhìth na Gàidhlig anns na bocsaichean-fòn aca agus chùm iad taic ri iomairt airson formaichean dà-chànanach fhaighinn air a' Ghàidhealtachd.

Tha a' Ghàidhlig air mòran adhartais a dheanamh anns na trì ceithir bliadhnachan a chaidh seachad. Tha cùrsaichean ùra ann, tha tuilleadh dhaoine ag ionnsachadh agus m.s.a.a ach tha mòran againn ri dhèanamh fhathast. M.e, tha e gu math cosgail Gàidhlig ionnsachadh agus chan eil daoine gu leòr a' fàs fileanta. Ach, bha na coinneamhan a' toirt dòchas airson an àm ri teachd agus tha an luchd-ionnsachaidh a' fàs nas deònaiche a bhith a' strì air taobh na Gàidhlig. Tha feum ann fhathast air programman Gàidhlig air T.Bh nan Crìochan agus airson seirbheis rèidio air feadh na dùtcha agus iomadh rud eile. Ma tha sinn airosn na rudan sin fhaighinn, feumaidh sinn a' bhith strì, ach tha mi cinnteach gun dèan sinn sin.
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