tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154518992024-03-07T05:06:01.970+00:00British Nationalists in Wales WATCH<center><a href="http://www.british-nats-watch.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3924/1431/1600/bnw-logo.jpg" alt="British Nationalists in Wales Watch" border="0"></a></center>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.comBlogger284125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-47083170725332920982010-01-03T19:04:00.002+00:002010-01-03T19:12:58.352+00:00Rhodri and Saunders<div>I saw <a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/12/29/rhodri-morgan-discusses-devolution-in-last-interview-with-the-western-mail-91466-25483415/">Rhodri Morgan's interview on 29 December</a> and a few paragraphs stood out. He said: <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />“It never crossed my mind </span>[joining Plaid Cymru]<span style="font-style: italic;">. I can remember actually realising that for some reason there was a generation of young people about the same age as me who got terribly agitated over a speech made by Saunders Lewis </span>[Plaid Cymru president 1926-1939]<span style="font-style: italic;"> in 1964."</span></div> <p><span style="font-style: italic;">“This young man – he was sitting round in the Swansea Eisteddfod – was so worked up by what Saunders had said, saying we must go out and support him, I just sort of realised at that point there was something going on in that man’s mind which was definitely not going on in my mind.”</span><br /></p><p>Mr Morgan’s father TJ Morgan, a distinguished professor of Welsh, had been a supporter of WJ Gruffydd, the candidate who defeated Lewis in the hard-fought University of Wales parliamentary by-election in 1943. The ex-First Minister said:<br /></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">“He </span>[Gruffydd] <span style="font-style: italic;">didn’t think Saunders was a fit and proper person to become an MP, and I don’t think my father did either. Saunders could make speeches and was a very good playwright, and that was it. But as an MP it never crossed my mind that he was a figure of influence.”</span></p> <p>Quite a shocking quote really. So, in 1964<span style="font-style: italic;">ish</span> Rhodri Morgan in a rather condescending way couldn't get worked up about Saunders Lewis's speech. So, Rhodri Morgan, following another census return which saw the Welsh language accelerate its downward spiral couldn't get <span style="font-style: italic;">'worked up'</span> about it? What kind of a Welshman can't get worked up about his native language dying? Would he be so blaze about the Wales rugby team losing every consecutive game since 1901? Would the average Labour party member be so blaze were the English language to fall of a cliff? No, this blaze, dressed up as internationalism, is part of the DNA of the 'Welsh' Labour party.</p> <p>Saunders Lewis 'not fit' to be an MP? I'd agree that Saunders wasn't cut out to be an MP. He was too honest for that. I don't say that in a pejorative way, but being an MP of any party, requires a level of social skill and what could be called ability to be careful with the truth, which SL didn't possess. He was a writer and thinker not a politician. But I can't think he was 'not fit' to be an MP. What and all those long-forgotten Labour MPs were? So being institutionally anti-Welsh (like a good majority) of Labour MPs were - is OK. Being for state socialism which saw the nationalisation of Thomas Cook among other barmy ideas - is OK. Campaigning against Welsh language education - OK. Sucking up to the English establishment and Monarchy - OK. Lewis was no less fit to be an MP than the vast majority of Labour MPs. </p> <p>In another part of the interview. Morgan says he was inspired by JFK. OK, fair enough, he was a charismatic figure who brought hope to the Cold War generation, but isn't there something missing that a Welsh person, an intelligent Welsh person, projects his aspirations and fears through the politics and policies of another country which he isn't a part of. And that, at the same time, a new, young, radical, peaceful movement, in the spirit of the Black civil rights movement in his own country doesn't 'agitate' him.<br /></p><p>Did the young socialist Morgan, not think for one moment, that the language he spoke with his parents in its own country, was in grave danger because the forces of consumer culture, capitalism and status was mitigated against it? Didn't that in any way strike a chord with him? Did he not for one minute just think it was a bit odd that the aforementioned Eisteddfod in Swansea was held in a city which had not one official sign in the Welsh language? Was it not odd that Welsh had not official status in its own country? Maybe Morgan is from that category of Welshman who saw Welsh as being quite nice but really was past its sell-by date and, in the interest of World socialism and internationalism, should just be allowed go quietly into the night?</p> <p>Morgan is an intelligent man, he's not some bloke who never thinks about abstract ideas. So, the casual, standard, anti-Welsh line of the Labour party that this isn't <span style="font-style: italic;">'what ordinary people want' </span>doesn't wash (although for thousands of ordinary Welsh people the language was a big issue). Why didn't Morgan have any interest in a new secular type of Welsh language culture - was Welsh just for the past and English the language of the <span style="font-style: italic;">'white heat of technology'</span>. I don't know. </p> <p>In any case, it's caused a dislocation between Labour and the Welsh language where any foreign cause, no matter how obscure (Africa is a perennial popular one) is more interesting and less threatening than the Welsh language. Unfortunately, Morgan and much of the Labour party seem ill at ease in modern Welsh language culture - it seems beneath them or alien or 'too Welshie'. It's a pity, a great pity, because had the young Morgan been just a little less condescending towards his own language then Welsh history and the story of the Welsh language since then could have been much brighter and more interesting. Certainly more interesting than following the latest American election in which Morgan could play no part.</p>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-76462931748327732132010-01-03T19:00:00.002+00:002010-01-03T19:04:02.377+00:00Things Are Moving in CataloniaThe recent referenda on independence held at 160 Catalan municipalities has raised the issue and temperature in Catalonia!<br /><br />Now, a <a href="http://www.elperiodico.cat/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=46&idioma=CAT&idnoticia_PK=672594&idseccio_PK=1008">poll published in the daily El Periodico</a> (which is published as separate Catalan and Spanish editions every day) has found that the public is evenly split on being for and against independence with 20% undecided.<br /><br />If one takes into account that the poll probably asked people of all backgrounds on their views on the subject then my guess is that a majority of Catalan people are in favour of independence with many of the antis (not all of course) would include 'native' Catalans, people of Spanish decent, Latin American and other nationalities who've moved to the country. It would be interesting to know.<br /><br />The people who've moved to the UK are by a vast majority very supportive of British independence so, would 'British' people of any political persuasion, be happy to see recent immigrants decide on the constitutional future of the UK? Or the Tibetans happy to see their constitutional future decided by Han Chinese?<br /><br />Is it also the case that the central Spanish government sees the movement of people into Catalonia as a way of keeping Catalonia a part of Spain in the same way as pro-Belgian Francophones see immigrants to Belgium (who tend to be Francophone) as being voters for the continuation of Belgium and promoters of the French rather than Dutch language? I don't know, Just asking.<br /><br />Also interesting is the definition of Catalans as a nation (52% among people in Catalonia - the same split again?) whereas the rest of Spain don't see Catalans as a nation (80% against).<br /><br />Funny that Catalonia with its own language, government which celebrates its 650 anniversary this year and who fought a war of liberation in 1714 is not a nation whilst 'imagined communities' created by the landed elites means that Spanish people recognise such 'nations' as Uruguay, Chile or Columbia!Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-84525050563304587032009-12-11T22:47:00.004+00:002009-12-11T22:57:54.109+00:00Catalan News Blackout on BBC and Western Mail<span style="font-weight: bold;">As </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://syniadau--buildinganindependentwales.blogspot.com/2009/12/latest-opinion-poll-in-catalunia.html">one comment on Syniadau'r blog</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> put it, it seems the Catalans will have to start killing people if they want their cause to be covered by the BBC or the 'Welsh' press.