Scottish Independence ( Neo-eisimeileachd Na h- Alba)

A referendum on whether Scotland should be an independent country will take place on Thursday, 18 September 2014. After 300 years of being part of the United Kingdom, the Scotts will vote on their independence. Scotland a free country once again, William Wallace would be proud. Some opinions are saying that this is coming 300 years too late, and that culturally Scotland and the U.K. are one in the same. They say that a break-up could lead also to an economic collapse for Scotland. Yet following an agreement between the Scottish and the United Kingdom governments, the Scottish independence Referendum Bill, setting out the arrangements for this referendum, was put forward on 21 March 2013, passed by the Scottish Parliament on 14 November 2013 and received Royal Assent on 17 December 2013. The referendum question, as recommended by the Electoral Commission, will be "Should Scotland be an independent country?" Scotland, as it is known today, was formed by territorial evolution during the Middle Ages. The Kingdom of Scotland fought a series of wars of independence against the Kingdom of England during the 14th century. The two monarchies were in personal union from 1603 (the Union of the Crowns) when James VI of Scotland also became James I of England. The two nations were united under one government when Oliver Cromwell was declared Lord Protector of a Commonwealth in 1653, but it was dissolved when the monarchy was restored in 1660. The Kingdoms of Scotland and England united to form the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. Great Britain in turn united with the Kingdom of Ireland in 1801 to form the United Kingdom. Most of Ireland left the Union in 1922, later forming the Republic of Ireland; thus the full name of the sovereign state today is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Unlike Ireland, which rebelled in the Easter Rising and fought a War of Independence, Scotland did not resist central rule. There was, however, a persistent demand for Scottish home rule. The question of full independence, or the less controversial home rule, did not re-enter the political mainstream until 1960, after the famous Wind of Change speech by UK Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. Since then there have been mixed feelings on how to become dissolved from the Union. Past referendums failed in 1979 and then again in 1997. Scottish independence is supported most prominently by the Scottish National Party, but other parties also support independence. Those who have had elected representatives in either the Scottish Parliament or local councils in recent years are the Scottish Green Party, the Scottish Socialist Party and Solidarity. The official reasons for independence are: Democracy and national self-determination. Scotland's population will possess full decision-making power in regard to the political affairs of its nation. Also, they want the U.K. nukes out of Scotland, and to have 100% control over natural resources and the North Sea oil.(According to the Scottish Government, 64% of the EU's oil reserves exist in Scottish waters, while the David Hume Institute stated: "Scotland is sitting on oil and gas reserves worth up to £4 trillion".) Popular reasons are they just want to be a free and independent country. To me, that reason enough. But is it really too late? The three largest British political parties (the Conservative Party, Labour Party and Liberal Democrats) oppose Scottish independence. The Orange Order, a Protestant brotherhood with thousands of members in Scotland, is campaigning against Scottish independence, and has formed a campaign group called British Together. There are strong historical and contemporary ties between Scotland and the rest of the UK from the Reformation and Union of Crowns, to Scottish involvement in the growth and development of the British Empire and contribution of the Scottish Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution. I cannot tell you that Scotlands independence form the U.K. would be a good idea from an economic standpoint. I just do not have all the facts on that. ie: currency, do they make their own money or stick with the pound or the euro? But coming from a country whose independence was bought and paid for by the blood of his ancestors, I can tell you that no country should rule over another for power or for money. Every single soul in the world wants to be free. It is the best feeling in the world. If the people of Scotland vote yes on the referendum, then I say- It's about time!