<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[The Mitrailleuse]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[http://mitrailleuse.net]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[J. Arthur Bloom]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://mitrailleuse.net/author/jarthurbloom/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Secession lagniappe]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>Groundskeeper Willie would like a word:</p>
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<p>Here&#8217;s Ewan Watt <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2014/09/12/independence-will-force-scotland-towards-prudence-away-from-socialism/">over at TheDC</a> on why free-marketers should support Scottish independence.</p>
<p>Sort of related, <a href="http://www.karlremarks.com/2014/09/we-give-scottish-independence.html">what if</a> journalists covered Scotland like they cover the Middle East? And why are <a href="http://www.voatibetanenglish.com/media/video/2439918.html">these Tibetans </a>playing bagpipes?</p>
<p><em>National Journal</em> on how American secessionists in Cascadia, Vermont, and Dixie are <a href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/what-three-u-s-secessionist-groups-think-about-the-scottish-independence-movement-20140911?">rooting for</a> an &#8220;aye&#8221; in Scotland.</p>
<p>The <em>New York Times</em> on how Texans, Basques, Kurds, and other minorities are <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/11/world/europe/separatists-around-the-world-draw-inspiration-from-scotland.html?_r=2">watching</a> the referendum closely.</p>
<p>Pro-union parties are <a href="http://www.nationalia.info/en/news/1951">panicking</a>.</p>
<p>David Boaz is <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/09/12/scotland-independence-referendum-column/15131427/">for it</a>.</p>
<p>John Harris in the <em><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/11/not-just-scotland-politics-as-usual-finished-falkirk-clacton-disaffected">Guardian</a>:</em></p>
<blockquote><p>In the broadcast media in particular, there is an implied assumption that “the Scotland moment” is something confined to that country. But the reality across the UK suggests something much deeper and wider, and a simple enough fact: that what is happening north of the border is the most spectacular manifestation of a phenomenon taking root all over – indeed, if the splintering of politics and the rise of new forces on both left and right across Europe are anything to go by, a set of developments not defined by specific national circumstances, but profound social and economic ruptures. &#8230;</p>
<p>What with every conceivable threat being thrown at the pro-independence side, let us assume Scotland narrowly decides to remain in the UK, that the three main parties stumble through their conferences and we get to May next year. Whoever wins will do so with only the flimsiest of mandates and, particularly in the case of a Labour party uncertain of its mission and committed to austerity, the backlash would set in early; indeed, mid-term blues might arrive well inside the first year. Ukip could easily end up on yet another roll, while the consequences of increased powers for Holyrood ripple through the whole of the UK, with unpredictable results, as evidenced by increasing interest in the <a title="" href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/sep/11/nick-clegg-devolution-scotland-referendum-wales-england">kind of nationwide devolution floated</a> today by Nick Clegg. &#8230;</p>
<p>In short, nothing is going back in its box. Anxiety and excitement abound in equal measure, which is what happens when uncertainty takes over almost everything. Only one thing seems clear: politics as usual suddenly seems so lost as to look completely absurd.</p></blockquote>
<p><!--more-->Robert Kuttner, founder of the <em>American Prospect, </em>on how New England should take a page from Scotland&#8217;s playbook. Naturally, since he&#8217;s a lefty making a case for secession, there has to be a high degree of disparagement for those God-fearing maroons down south:</p>
<blockquote><p>It&#8217;s anybody&#8217;s guess what will happen if independence wins. At the very least, it would put pressure on London to convert the United Kingdom into a far more federalist country. Even so, full independence for Scotland is not out of the question. &#8230;</p>
<p>The prospect of an independent Scotland raises all sorts of intriguing questions. How far can this trend go? Ever since the breakup of the Soviet Union and the former Yugoslavia, new states have been carved out of existing nations. &#8230;</p>
<p>If the Scots actually become independent, it also threatens such venerable unitary nations as Spain, France and Italy, as well as Britain. That&#8217;s why the leaders of the EU have signaled that an independent Scotland would not be welcome as a member. If Scotland secedes, Catalonia will be next. And if Catalonia, why not Brittany and Northern Italy? Why not Wales? Not to mention Quebec.</p>
<p>Most major nations were created by acts of conquest and often brutal suppression of ethnic and linguistic minorities. Irish schoolchildren got their knuckles rapped for speaking Irish in school. In Catalonia, kids caught speaking Catalan were warned, &#8220;<em>Habla Cristiano!</em>&#8221; as if Castilian Spanish were the language of Christ and Catalan the idiom of Satan. But it is absolutely startling to see hundreds of years of political history unwinding.</p></blockquote>
<p>Now Catalans <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29163983">want</a> their own referendum.</p>