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4A3z_lmRmGmxm_ueyJW9pjoQhh_ogQC5K3dA3oM6spgSrdFIA16LSLXonHw37ogdUc7q8rztTmR0ElhGsWdyUbxegZG1AjbrntmL6nOGRC55UWdPFvrRStf3O79zOY7nMEWM/s1600-h/catalonia-next-state.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4A3z_lmRmGmxm_ueyJW9pjoQhh_ogQC5K3dA3oM6spgSrdFIA16LSLXonHw37ogdUc7q8rztTmR0ElhGsWdyUbxegZG1AjbrntmL6nOGRC55UWdPFvrRStf3O79zOY7nMEWM/s320/catalonia-next-state.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414115198939321698" border="0" /></a>Many of you may know that because the Spanish Constitution (which can't be changed because it was given by God on Mount Sinai) doesn't allow a democratic referendum on independence for Catalonia or the Basque Country. The Catalans have side-stepped the band and are <a href="http://www.referendumindependencia.cat/">holding a series of referenda</a> on 13 December on the subject in some 150 local councils.<br /><br />This is big news. But, not big enough for the BBC or the Western Mail. Vaughan Roderick gave is a quick mensh a few weeks ago and there was a piece in Golwg360 as Jill Evans Plaid MEP will be in Catalonia as an observer. Other news which is covered in BBC Europe online include a <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8400764.stm">hunger strike by a Western Saraha dissident </a>(another Spanish colony) and conseiderations by <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8401583.stm">Turkey to ban the pro-Kurdish DTP party</a> . So, the subject of minority righst, or independence movements isn't a problem for the press, it's just that, well, by not killing people or threatening to kill people or not being attacked by tanks or water canons, the Catalan cause isn't deemed newsworthy.<br /><br />However the big story is that Spain, unlike the UK, which, would in theory at least, allow a referendum on independence for Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales won't allow a similar democratic vote for the constituent nations of their state. The Catalans, like the Basques and Galicians, predate the Spanish state. Catalonia is only a part of Spain because they lost a war of independence in the early 18C - a cause which Westminster supported.<br /><br />Spain isn't Turkey, but denying a referendum on independence for a European nation within the EU, a nation which has not used violence or intimination is news. Is Spain the kind of EU member state we want to have?<br /><br /><a href="http://syniadau--buildinganindependentwales.blogspot.com/2009/12/life-on-receiving-end_09.html">http://syniadau--buildinganindependentwales.blogspot.com/2009/12/life-on-receiving-end_09.html</a><br /><a href="http://cataloniathenextstate.blogspot.com/">http://cataloniathenextstate.blogspot.com/</a><br /><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.cataloniadirect.info/2009/11/welsh-party-plaid-cymru-questions-europarliament-catalan-referendum/">http://www.cataloniadirect.info/2009/11/welsh-party-plaid-cymru-questions-europarliament-catalan-referendum/</a>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-49881562851214012402009-11-17T20:44:00.002+00:002009-11-17T20:48:28.485+00:00Glasgow North East<span style="font-weight: bold;">Lots of talk been on Celtic nationalist blogs about the Labour hold at the Glasgow North East even on the Welsh blogger site, <a href="http://grangetownjack.blogspot.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Grangetown</span> Jack</a>.</span><br /><br />It's a terrible indictment that after 75 years of holding the seat, 12 years of power in Westminster (and several other stints) and 8 years in power in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Holyrood</span> - Labour blame the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">SNP</span> (who've been in power at Edinburgh for 18 months) for Glasgow North East's ills! Yes, you couldn't make it up.<br /><br />That the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">SNP</span> failed to take the seat is also an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">indictment</span>.<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6917223.ece">The best analysis I've read is in The Times</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">. It'd be worth Plaid supporters, policy makers and politicians taking time to read it too.</span>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-65523883114321673922009-11-11T18:07:00.002+00:002009-11-11T18:12:07.830+00:00Remembrance Day<div style="font-weight: bold;">You've got to admire the gall of British nationalism. The Remembrance Day and wearing the poppy especially.</div> <div> </div> <div>There are two things going on. On one hand the Remembrance Day is a sort of pseudo pacifist event to remember the waste of World War One especially... conveniently forgetting that it was British nationalism that got us into the war. The other is basically an armed forces flag day.</div> <div> </div> <div>I'm not a pacifist and don't begrudge either paying respects to men and women who've died in combat. As a Welsh nationalist I believe that they, and their families, deserve that from the state to which they gave their lives.</div> <div> </div> <div>But the hypocrisy of British nationalism tries to have it both ways. The pacifistic side is basically 'all nationalism are bad and lead to war (like the Great War) ergo, Welsh nationalism will lead to war'. Failing to mention that it war British nationalism and the British national narrative which lead us into war and so, rather than fighting Welsh nationalism, Welsh people should be fighting British nationalism and British nationalism dressed as 'normal' and 'acceptable' and 'civic pride'.</div> <div> </div> <div>The second armed forces day side of Remembrance Day says some soldiers are good, some are not. So, a commemoration to remember <a href="http://welshremembrancer.blogspot.com/2009/09/glyn-rowlands-tribute-parade.html">Glyn Rowlands</a> the former FWA member in Machynlleth is followed by the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/8294688.stm">Special Branch</a>. Services to remember an army which as well as fighting a good war against Nazis also fought more 'bad wars' in South Africa, Kenya (well, all Africa), Malaysia, America, Ireland (do I need to go on?), WWI is 'good'.</div> <div> </div> <div>I remember those brave soldiers, and those like Hedd Wyn, every day of my life. That's why I wish to see the end of the British state. I'm fed up of seeing Welsh men die fighting for Britain. What right or business does a Welshman have killing Indians, Zulus, Irish, Kenyans or others? </div> <div> </div> <div>The British nation state is a state built on military conquest. It is a state where the military is totally central to its narrative and collective cohesion. And now we see Labour, the ultimate Brit Nat party, sending men to war to feed the insatiable appetite of this state for military endeavours, because as they know, Britain with out an active military, is just Belgium on stilts. There will then be nothing that the British state can do, which its constituent nations as free countries, couldn't do better. </div> <div> </div> <div style="font-weight: bold;">Without war and the memory of war (dressed up as pacifism and militarism), the British state is an empty vassal.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">No more Welsh men fighting British wars!</span></span></div>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-44719649070619677922009-11-09T22:47:00.000+00:002009-11-09T22:48:10.778+00:00Eorpa's Back!<div style="font-weight: bold;">The best current affairs programme on UK network? It's got to be Eorpa on BBC Alba (the new Gaelic language channel).</div> <div> </div> <div>Items from across Europe and also Scotland makes this an interesting and insightful series. Much more interesting than anything on S4C or any English language serive and without the 'Europe is cuddly, little nations with their silly languages' feel of Euronews.</div> <div> </div> <div style="font-weight: bold;">For all non-Gaelic speakers - it's no problem. There's on-screen English subtitling. Go over to BBCi and check it out.</div>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-32629866184301614052009-09-18T09:31:00.002+00:002009-09-18T09:39:02.207+00:00Wales in Catalan<span style="font-weight: bold;">Being an internationalist movement, the Welsh national movement has close links and affinity with other state-less nations. One of the most successful in terms of political power and language regeneration (not to talk of economy - and yes, there is a link) is Catalonia. And it seems the affinity is reciprocated. </span><br /><br />For all those Catalan-speakers, there's a new site about Wales and the other Celtic nations. <a href="http://www.llenguadrac.blogspot.com/">La Llengua de drac</a> - the dragon's language, surely - is a great addition to the Welsh and Catalan blogesphere. (If, like me, you don't speak Catalan, you can use <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.llenguadrac.blogspot.com&sl=ca&tl=en">googletranslate</a>).