The independence industry
Read this article in The National, and you’ll understand why I coined the term ‘independence industry’. The term refers to the people and organisations which have grown on the back of Scotland’s cause, benefitting in various ways from the existence of that cause. Profiting from Scotland’s status as annexed territory.
The independence industry is that part of the independence movement which is nested comfortably within the structures, systems, and institutions of established power. It is the part of the independence movement which has been made safe. The part of the independence movement that can be tolerated. The part which can coexist with colonialism.
The independence industry is the part of the independence movement which soaks up energies and resources that might otherwise fuel a more determined effort to restore Scotland’s independence. The part which keeps a potential anti-colonial insurgency in check.
The independence industry is that part of the independence movement which is nested comfortably within the structures, systems, and institutions of established power.
The independence industry is useful to the colonising power, as it muffles and suppresses the voice of dissent from its own toothless orthodoxies. The independence industry tells a story couched in language that does not offend the coloniser. It tells a story which helps keep the people of Scotland ignorant of their true condition.
The independence industry frames the constitutional issue from the perspective of the colonised mind. It protests the impositions and iniquities of colonialism while accepting and endorsing the superior authority of the coloniser.
The independence industry does not challenge colonialism but exists alongside it in a kind of symbiotic relationship.
The independence industry seeks to control and neutralise the more vigorous elements of the independence movement. It seeks to define and dictate the terms of acceptable discourse around the constitutional issue. It appoints itself spokesperson and gatekeeper of the independence movement. It authors the etiquette intended to govern the behaviour of pro-independence activists.
The independence industry is what an independence movement looks like when it has been tamed.
I decline to be tamed.
Great phbrase.. the independence industry... Wish I had thought of that.
You're post is exactly correct, it's stifles real resistance to the colonial power... .. it's a bit like a Scotland football wearing the jersey but not on his heart... Singing flower of Scotland... Then voting for a British party to continue his subjugation. Certainly some fucked up minds
In the tartan army... And in the media, I just watched James Cook saying to school children isn't it all a bit nationalistic? That from the biggest nationalist erse ever... Albeit a British one... One who would like to see a British team rather than a Scottish one and of course that would comprise of English players with the requisite token jock.
Now that's a brilliant piece of writing Peter! I wish I could write like that..'annexed territory'..love it! I am incapable of scribing like that..I descend into snarls while sharpening my Lochaber. Ye couldnae put me in a delegation tae talk tae the f*ckin foreign english....I'd be over the desk separatin' us in a flash...I could not bear to chat and look at these foreign english wretches knowing the damage they have done to our culture..our self respect..our resources..the future of generations of Scots tae come..basically my country...and are still doing it...they sit there smirking and chatting so eruditely in their elegant grey suits about zilch while my eyes go red and in my head I am formulating different ways on how to inelegantly cut them tae ribbons...humanely of course...or not.
You could easily be an FM I would be able to respect and as soon as you had stopped speaking tae the foreign english sh*te I'd be over that desk again wi ma Lochaber.
We need someone tae speak for Scotland backed up wi homicidal intent...it's the only way tae deal with the turds we live beside.
Annexed territory..exactly. You've nailed it.
I speak to folk in Tesco...prisoners at the checkout.so canny run awa' fae me..and all descend into criticism of Sturgeon ( ah hate hur..is one comment) while the foreigners standing behind them look innocent....and the Scots look at me like I am mad..I am ..mad at their inability to see what's in front of them as they hold the foreign english newspapers in their hands that tell them how to think ..or not.
I have a dream!..england crash oot the world cup...we win it ..and then I lead my vicious english biting haggis regiment anywhere there are foreign english crap polluting oor country..we don't even have tae win the cup tho the foreign english would still have tae crash oot.
Excellent article...now how do we tell the brain dead Scots what is happening while as you say the independence business thrives...but not Scotland.
For OUR Scotland and her 90 minute patriot weans