tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post2218357345897799410..comments2024-03-26T09:38:39.888+00:00Comments on Borthlas: A cunning plan?John Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-89855904583487102942015-05-19T18:03:27.505+01:002015-05-19T18:03:27.505+01:00"But that in turn just highlights the core qu..."But that in turn just highlights the core question – what is Plaid for?<br /><br />If it is ‘for’ winning elections and gaining and exercising power, then it is arguable that the current strategy might well be the best one, even if it isn’t proving very successful (there's no rule that says even the best plan will necessarily succeed). But if it is ‘for’ gaining independence for Wales, then the current strategy is doomed to fail, based as it is on arguing that the core aim is not even open to consideration in the foreseeable future. It leaves one important open question, though. If that isn’t the vehicle for achieving independence, what is?"<br /><br />In my view it has to be the former. Welsh nationalism being in government and making the country more confident, and yes more Welsh- accepting that identities shift and change.<br /><br />The vehicle then has to be a grassroots movement. Such a movement exists in Scotland, exists in Catalonia, exists in the Basque Country (bit of a complex situation there though...), alongside nationalist parties of government; but is virtually non-existent in Wales.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-86853865069379293902015-05-19T13:24:16.976+01:002015-05-19T13:24:16.976+01:00What to do, stop talking and start taking action, ...What to do, stop talking and start taking action, contact RIC and arrange a conference/lecture similar to the group who got National Collective’s organisers to come to in Cardiff University and share experiences soon after the referendum on what worked, what didn’t and how they did it.<br /><br />Another thing is start supporting groups like the People’s Assembly Against Austerity who are organising protests all over Wales about social and economic issues and take it from there.<br /><br />https://www.facebook.com/PeoplesAssemblyAgainstAusterityWales<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-54395047255480352832015-05-19T08:44:53.505+01:002015-05-19T08:44:53.505+01:00"A movement like Scotland’s Radical Independe...<i>"A movement like Scotland’s Radical Independence Collective that did so much to engage working class communities and raise understanding and political awareness among the population is what’s needed because an economic and social case for welsh independence with broader appeal is possible, but that’s not from my experience what Plaid Cymru supporters want to hear."</i><br /><br />In broad terms, I agree with (both parts of) that. The 'main stream' of the debate on independence has been allowed to become the exclusive territory of a party which has become increasingly reluctant to lead that debate, whilst also being reluctant to allow anyone else to do so either for fear of losing its exclusive position. Something has to break that logjam.<br /><br />One question that I have though is this: whilst in Scotland, the RIC was able to reach the parts that others couldn't, it was doing so in the context set by a political party which was actively promoting the question. How can the impact of that different context be best overcome?John Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-42591302482524998982015-05-18T21:39:11.660+01:002015-05-18T21:39:11.660+01:00An enlightening exchange in an article on Plaid an...An enlightening exchange in an article on Plaid and SNP earlier between Gwynfor Evans and Winnie Ewing shows the reason is the dominance of cultural nationalism in the welsh independence movement.<br /><br />It said ‘In her memoirs, the SNP’s Winnie Ewing recalls telling Plaid Cymru’s leader Gwynfor Evans that she was envious of the “linguistic heritage” of Wales. She was rather surprised by his response that, unlike Wales, support for the SNP could come from anywhere as “an inbuilt patriotic response which was not dependent on language.”<br /><br />A movement like Scotland’s Radical Independence Collective that did so much to engage working class communities and raise understanding and political awareness among the population is what’s needed because an economic and social case for welsh independence with broader appeal is possible, but that’s not from my experience what Plaid Cymru supporters want to hear.<br /><br />As long as the independence movement is lead through the cultural nationalist arm it is never going to appeal to more than 10 - 15% of the welsh population, Gwynfor Evans new it in his time and so does Leanne Wood I suspect.<br /><br />The quotes are from this article http://theconversation.com/a-tale-of-two-nations-why-the-scottish-nationalists-outperformed-plaid-cymru-41725<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-60552011702583953632015-05-18T20:36:26.719+01:002015-05-18T20:36:26.719+01:00Unless Plaid now revert to being Plaid Genedlaetho...Unless Plaid now revert to being Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru, the National Party of Wales, and put independence at the core of their message, perhaps Paid Cymru would be a more suitable moniker? It works in both languages equally well...Neilynnoreply@blogger.com