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">There's also an article in the <a href="http://www.elpunt.cat/noticia/article/3-politica/17-politica/78798-lal-regne-unit-no-hi-ha-un-constitucional-que-pugui-tombar-un-acord-del-parlamentr.html">Catalan daily, El Punt</a> about Rhodri Morgan. In it Rhodri tries to outline Wales's insulting and confusing constitional mess to the Catalans - the mess his party got us into to keep happy it's Brit Nat section!</span>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-83618669519101484612009-09-15T21:06:00.002+00:002009-09-15T21:11:39.605+00:00Catalan Town Votes for Independence from Spain<span style="font-weight: bold;">Surprised (am I really?!) that none of the 'Welsh' media ran this story. Arenys de Munt, a small town mid-way between Barcelona and Girona in Catalonia, </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=cy&js=y&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.avui.cat%2Fcat%2Fnotices%2F2009%2F09%2Farenys_vota_independencia_71551.php&sl=ca&tl=en&history_state0=">voted for independence from Spain</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.nationalia.cat/imatge/896-1253037179.jpg?amplada-maxima=180"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 91px;" src="http://www.nationalia.cat/imatge/896-1253037179.jpg?amplada-maxima=180" alt="" border="0" /></a>The town's mayor held the election.... even though (or because of rather) the fact that Spain won't allow Catalonia to hold such a vote. The Spanish state declares that a vote on independence in 'unconstitutional' - the word 'unconstitutional' is used of course to give their colonial prejudice some semblance of intelligence and legality.<br /><br />Much the same way as divorce was once 'unconstitutional' or gay rights was 'unconstitutional' or breaking apartheid laws were 'unconstitutional'. Put it in UK terms, under Spain's 'constitution' the Irish (and the Good Friday Agreement) would not be allowed nor would the Scots or us be allowed to hold a referendum on independence! It's all nonsense really.<br /><br />The Catalans, like the Basques and Galicians, predate the Spanish state and so have a right to leave that state. In fact, had luck (and France) been on their side in the 18th century Catalonia would now be independent like Portugal are. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />In any case, a campaign is gathering apace in Catalonia for the right of the Catalan nation to decide its own destiny within or without the Spanish state. Some time the Spanish conquistadors will have to give into democracy in Catalonia like the Basque Country and Galicia.</span>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-82763413573341331722009-09-09T18:13:00.003+00:002009-09-09T18:19:27.544+00:00Cornwall Census - sign up!<div>Saw <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=cy&js=y&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.golwg360.com%2Fui%2FNews%2FViewNewsDetails.aspx%3FID%3D5515%26navigationID%3D3255%26domainID%3D0&sl=cy&tl=en">this piece</a> on the newish <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.golwg360.com/">www.golwg360.com</a> site about the campaign for a Cornish tick box at the next census in 2011.</div> <div> </div> <div><a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46460136689">Why not go over and join the Facebook group?</a></div> <div> </div> <div>Seems to me here in Wales that things are starting to move down in Kernow. That's good news. Together we're stronger. Lot's of respect for <a href="http://www.mebyonkernow.org/?q=node/54">Dick Cole</a> and the <a href="http://www.mebyonkernow.org/">Mebyon Kernow</a> party... their paper, Cornish Nation, is also better than Plaid Cymru's Welsh Nation!</div>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-20106534187065951792009-09-03T21:50:00.001+00:002009-09-03T21:51:23.978+00:00We are now on Twitter!Follow us here - <a href="http://twitter.com/britnatwatch">http://twitter.com/britnatwatch</a>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-28911049370054655932009-09-03T21:31:00.001+00:002009-09-03T21:33:02.741+00:00What's the Point of Britain?<a style="font-weight: bold;" href="www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/rachel_sylvester/article6816407.ece">Interesting article in The Times by Rachel Sylvester on 1 September.</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Now that Britain is just a medium-sized state why stick with it? What ever your view on the Lockerby Bomber decision it's interesting to note two facts. It took a Scottish Parliament Minister to stand up to the Americans in a way the 'Brits' never would, what Blair called the 'Love Actually moment' and related to that, the general increasing irrelevance of, or irritation with, Britain which the US feels.</span><br /><br />Now that Britain can't offer the glory which always attracts a type of person who just like to be on the winning side, then what does Britain offer? Unlike a Welsh or Irish or Estonian state which are there to foster and promote weaker cultures and languages, the most appealing parts of British identity - comedy and popular music are independent of needing a state. After all, would the independence of four Britannic nations undermine 'British' comedy or pop music? Hardly ... it would probably strengthen it if anything. So, why stick with Britain?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Basically, there's nothing a British state can do which a Welsh or Scottish one can't do just as well or better. Now that the glory and prestige once attached to it is fading it will lose the affection of those fickle people who want to associate themselves with it. There is no point to Britain!</span>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-17401114880728557982009-08-20T20:05:00.002+00:002009-08-20T20:28:13.285+00:00Welsh Baseball<span style="font-weight: bold;">At last, after years of waiting, suffering the Brit natfest (or even worse, English nat in Wales fest) which was the Ashes (haven't they bloody finished yet!) we get an item on Welsh news about one of closest things to an indigenous Welsh sport - Baseball. </span><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WBq1CWaDdXIbmpls8dwoNC2FqsppzOXNOGiJfkGEFOpB-W2NOzeEXUhnFVtoh6zr4PAJm487kPlVZyU3XloSx03256kWWAsrBVP7bkTr3AK37mbFYSljDK-MQeH4fH9ciO1_/s1600-h/welsh-baseball.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WBq1CWaDdXIbmpls8dwoNC2FqsppzOXNOGiJfkGEFOpB-W2NOzeEXUhnFVtoh6zr4PAJm487kPlVZyU3XloSx03256kWWAsrBVP7bkTr3AK37mbFYSljDK-MQeH4fH9ciO1_/s320/welsh-baseball.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372145253379880034" border="0" /></a>It was on S4C's news program at 7.30pm Monday 17 August - about 23 minutes into the programme and <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8200569.stm">BBC Wales</a>. Good on Wyre Davies! Of course, this being 'Welsh' media the item was only broadcast because of the lack of support by the Olympic committee towards the game and also because the item was run on <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8198000/8198723.stm">Radio 4's Today programme</a> the previous Thursday - if it's been in 'national' (UK) radio then it must be a proper story see boys! <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/letters/article6792555.ece">It was also featured in the letters pages of the Times.</a><br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>It's an excellent game, an honest working class game, which is played mostly in Wales (Cardiff and Newport) and Liverpool in England. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_baseball">View Wikipedia page</a>. BBC Wales used to broadcast the annual Wales v England international in the mid 1980s, but that stopped. Why? <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2_jCz5KfG8">Clip available on youtube</a>. (ignore the cheesy music!)<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>I went to a school, like so many, that made us suffer playing cricket. The usual sports personalities of the year would go in to bat and bowl and would be there for the rest of the sports lesson, leaving the rest of us to lust after the girls or if they weren't about be bored rigid. Baseball, by comparison, gives everyone a chance, has no pretences, isn't a class bound English thin ... and yes, it's still an English outpost in Wales - notice the decidedly mute response from 'Welsh' cricket fans to the campaign for a Welsh national cricket team.