<p>The Orange Order is unsurprisingly rallying <a href="http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/referendum-news/orange-parade-marchers-warned-to-be-on-their-best-behaviour.25314477">against</a>. And for some reason MRC seems to be <a href="http://newsbusters.org/blogs/clay-waters/2014/09/12/kilty-charged-ny-times-digs-scottish-independence-vote">against</a> it too. Maybe it&#8217;s because Scottish secessionism is, <a href="http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119413/scottish-referendum-yes-vote-vote-against-empire">according</a> to the <em>New Republic, &#8220;</em>radically inclusive&#8221; or something. George Soros is also <a href="http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/60925130-3831-11e4-a687-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3CwpaoI8Q">opposed</a> to both Scottish secession and the U.K. leaving the EU.</p>
<p>Pro-Russian separatists have been making some funny <a href="http://globalvoicesonline.org/2014/09/10/russia-scotland-referendum-nationalism/">comparisons</a> as well.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;">*****</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Apparently the desperate-for-attention League of the South, long abandoned by its more respectable founders, is <a href="http://leagueofthesouth.com/a-bazooka-in-every-pot/">starting</a> a <a href="http://www.salon.com/2014/09/09/southern_secessionist_group_forming_paramilitary_unit_called_the_indomitables_partner/">paramilitary</a>, complete with Nazi-style iconography. Here&#8217;s Chris Roth&#8217;s <a href="http://springtimeofnations.blogspot.com/2014/09/previously-all-talk-white-supremacist.html">post</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Ken Ham apparently took a <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/warrenthrockmorton/2014/09/12/ken-ham-headlines-institute-on-the-constitution-conference/">donation</a> of a dinosaur from Michael Peroutka&#8217;s foundation, who has ties to the League.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Black nationalist in Philly <a href="http://springtimeofnations.blogspot.com/2014/09/emperor-of-black-nationalist-washitaw.html">argued</a> in court Tuesday that he&#8217;s immune from prosecution for crimes related to gun possession because he&#8217;s a sovereign citizen.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Ed Sebesta really <a href="http://newtknight.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-economist-says-that-author-of-pro.html#.VBSlqC5dW-o">wants</a> to know who wrote that retracted Economist <a href="http://www.economist.com/news/books/21615864-how-slaves-built-american-capitalism-blood-cotton">review</a>. Baptist responded <a href="http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/09/economist-review-slavery-110687.html#.VBSmzy5dW-p">here</a> and <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/07/opinion/baptist-slavery-book-panned-economist-review/index.html">here</a> too.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Good heavens two kids <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/two-howard-county-students-show-up-to-school-draped-with-confederate-flags/2014/09/10/344abfd8-3901-11e4-bdfb-de4104544a37_story.html">showed up </a>to a football game with Confederate flags! The students have been &#8220;<a href="https://screen.yahoo.com/cbs-local/students-disciplined-bringing-confederate-flag-221900267.html">disciplined</a>.&#8221;</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Robert E. Lee IV reportedly <a href="http://www.roanoke.com/news/robert-e-lee-descendant-supports-flag-decision-washington-and-lee/article_fe8793a3-8993-5708-93e8-63745428bf71.html">endorsed</a> the decision to remove the Confederate battle flags from his descendent&#8217;s crypt.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><a href="http://wyofile.com/gregory_nickerson/northern-arapaho-dissolve-joint-business-council-in-bid-for-sovereignty/">Stirrings</a> at the Wind River Reservation.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;">*****</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Wired on <a href="http://www.wired.com/2014/09/ethereum-backers-raise-15-million/">Ethereum</a></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">HuffPo on Seborga, a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anneli-rufus/seborga-the-micronation-i_b_5760864.html">micronation</a> in Italy</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Sabah and Sarawak secessionists to face <a href="http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2014/09/12/secession-instigators-will-face-stern-action/">recrimination</a>s? Reports are being <a href="http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/09/11/sabah-secession-12-reports-lodged/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+com%2FSpPo+(The+Star+Online+%3A+Nation+Feed)">received</a> by police, and three have been <a href="http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1165401">detained</a> for two years.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Boko Haram &#8220;caliphate&#8221; <a href="http://www.currentnewsnow.com/?p=3266">growing</a></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Sub-Quebec <a href="https://ca.news.yahoo.com/quebecs-atikamekw-first-nation-declares-sovereignty-over-territory-215405406.html">sovereignty</a> for the Atikamekw</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Hindu nationalist attacks on Christians reportedly on the <a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/hindu-nationalist-group-seeking-to-cleanse-christian-presence-from-india-is-not-unlike-isis-watchdog-group-warns-126033/">rise</a> in India, ICC has this <a href="http://www.jesusmission.in/converting-christians-into-hindus/">report</a>. The extent of this aside, Indian rightists are certainly more <a href="http://www.kashmirtimes.in/newsdet.aspx?q=36430">vigilant</a> about Muslim sexual exploitation than the UK government has been about Pakistani grooming.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Basil Venitis on the secession <a href="http://venitism.blogspot.com/2014/09/secession-now.html">trend</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Michael Stipe <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/sep/10/michael-stipe-rem-douglas-coupland-artwork-haunt-us">doesn&#8217;t like</a> the Freedom Tower.</p>
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