The Ugliest Nationalism
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Every now and then I receive an email about blog readers. Sometimes it is very nice, occasionally helpful and sometimes abusive. I received this email this evening:
"Now not knowing your parentage but from your picture I assume it to be of Asian descent
Most likely of Pakistan or Indian origin ?
So why do you defend the union...when it subjugated these countries during the empire
Would you now argue that it is wrong that these two countries are now separate independent entities
Should Pakistan be part of India ?"
I'll spare the person the shame of saying their name. I am sure it is not indicative of opinion within the SNP but it's not the first time someone has put it to me (including from some who ought to know better) so I feel I have to answer it.
I've blogged on Pakistan and it's ongoing troubles before. The first blog I ever wrote was on the power of the military in the country and I've written on it several times since then. I'm so Scottish that I still convince myself that we will qualify for every football tournament but just like so many of my friends feel an attachment to Ireland due to their heritage I feel the same to Pakistan.
And that's why the comparison is so offensive and disgusting.
Anybody with a modicum of historical knowledge could write a book about why what the people of India were subjected to pre-1948 is incomparable to Scotland today but if we can assume it's a given that the suggestion is absurd and a slight on all those who suffered then let's move onto the second point: the pursuit of Independence.
In India after Independence was won (not separation, they were never a part of the Union) Muhammad Ali Jinnah of the Muslim League took the monumentus decision that the minority but significant Muslim population could never be fairly represented in an independent India and so there was the creation of Pakistan involving the widespread transfer of refugees across the newly created border.
1 million people died in the process.
Partition was one of the most disgusting events ever to have taken place since the Second World War with disgraceful scenes of violence with villages being burned down and when you talk to the significant elder immigrant Asian community you will hear a lot of tales about what life was like in the old days but I promise you, you will never hear about Partition, the shame of what happened is so great.
Yet we still know all about it. I would go as far as saying there is not one single Asian immigrant or 2nd or in my case 3rd generation Asian immigrant who does not know someone or of someone who suffered terrible hardship due to partition and a lot never knew relatives because of the evils of it.
Alex Salmond has gone to great lengths to present Scottish Nationalism as a civic nationalism and I don't besmirch that for a moment. He understands that this is the kind of idiocy that disgusts people.
And make no mistake about it, by making the comparison it is a slight on every single one of these 1 million utterly pointless deaths.
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11 comments:
Well I totally disagree with this persons email but what gets my hackles up is the way Labour supporters try and put the whole of the SNP under the one racist umbrella because of what a (Supposedly Nat)said/wrote.
Your not unique to weird emails. I received a few my self and one of them calling me Jungle bunny.
I just publish their IP addresses then send the info to Labour HQ.
Whilst I appreciate that you've blogged on this atleast a couple of times before Yousuf and obviously have a good knowledge (and eye witness stories) of the events leading up to and possibly more importantly occurring during partition I can't help but feel that you've missed the point somewhat of whoever wrote to you.
Why they wrote to you on unionism at this juncture is a little odd but I'll sweep that under the carpet for the moment.....
Ofcourse they aren't completely comparable in terms of one being motivated by religion and the other by civic (and historic) ideals.
Surely nothing in politics is equitable to that degree.
But the point of subjugation, primarily economic it has to be said still stands.
There are comparisons which can be made between the original move towards independence for India from Britain, the same could be said of many other nations who have chosen to remain within the commonwealth but have sought (through a re-instatement of their national identify)a sovereign state.
In that context, they are completely comparable as political ideals.
The false comparison is to set unionism as a force of socialism which in Scotland's context is completely farcical, your campaigning in Glasgow North East should clearly demonstrate to you how our economic and natural resources have been squandered on British priorities whilst the poor in Scotland have remained poor and areas remain blighted.
The sentiment to improve that, to REALLY improve it, not just empty platitudes from Willie Bain (surely the Johnny come lately of the political world) transcends across all groups of people who see themselves as a nation.
You and I both choose to be Scottish, it is not an accident of birth, it is a choice that we make consciously to live and work here, a belief that we are part of a wider community and that we want the best for our fellow scots.
That is the experience acorss the world and the one which set India on the path to independence. Very few nations cede sovereignty freely, infact, to my knowledge, none do, though it can be said that other nations subjugate and confine smaller nations either within their boundaries and through economic and political means.
"Should Pakistan be part of India ?"
Ofcourse not, they separated for a reason, we might not agree with that reason, and we would certainly condemn the process and subsequent hositlities but it is better that a perceived nation express itself than be beholden to a larger nation.
We must not be afraid of difference.
Difference is what makes humanity beautiful and co-existance can only truly happen with difference at it's core.
The type of unionism that proclaims that 'we are all the same' is an affront to humanity. Ofcourse we are the same skin, bones and blood, what we are not hwoever, is the same person.
We thrive on dissent, on expressing our differences and of having the liberty to choose our path as a community, a nation.
That's why I emphasised that I know this is not mainstream position of the SNP and certainly not their leadership.
Glad you agree though.
yousaf you are totally scottish! It doesnt matter where your parents come from! Im glad you feel proud to be scottish! I was on the bus the other day listening to a drunken scot say how "he voted SNP cause he wanted all the english and foreigners out" I really had to bite my tongue not to scream at him that the SNP is not about that! He was a totally miguided fool much like the person who emailed you. I feel ashamed when people misunderstand the SNP but then there are as many racist Labour members as there are any other political party. Its all about education, not political allegiance. Dont let them get you down old chap.
"I feel ashamed when people misunderstand the SNP but then there are as many racist Labour members as there are any other political party"
It will be interesting to see how the BNP fair against a raft of socialist parties in Glasgow North East.
I'm not going to even attempt the geopolitical ramifications of this frankly disgusting email -Wardog has done it far more eloquently than I ever could.
I must object though, that you assume this person is an SNP supporter. The Labour Party aren't the only Unionists in Scotland, and the SNP aren't the only Nationalists in Scotland. The Greens also would like Scottish Independence, as would the various Socialist factions that I struggle to keep up with. As do plenty of independent candidates, the most famous of whom is probably Margo.
Your post is an excellent one, but by mentioning the SNP you're simply cheapening your argument. Sometimes Yousuf, you need to take off your visceral anti-Salmond specs and see the bigger picture.
Sorry for your unfortunate experience.
However I am very happy that such a high percentage of Scots with Asian backgrounds support the SNP-just as I am very glad that those with Irish ancestry (like myself) are supporting the SNP in ever greater numbers.
Yousef
Is your ethnicity a sacred cow? And why is it not relevant in the comparisons used?
For the life of me I have read and re-read what you put up and he/she doesn't seem to be questioning your Scottishness. Personally I would question why you wish to put Britain before Scotland, but that is not the issue here.
Grogipher I only referenced the SNP to make the point that I don't think what this person si saying is consistent withthe civic nationalism that the SNP quite legitimately talk about.
Tony it's the comparison between Scottish Independence and Indian Independence which is so unbelievably stupid.
that is a disgusting and abhorrent e-mail yousuf but to tag it with "snp" frankly isnt the best of notions.
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