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Had the BBC and S4C spent just a fraction of the money spent on covering the Ashes in Cardiff on baseball the game would be set up for years. Why isn't it promoted in schools? It's a much more democratic game - everyone participates, size and height doesn't matter, you could easily have mixed sex teams. Why won't the Assembly run with it? Owen John Thomas, Plaid's AM for Cardiff and Valleys, was a keen advocate of baseball. Maybe Mohammad Ashgar being from Pakistan is more inclined towards cricket, but what about good blokes like John Griffiths in Newport or Chris Franks? C'mon boys.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Why won't Golwg360.com or BBC Wales/Cymru news just include the scores - hardly a difficult job - everything else is listed? Don't the <a href="http://www.welshbaseball.co.uk/">Welsh Baseball Union</a> contact these people? How about S4C broadcasting the annual international with England - it can't get worse ratings than some of their programmes, the broadcast rights would be small, it would be a unique sport on the channel and would fill in time? With just a bit of promotional work the game could be played across Wales. Teachers - do the 'pepsi challenge' - give the kids a choice of playing cricket or Welsh Baseball and I'll take no bets which they'll prefer!<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div style="font-weight: bold;">So, good to see an item of the final between Grange Albion and Grange Catholics - but next year I'd like to see more coverage on the Welsh media - web, tv and print!</div>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-57037315263868025712009-07-23T20:25:00.004+00:002009-07-23T20:35:51.214+00:00Cymraeg, Quecha, Amara, Guarani - Save Struggle<span style="font-weight: bold;">Evo Morales, the President of Bolivia is making history. Not only taking control of the country's natural wealth which goes down well with the Brit left wing, but is also proving that the battle for economic control is the same as the one for dignity of marginalised languages and cultures... something some of our British nationalist friends in the Labour party conveniently forget.</span><br /><br /> <div> </div> <div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1nnSz7x7HOKlNo7vRM_VYymNSe8OayiH20HKnKPSLBNB5BOKFvDPaN_2WBWzaytfujSeDt-cF67Y7C_xmUHab9Kg0Xkoa4Z2nJyTQ01Pn2aRA2o7OBZG5O2w7EQ5TKR4l_kL/s1600-h/440px-Evo_Morales.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1nnSz7x7HOKlNo7vRM_VYymNSe8OayiH20HKnKPSLBNB5BOKFvDPaN_2WBWzaytfujSeDt-cF67Y7C_xmUHab9Kg0Xkoa4Z2nJyTQ01Pn2aRA2o7OBZG5O2w7EQ5TKR4l_kL/s320/440px-Evo_Morales.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361756597582613298" border="0" /></a>My Spanish is pretty ropey, but from what I gather<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS6CBx41dRU&feature=related"> from this </a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS6CBx41dRU&feature=related">news item</a>, the fantastic President has opened 3 university sites in Bolivia teaching in three of the states languages; Guarani, Quecha (language of the Incas) and Aymara (his people's language). This battle to win rights, dignity and normalising marginalised languages is the same as the fight in Wales or Brittany for Welsh and Breton education.<br /><br />What serendipity. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/welsh/hi/newsid_5160000/newsid_5168200/5168234.stm">After denying the need or ability to develop a Coleg Ffederal</a>, funny that Labour, with Plaid in government - and keeping to the One Wales pact, now goes about actually delivering a gear change in university education through Welsh with the <a href="http://wales.gov.uk/publications/accessinfo/drnewhomepage/educationdrs2/educationdrs2008/colegffederalplanningboard/?lang=en">delivery of the Coleg Ffederal Cymraeg</a>. Evo Morales is doing the same in Bolivia. The Welsh nationalist project is a world-wide project not the spiteful one so long propagated by some Labour members. </div> <div> </div> <div><br />And the proof, well, this item on the <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.eblul.org/">www.eblul.org</a> site (the old Eurolang.net site) mentions that the <a href="http://www.eblul.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=223&Itemid=1">Bolivian Ambassador will visit Machynlleth on 14 August</a>. Why? Well to learn and hear from us Welsh about our struggle for linguistic rights and our efforts to normalise our language in our own country.<br /><br />Fantastic! Funny, I don't think our Brit Nats friends like the Kinnocks of this world (and some AMs) will have much to contribute to that discussion. No doubt, were they in Bolivia they'd be doom-saying that 'we can't afford this', 'it's divisive', 'should be spent on schools (Spanish/English speaking of course) and hospitals'. </div> <div> </div> <div style="font-weight: bold;"><br />British Labourism has run it's course. It has misread the cultural change which is sweeping across the world. Labourism is a cult of the discredited modernist 20th century a Darwinism of culture and languages. Good riddance to it. It served us badly. Welcome to the new world where Wales talks like friends to Bolivians and Welsh is an asset not a problem. Viva La Revolución - in all our languages! May the conquistadors mentality of Bolivia and British nationalism in Wales perish!</div>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-6787585985999920642009-07-09T22:25:00.001+00:002009-07-09T22:27:16.273+00:00Traning Manual For British Nationalists<a href="http://1820.org.uk/2009/06/unionist_training.shtml">Hat tip to Scottish side, 1820, for this</a>. Of course substitute Wales for Scotland ... Chinese probably use same arguments in East Turkmenistan; Danes re Greenland; George III re the 13 colonies ... you get the gist!<br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zO5leiwEiTM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zO5leiwEiTM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-21014244109581391952009-06-05T21:07:00.005+00:002009-06-05T21:16:49.037+00:00Mebyon Kernow - Putting Cornwall Back on the Map!<span style="font-weight: bold;">BTW doesn't know enough about Cornish politics - why didn't the Welsh media give it some space, not even the eclectic Vaughan Roderick. But in any case, with a blue tide washing across the UK (it would include Wales were there local elections here - don't fool yourself) </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.mebyonkernow.org/">Mebyon Kernow</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> got three of its members elected.</span> <div> </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4VQ0y7a_6iEy3P4X-XpuPXH-uRxXNwTHaUrF6aKmj_oD6GZqoyAsS-xbsULv7TbX-1gY4rEZVR9bizfnsT3wSZcrUm5LCh-4nHPC75_sS3uJ9x718fqbD8aW0gH_Vn09FDSK/s1600-h/kernow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 86px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4VQ0y7a_6iEy3P4X-XpuPXH-uRxXNwTHaUrF6aKmj_oD6GZqoyAsS-xbsULv7TbX-1gY4rEZVR9bizfnsT3wSZcrUm5LCh-4nHPC75_sS3uJ9x718fqbD8aW0gH_Vn09FDSK/s320/kernow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343954725501460162" border="0" /></a>Especially heartening was the thumping and well-earned vote for MK leader, the 21st century's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_An_Gof">An Gof,</a> Dick Cole - <a href="http://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=98&RPID=621453">78% of the vote</a>! Overall the party managed <a href="http://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=1&V=1&RPID=112100">4% of the total Cornish vote</a>. A good vote for the Cornish nationalists considering the lack of publicity which MK suffers from (as opposed to bigoted British Nationalists) and the fact that the party didn't stand in many wards. Their vote would undoubtedly have been higher had they fielded more candidates.<br /></div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div>It seems the election of the first Cornish unitary authority ... I'd expect the first step to a Cornish Assembly... <a href="http://democracy.cornwall.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=1&V=0&RPID=112166">was a straight battle between LibDems and Tory with the Independent holding up well</a>.<br />The Tory's took Cornwall which bodes badly for the LibDems at the next General Election. That could be good news for MK if they can garner the anti-Tory vote in the future.<br /></div> <div> </div> <div>I'm not sure if the MK team are disappointed or not with the election as there was no commentary on their website as this was being written, but from where we're standing it seems they have a lot of work to do but a good platform to work on. MK have done a heroic job to place St Piran's flag flying higher than ever and get a Cornish national agenda on the Cornwall 'county' council. A stronger Cornwall means a stronger Wales.<br /></div> <div style="font-weight: bold;"> </div> <div style="font-weight: bold;">Kernow bis vykhen!</div>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-79291395613598447852009-06-04T21:17:00.003+00:002009-06-05T21:16:13.816+00:00Greenland Awakes!<span style="font-weight: bold;">Change is afoot in Greenland. In a </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8080434.stm">national election held to elect a government</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> as it enters a new enhanced form of self-government within Denmark on 21 June, the </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.cphpost.dk/news/politics/90-politics/45828-greenland-wakes-up-to-first-power-shift-in-30-years.html">voters have gone for</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> a left-of-centre nationalist party </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit_Ataqatigiit">Inuit Ataqatigiit</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">, a sort of Greenlandic Plaid Cymru . </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7Wg62t0cTBVPZlfkLiCEmbL1sYKBX09z6GalN1sDm4BJmJsRtUN7uFiWOBNoiJPw-ngI5puG8CTaDMJ6K1Q0VAtUGI4niZTvbbXU2pMX9PtleAx1qXZILSPVDj3d8BMzyx59/s1600-h/greenland.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7Wg62t0cTBVPZlfkLiCEmbL1sYKBX09z6GalN1sDm4BJmJsRtUN7uFiWOBNoiJPw-ngI5puG8CTaDMJ6K1Q0VAtUGI4niZTvbbXU2pMX9PtleAx1qXZILSPVDj3d8BMzyx59/s200/greenland.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343955352147563586" border="0" /></a>This is good news. The voters in Greenland have seen that after 30 years of rule by the more cautious devolution party, they want a new party for a new constitutional set-up... will the same be true of Wales? Lets hope so.<br /><br />BNW is all for independence for Greenland but as we've written before, we believe that the Danish connection is an important one as trilingualism - Greenlandic, Danish and English is <a href="http://sermitsiaq.gl/tv/article85543.ece">better for a small linguistic community like Greenlandic than bilingualism where the second language, English,</a> is such a strong and potentially fatal one for the smaller language. From the Greenlandic point of view, keeping Danish as a second language would enhance Greenland's independence not undermine it. The lesson from Nunavut, the semi-autonomous Inuit Canadian province next door confirms this. For small linguistic communities like Greenlandic or Welsh isn't that speaking another language is a threat but that speaking only one other language is a threat - it's best for us to be trilingual not bilingual.<br /><br />It seems, that now the Greenlandic language and community is the dominant one in terms of number and confidence that Danish is no longer a threat. There's a lot to be said then for keeping the Danish connection therefore... a connection which stretches back centuries and is a window on a wider (and quite appealing) Scandinavian culture.<br /><br />Maybe Greenland could have independence within a Danish commonwealth along with the <a href="http://faroepodcast.blogspot.com/">Faroe Islands</a> - another nation, were it governed by a more powerful linguistic community, English in Scotland or the UK for instance, would have seen it's language lost and economy weaker - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norn_language">see the Shetland islands as a comparison</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In any case - Greenland leads the way where Wales will follow!</span>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-245825954018095802009-05-25T19:43:00.002+00:002009-05-25T19:51:45.112+00:00Brittany - A Nation Reborn<span style="font-weight: bold;">The French Cup Final on Saturday 9 May was anything but French! The two teams in the Final were both Breton; Gwengamp (a small town) and the capital of Brittany, Roazon (Rennes). The euphoria surrounding the event it seems to me will renew Breton confidence and politics for a generation to come. </span><a href="http://cymru-llydaw.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://cymru-llydaw.blogspot.<wbr>com/</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.agencebretagnepresse.com/photos/15058_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.agencebretagnepresse.com/photos/15058_1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Not only did the French press make much of the event - <a href="http://www.agencebretagnepresse.com/fetch.php?id=15055">the sports daily Equipe gave a Breton make over but the Bretons made most of the day</a>.<br /><br />The nationalist Parti Breton asked for the Breton national anthem, <span>Bro Goz ma Zadou</span> (Hen Wlad fy Nhadau - literally the same title and same tune as ours) to be sung before the final a la Cardiff City at Wembley last year. Of course, the French wouldn't allow that, but they did allow the Bretons to sing their anthem before the game (that's big of them!) ... <a href="http://www.agencebretagnepresse.com/fetch.php?id=15057">and tens of thousands did</a>.<br /><br />A huge Breton flag the Gwenn ha Du (yes, gwyn a du - white and black) covered a good part of one of the stands and <a href="http://www.agencebretagnepresse.com/fetch.php?id=15058">thousands of Breton flags were flown with pride</a>.<a href="http://www.agencebretagnepresse.com/fetch.php?id=15058" target="_blank"></a> To tell the truth, I'd be damned if I could see any French tricoleurs being flown by the fans at all.<br /><br />This is incredible. After two hundred years of the awful French republic which has tried its best to kill off any significant sign of Breton language and culture beyond the folkloric, the events on Saturday prove that the Bretons are a nation reborn. Their flag is the Gwenn ha Du, their anthem is being confirmed as <span>Bro Goz ma Zadou and they're not a cowered and beaten nation which the French have come to expect. That Breton, the nation like Kurdish, so long humiliated by the French like the Kurds by the Turks, is still fighting is proof that the French state has not won.<br /><br />The Breton, for so long humiliated by the French and the French state (and it is a French state) have turned a corner. There's no turning back. I don't expect Brittany to become independent any time soon, but with this historic football event, the ongoing campaign for the reunification of Naoned (Nantes) with Brittany and the continuing call for Breton status, Brittany is on the march. President Sarkozy stayed away - a quite incredible decision for a head of state. Maybe after implying he'd support reunification of Nantes he didn't want 80,000 booing him and making him keep to his word.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">All in all, a historic day for Brittany. A Nation Awakes. Good news for the Breton language and culture and all who believe that the beauty of Europe is the plurality of her languages and her peoples.</span><br /></span>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-78085604040347039792009-05-25T19:35:00.000+00:002009-05-25T19:36:47.695+00:00Good for Leanne, Alun Ffred and Jenny Randerson<span style="font-weight: bold;">Had a quick look at the </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/05/05/free-bus-travel-tops-members-poll-of-national-assembly-s-greatest-achievements-91466-23540560/">Western Mail phone around asking the AMs for their view of the Assembly's achievements</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> over the last 10 years. </span><br /><br />Wasn't much to say really - Labour spend the first 8 doing as little as possible so as not to upset London. A lot of stuff about the Children's Commissioner - who's done sod all to change the life of any kid in Wales as far as I can see. Some stuff about 'free' (working people pay for it) transport and 'free' prescriptions, and erm, that's it. Not much to boast about. Some of the answers (if important in their own way) were very parochial for a Q&A in national, as opposed to, local paper.<br /><br />The much-respected John Griffiths, Newport spoke some sense (he usually does) but my hat is donned to Jenny Randerson, Alun Ffred and Leanne Wood for actually saying that one of the achievements of the National Assembly was to do something about one of the biggest things that makes us special and unique as a nation. Not just hospitals, buses nor parking, but the Welsh language. Good on them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">However, one hopes to God that in 10 years time, the Assembly Members will have much more to boast about.</span>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-51020960675930880402009-05-25T19:28:00.001+00:002009-05-25T19:32:46.950+00:00Labour Voters are Racists?<span style="font-weight: bold;">So, has <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kinnock</span> admitted that a large section of traditional Labour voters are racists <a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/05/05/lord-kinnock-warns-labour-in-fighting-will-hand-votes-to-bnp-in-european-elections-91466-23541361/">when he says the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">BNP</span> can attract votes from his party</a>? </span><br /><br />Is the former Labour leader dog whistling to appeal to the less attractive side of Welsh Labour voters? Can one imagine were <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ieuan</span> Wyn Jones to say <span style="font-style: italic;">'Plaid needs to do something in case our traditional voters go over to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">BNP</span>?'</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hmm</span>, you can hear the Labour attack dogs barking at the press straight away!<br /><br />So, how do Labour apologists and members think this sounds to Welsh nationalists (and Tories for that matter)? Years of inane comparisons between Welsh nationalism and racism/Nazism endless quoting of a couple of sentences by Saunders Lewis or misquotes of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Dafydd</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Iwan</span> or Simon Glyn or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Dafydd</span> Glyn Jones or any one else who raises any issue other than <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">schoolsandhospitals</span></span>? It really does grate.<br /><br />Are most Labour supporters racist? No, I don't think (though a fair number have hostile views towards Welsh medium education). But no, they are not! Are the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">BNP</span> a threat? Yes. Do I like the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">BNP</span>? No. Trouble is, after years of having Labour accuse good people who are Welsh nationalists of being xenophobic or racist, I've started thinking to myself, '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">hmm</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">aybe</span> Labour are just calling wolf here too? If they were wrong with Plaid/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Cymdeithas</span>/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Cymuned</span> over the years, what's to say they're not wrong with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">BNP</span>?'<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And you know what, it seems to me that a good part of the traditional (read 'white' English-speaking Britishers) of the Welsh Labour party have maybe come, independently and from a different position, to the same conclusion. Labour are to blame for the rise in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">BNP</span>. Difference is, I won't be voting for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">BNP</span> in June but it seems a lot of Labour people will.</span>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-46975849602116247992009-04-16T23:01:00.002+00:002009-04-16T23:04:41.462+00:00Fantastic Speech<span style="font-weight: bold;">Take time out, do yourself a favour, </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.adampriceblog.org.uk/we-have-a-wales-to-win-my-speech-to-conference">read Adam Price's speech</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> at this year's Plaid Cymru Spring Conference.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.webswonder.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/adam-price-mp1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 280px;" src="http://www.webswonder.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/adam-price-mp1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>How hollow the charges of 'narrow minded' flung towards Welsh nationalists by British nationalists; how Philistine their appreciation of the world's complexity and subtly of language and culture; how ignorant their knowledge of countries, economies and peoples except the Big Boy Nationalists of their own ilk; how Darwinian, wrong-footed, flat-footed, genocidal their actions. How stuck in the past the British nationalists are.<br /><br />Price puts it better than I ever could. Wales is the future. The politics of the future is the politics of Welsh nationalism. We have much to learn from the world and I say it humbly, maybe some have things to learn from us.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Viva the Welsh nation-state, independent with the Kurds, Tibetans, Greenlanders, Sarahawi, West Papuans, Bretons ... and yes, English, Germans, Russians and Castillians.</span>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-21774705180755565282009-04-16T22:56:00.001+00:002009-04-16T23:00:57.216+00:00South Tirol Against FascismThis is really obscure I know, but taking a look at the <a href="http://www.nationalia.cat">www.nationalia.cat</a> website I found the Plaid Cymru and the SNP's grouping in the European parliament, the EFA (which also includes the Greens) <a href="http://www.nationalia.info/en/news/445">has extended it's membership</a>. Among the new members are the Sued Tiroler Freiheit (South Tirol Freedom). South Tirol, of course was cut off for some reason from north Tirol following the First World War as a way of rewarding the Italians for coming in against Austria-Hungary.<br /><br />The region has more power than our poxy Assembly does (and will for a while unless the leaders of Plaid and Labour get their act together and start campaigning for a Yes vote in the referendum). But people are keen for more power. My German isn't good enough to work out if the STF want actual independence, union with Austria or just more autonomy (grateful for any clarification by German speakers).<br /><br />In any case, one thing struck me about their website and especially the YouTube video on the right hand side, 'Marsch gegen Faschismus' (March against Fascism). It's obvious that a monument built by Mussolini is upsetting people and they've organised what looks like a very effective rally against the Faschis Denkmal (Fascist Monument). Contrary also to Welsh Labour prejudice (and also some left wingers in Plaid) the traditional costume usually associated with being reactionary and fascistic by some has become a badge of anti-fascism, democracy and rights by the Southern Tirolers. Maybe we Welsh should worry less our Labourist hang-ups (the <a href="http://www.stdavidsday.org/stdavid/">successful St David's Day parade</a> being a case in point) and confirm our traditional costume a badge of identity and anti-fascism and like in the Tirolean case a badge of anti centralised British/Italian nation statism.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Freiheit fuer Sued Tirol!</span>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-34433264635028974832009-03-30T22:12:00.002+00:002009-03-30T22:21:14.202+00:00Wales and the World<div><strong></strong>No big news, just thought you'd like to see some videos and news from different parts of the world about people's struggle to keep their languages and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">identity</span>. The politics of the world in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">twenty first</span> century will be the politics of Wales.<br /><br /><strong>Flanders</strong><br />Dutch language under pressure from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">monoglot</span> French-speakers on Flemish border (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Aljazeera</span>):<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jBtBrxHqGdo&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jBtBrxHqGdo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="295" width="480"></embed></object><br /></span><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Abkhazia</span><br /></strong>An introduction and history (yes, unlike Marx and Engels we at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">BNW</span> think all nations and languages are valid in their own right)<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t6Jvom5EbZc&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t6Jvom5EbZc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /></span><br /><strong>Greenland</strong><br />Greenland moves to Independence (Russia Today). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">BNW</span> is all for it, but as has been posted previously, believe that ditching the Danish language could make Greenlandic more open to linguistic domination by the English language. It makes good linguistic, cultural and economic sense for small language communities to be trilingual.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mMdOQaqLiUw&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mMdOQaqLiUw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /></span><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Amazigh</span> / Berber<br /></strong>We're used to hearing Arabs <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">complaining</span> of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">discrimination</span> against Arabs by the West and Israel but how often do we hear of Arab discrimination against one of the original inhabitants and languages of the Maghreb, the Berber (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Amazigh</span>)? From the first video it's obvious that the Berbers have suffered a 'Welsh Not' in education and that the language of authority has been Arabic. The fact is, Arab-speakers in Israel have more linguistic rights that Berber-speakers in Algeria for instance, something which is rarely mentioned. </div> <div> </div> The green, blue and yellow are the colours of the Berber flag. There's also a song by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matoub"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Lounes</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Matoub</span></a>, the Berber '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Dafydd</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Iwan</span>'.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9KzzO9W4Efc&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9KzzO9W4Efc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yo7Lc3frtH0&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yo7Lc3frtH0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kFsd9iytq0c&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kFsd9iytq0c&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /></span>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-73144917842243583282009-03-29T10:24:00.008+00:002009-03-29T21:33:01.593+00:00Aneurin Glyndŵr FarceI'm aware that quite a lot of the visitors to this site come from outside Wales.<br /><br />The last posting showed the little-known ideological roots of the contempt of the 'big nation' left-wing chauvinism of people like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Hobsbawm">Eric Hobsbawm</a> and numerous communist and socialist politicians and writers towards the many Bretons, Basques and Gaels (and Welsh) who visit this site (see video clip in previous posting).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlH8Wuo6JVcEJMmF64Joio_8ED6T9YZ1VQ6m-E9nfJza5Mluzwz9NLYEW6TjYG2Ad985v8KEloOpoAQhSwUGQhaP0TaO0-h0Iye6Y4HROl_h7RjWkdUkZPAyzXgNtwkY7jPpcY/s1600-h/aneuringlyndwr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlH8Wuo6JVcEJMmF64Joio_8ED6T9YZ1VQ6m-E9nfJza5Mluzwz9NLYEW6TjYG2Ad985v8KEloOpoAQhSwUGQhaP0TaO0-h0Iye6Y4HROl_h7RjWkdUkZPAyzXgNtwkY7jPpcY/s400/aneuringlyndwr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318576065162192498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">For those of you outside Wales it's worth you also seeing how low the British nationalist left wing in Wales - </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.aneuringlyndwr.com/">the 'Welsh' Labour party - have stooped</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">. This time, it's not so much ideological as erm, well, embarrassing. The noise you can hear in the background is the 'Welsh' Labour party digging its own grave!</span><br /><br />As one person said; they've discarded their ideology, they are bereft of ideas, they have no vision and they're left with being a tribal, childish, spiteful party which would rather hamper self-government for Wales and so be ruled by the Westminster Tories whom they claim to hate so much. Compare this <a href="http://www.aneuringlyndwr.com/">childish website and video</a> (if you can bare to watch it all - I couldn't! - just too embarrassing) with Plaid Cymru's intelligent <a href="http://walescan.com/be-independent">www.WalesCan.com</a> laying the argument for Wales to become a normal independent nation state.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Plaid = grown-up party</span></span><span style="font-size:180%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Labour = childish </span></span><br /></div><br />I really think that this is the beginning of the end of British nationalist project which was Welsh Labour. It's not over yet. But when a once mighty political party has this to offer, and when Peter Hain thinks that this is <span style="font-style: italic;">"Obama moment for Welsh Labour" </span>you know they're on their last legs. A party can't last for too long without some intellectual belief and project.<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Needless to say, this video has clogged the bloggersphere and websites in Wales. Here are some of the latest links:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://owainbevan.blogspot.com/">http://owainbevan.blogspot.com/</a><br /><a href="http://annoyinglypoor.blogspot.com/">http://annoyinglypoor.blogspot.com/</a><br /><a href="http://welshnoted.blogspot.com/2009/03/welcome-aneurin-glyndwr.html">http://welshnoted.blogspot.com/2009/03/welcome-aneurin-glyndwr.html</a><br /><a href="http://heleddfychan.blogspot.com/2009/03/aneurin-glyndwr.html">http://heleddfychan.blogspot.com/2009/03/aneurin-glyndwr.html</a><br /><a href="http://oclmenai.blogspot.com/2009/03/croeso-aneurin-glyndwr_27.html">http://oclmenai.blogspot.com/2009/03/croeso-aneurin-glyndwr_27.html</a><br /><a href="http://www.anenglishmanscastle.com/archives/007194.html">http://www.anenglishmanscastle.com/archives/007194.html</a><br /><a href="http://maes-e.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&p=376665">http://maes-e.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&p=376665</a><br /><a href="http://wrecsamplaid.blogspot.com/2009/03/welsh-poverty-labour-success-story.html">http://wrecsamplaid.blogspot.com/2009/03/welsh-poverty-labour-success-story.html</a><br /><a href="http://borthlas.blogspot.com/2009/03/its-debate-but-not-as-we-know-it.html">http://borthlas.blogspot.com/2009/03/its-debate-but-not-as-we-know-it.html</a><br /><a href="http://guerrilla-welsh-fare.blogspot.com/2009/03/ag-western-mail-reaction.html">http://guerrilla-welsh-fare.blogspot.com/2009/03/ag-western-mail-reaction.html</a><br /><a href="http://guerrilla-welsh-fare.blogspot.com/2009/03/things-can-only-get-better.html">http://guerrilla-welsh-fare.blogspot.com/2009/03/things-can-only-get-better.html</a><br /><a href="http://guerrilla-welsh-fare.blogspot.com/2009/03/from-bad-to-worse.html">http://guerrilla-welsh-fare.blogspot.com/2009/03/from-bad-to-worse.html</a><br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/betsanpowys/2009/03/labour_versus_the_rest_mark_2.html">http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/betsanpowys/2009/03/labour_versus_the_rest_mark_2.html</a><br /><a href="http://andrewnutt.blogspot.com/2009/03/new-anuerin-glyndwr-web-site-closet.html">http://andrewnutt.blogspot.com/2009/03/new-anuerin-glyndwr-web-site-closet.html</a><br /><a href="http://thecynicaldragon.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-make-friends.html">http://thecynicaldragon.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-make-friends.html</a><br /><a href="http://thecynicaldragon.blogspot.com/2009/03/quote-of-day_27.html">http://thecynicaldragon.blogspot.com/2009/03/quote-of-day_27.html</a><br /><a href="http://freedom-central.blogspot.com/2009/03/aneu-for-aneurin-and-soon-we-shall-all.html">http://freedom-central.blogspot.com/2009/03/aneu-for-aneurin-and-soon-we-shall-all.html</a><br /><a href="http://merchmerthyr.blogspot.com/2009/03/peter-hain-and-co-have-lost-it.html">http://merchmerthyr.blogspot.com/2009/03/peter-hain-and-co-have-lost-it.html</a><br /><a href="http://glyndaviesam.blogspot.com/2009/03/labour-party-making-idiots-of.html">http://glyndaviesam.blogspot.com/2009/03/labour-party-making-idiots-of.html</a><br /><a href="http://welshramblings.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-has-labour-been-this-stupid.html">http://welshramblings.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-has-labour-been-this-stupid.html</a><br /><a href="http://peterblack.blogspot.com/2009/03/things-that-they-say.html">http://peterblack.blogspot.com/2009/03/things-that-they-say.html</a><br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/vaughanroderick/2009/03/owainbevan.html">http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/vaughanroderick/2009/03/owainbevan.html</a><br /><a href="http://devilskitchen.me.uk/2009/03/hain-and-welsh-labours-obama-moment.html">http://devilskitchen.me.uk/2009/03/hain-and-welsh-labours-obama-moment.html</a><br /><a href="http://cambriapolitico.com/2009/03/piggys-in-the-sht-again/">http://cambriapolitico.com/2009/03/piggys-in-the-sht-again/</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">And here are a few quotes:</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />"Check it out, if only for a laugh. It's cringeworthy. It's so obvious that they're angry with Plaid for coming up with the idea of Walescan and feel threatened by it. Everything about it is wrong." - </span>Heledd Fychan<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;" class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">"Aneurin Glyndwr - not even funny. What a complete joke. Not worth a meagre link even.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">"</span> - Rhodri ap Dyfrig<br /><span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt1401743260" class="msgtxt en"><span style="font-style: italic;">"If </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Aneurin</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Glyndwr</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> is the best Labour can offer in terms of modern campaigning in Wales then bring on the General Election."</span> - Geraint Day<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt1397665626" class="msgtxt en">"Still can't quite believe that 'Aneurin Glyndwr' is an official Labour site. It's a set up job surely?</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">"</span> - Cynical Dragon<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"At the moment aneuringlyndwr.com is the internet equivalent of watching your dad dance at a disco."</span> - Peter Black<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Peter Hain said it was Welsh Labour's 'Obama moment'. I think he meant 'Dubya Bush moment'."</span> - Rhydian Fôn<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Anuerin Glyndwr - the new web site - its supposed to be satirical. It's pathetic."</span> - Valleys Mam<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt1401743260" class="msgtxt en"><br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">And the <span style="font-style: italic;">'student'</span> behind this project? None other than Leighton Andrews' researcher, and Welsh Assembly pin-up </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://twitter.com/David_Taylor">David Taylor</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> According to Martin Shipron of the Western Mail, he is </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"feared for his skills on the internet, being seen as one of the most talented disciples of Adrian McMenamin"</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">. Internet Skills? Talented? If this is the best Labour have to offer, God help them!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">We have blooged about David before, back in 2005. View posts below:</span><br /><ul><li><h3 class="post-title"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://british-nats-watch.blogspot.com/2005/10/cheers-blair-watch.html">Cheers Blair Watch.</a></span></h3></li><li><h3 class="post-title"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://british-nats-watch.blogspot.com/2005/09/brit-nat-ams-researcher-david-taylor.html">Brit Nat AM's Researcher - David Taylor - orders the removal of Walter Wolfgang</a></span></h3></li><li><h3 class="post-title"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://british-nats-watch.blogspot.com/2005/09/who-are-you-calling-extremists-mr.html">Who are you calling extremists Mr Taylor?</a></span></h3></li></ul>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-16731311957534145082009-03-23T20:29:00.003+00:002009-03-24T14:23:49.119+00:00The Roots of Left Wing Racism?<div style="font-weight: bold;">We're quite used to hearing some left wing politicians from the imperial or dominant cultures and states like France, Britain, Spain etc accuse the nationalists of the smaller countries of racism. But, the fact is that there is an underlying bigotry if not racism bound up in their world view. If you've ever wondered where the colonial and arrogant attitude of French, Spanish, Chinese or even British left wing nationalists comes from - the kind of racism which always hides behind the veneer of class unity or enlightenment of course then you need to go back to the roots of Marxist theory.<br /></div><br /><div>It seems Engels, the founding father of communism with Marx believed that some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pre</span>-capitalist nations were 'racial trash' because they were 'two stages away from communism'. Poland likewise had no reason to exist.</div><br /><br /><div><object height="405" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/P3uFUxMwA1w&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/P3uFUxMwA1w&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="405" width="500"></embed></object></div><br /><br /><div>Marx said,<span style="font-style: italic;"> 'the classes and the races too weak to master the new conditions of life must give way .. they must perish in the revolutionary holocaust'.</span><br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Words which are never quoted to you when French or UK left wingers accuse <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Bretons</span> of being Nazi-sympathisers.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>It seems the part of left wing, communist and socialist thinking has a long and, illustrious history of racism towards so-called non-revolutionary nations. This idea that some nations or languages have no worth in their own right and can only justify themselves in their role in 'progressive politics' or if they follow a certain agenda is an echo of this deep attitude of many so called socialists in France, Spain and occasionally the UK.<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div style="font-weight: bold;">Marx and Engels' prejudice were the cause for the justification of the deaths of millions and the philosophical antipathy of many towards weaker and 'backward' European languages and cultures.</div>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15451899.post-59520403545148914232009-03-15T00:12:00.002+00:002009-03-15T00:20:16.951+00:00Three Cheers for Sara Medi Jones!<span style="font-weight: bold;">Well done Sara Medi Jones. It must be quite intimidating asking a question to Hillary Clinton especially among all the smug Euro and US press corp, but she made Wales proud (view video below).</span><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YjZVl_kA_Ds&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YjZVl_kA_Ds&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />She could have chickened out with some question about GM, Gaza, nuclear weapons or another safe 'radical' agenda which Plaid sometimes promote to the detriment of Welsh self-government as they try and prove that they're part of a broader movement. Nothing wrong with that, but if Plaid Cymru won't raise the issue of Welsh independence or language rights - then who will? Her simple forthright question - a lesson to some Plaid AMs and MPs - <a href="http://www.vilaweb.cat/www/noticia?p_idcmp=3552406">made the news in Catalonia</a>... but not the useless BBC Wales (must be some cat stuck up a tree).<br /><br />So, Sara goes up to the mark and asks the world's most important woman, what her views are on independence for nations like Wales, Scotland and Catalonia? Of course some members of the press corp snigger - you know, Wales,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Wales </span>for heaven's sake, having ideas above their station? What, more food Oliver, more?! No doubt, the same kind of attitude which fills the ranks of Brit Nat Welsh and Scottish Labour MEP's. But Sara stood her ground.<br /><br />Clinton wasn't supportive - but then George Bush Snr famously told the Lithuanians and Ukrainians to stay part of the USSR but had to eat humble pie a few months later. But she's not against the idea either. We're not going to get independence any day soon but the principle has been made. The USA see it as an internal matter for the 'nation states'. If the UK or Spain can sort it out then they won't oppose.<br /><br />The Brit and Spanish Nats will talk of constitutions (even though the UK hasn't really got one!). But constitutions can change. Would the Labour Brit Nats stop campaigning for a woman's right to an abortion, or gay marriage rights, or for segregation or women's vote ... because it's in the constitution?! Or is independence for Wales, Scotland, Catalonia etc the only part of a constitution they wouldn't change?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In any case. Three cheers for Sara Medi for retaining Wales' honour - <a href="http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/03/14/rhodri-morgan-s-pro-obama-gaffe-in-speech-to-us-business-leaders-91466-23141317/">unlike our First Minister who managed to embarrass his American hosts this week</a>. And three cheers for Hillary Clinton for not being a patsy to British and Spanish nationalist agendas. Clinton supports democracy after all.</span>Nicholas Michael Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17666796489515753753noreply@blogger.com3