RMeingast Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 83 years old Sir Sean Connery has emerged from retirement to voice his two pence on the Scottish independence referendum coming up on September 18: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/03/uk-scotland-independence-connery-idUKBREA2217020140303 His article for the "New Statesman" is here: http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/03/sean-connery-scottish-independence-there-no-more-creative-act-creating-new-nation P.S. A spurtle is a wooden stick that Scots use to stir porridge (they) in the pot: http://www.seafoamwoodturning.com/Shopping/porridge.htm#spurtle Thus my lame attempt at humour in the thread title. Sir Sean has his spurtle ready to "stir the pot" in Scotland... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomJH Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 And just why did a fervent Scottish "nationalist" like Sean Connery accept a knighthood from the Queen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMeingast Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 Think he accepted it because he regarded it as an honour for himself and his country: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/819490.stm His website shows a photo of him being knighted by Elizabeth II: http://www.seanconnery.com/biography/knighthood/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomJH Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Well, Connery may rationalize it as an "honour" for Scotland but I have a feeling that he may have been more flattered that it was an honour for himself. And that's fine, EXCEPT that as a fervent advocate for an independent Scotland, I find it hypocritical for him to have accepted the knighthood. Am I being too harsh on Sir Sean? I wonder how truly nationalistic Scots regard Connery since his knighthood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMeingast Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 Oh well, it's just a news item. More information on the referendum in September is here: http://www.scotreferendum.com/questions-and-answers/ Apparently, if Scotland does eventually become independent (after a majority votes yes to the question), they'll keep Queen Elizabeth II as monarch and head of state (some political parties want a republic, but they're a small minority): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_independence_referendum,_2014#Monarchy http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-18364699 So, Sir Sean would still be Sir Sean with Queen Elizabeth II as his monarch in an independent Scotland. And in defence of him, he is a member and supporter of the Scottish National Party, and they want to keep the Queen as well as have Scotland independent: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_National_Party And the SNP is currently the government in Scotland: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Parliament Sounds like it would be like Canada, we have Queen Elizabeth II as monarch and head of state... And Scottish celebrities are both pro and con: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26275521 Susan Boyle, for example, is voting "no" to independence in the referendum. We have had experience with independence referenda in Canada with relation to Quebec. If the vote is in favour of independence, it will take a long time to work all the details out... Edited by: RMeingast on Mar 6, 2014 11:46 AM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo2 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Yeah...well...what I question is this part of the report here: >The Scottish-born star, 83, spoke out six months before a referendum that could split the United Kingdom. A long-term supporter of separation, the Bahamas resident has said he could return to his native land if it became independent. Uh-huh...yeah...riiiiiiiight. So are we REALLY suppose to believe an 83 year old guy who in his later years has found to his liking the warmth of the Bahamas(and before that, the warmth of Marbella Spain) would REALLY move back to Scottish WEATHER???? Yeah, I'll believe THAT when I see it!!! (...of course, I SUPPOSE he could always just do a variation of what many Canadians do...spend their winters in Arizona) LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMeingast Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 Well, not only the weather... Some say Sir Sean lives in the Bahamas for tax reasons. So why he'd return to Scotland, unless to visit, is unlikely unless the tax system there changes... Sir Sean says this is unfair: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-170808/Im-true-Scot-says-Connery.html Dargo, I'll leave it to you to argue this matter with Sir Sean... 83 years old or not, I don't think I'd want to tangle with James Bond... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomJH Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Poor Sir Sean. He must have a difficult time striking up a conversation with fellow Scottish National Party party members on those beaches in the Bahamas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo2 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 >Dargo, I'll leave it to you to argue this matter with Sir Sean...83 years old or not, I don't think I'd want to tangle with James Bond... Eeh! No worries THERE, RM. I'll just have my henchmen strap him to a laser beam-equipped table if he doesn't feel like discussing the matter in earnest and with the proper degree of civility and decorum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepiatone Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 > A spurtle is a wooden stick that Scots use to stir porridge I thought, at first, it was a referral to the way he TALKED. Sounds like a good word for that anyway. Sepiatone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMeingast Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 Oh well... Just FYI... Not sure many Americans, or Canadians, are aware of what's going on there... Another article about celebs and what they think of independence, those pro and those con: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/changes-the-celebrities-that-have-entered-the-independence-debate.1392902337 And the latest poll is that 57% will vote "no," compared to 32% who will vote "yes": http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/mar/03/scottish-anxiety-independence-revealed-poll The other 11% in the poll above will vote to tell Sir Sean to stay in the Bahamas. And in case someone asks about Canadians and knighthoods, since we are an independent country with QEII as monarch and head of state, Canadians can't accept a knighthood from the queen unless they give up their Canadian citizenship. It's been that way since 1921, with a few exceptions. So Scotland would probably do the same thing. Sir Sean would keep his honour, but no Scots would be allowed to accept a knighthood (damehood for the ladies), unless they moved to the Bahamas (or wherever) and ceased being citizens of an independent Scotland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMeingast Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 This is a spurtle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spurtle http://www.goldenspurtle.com/ Some also use it to refer to what every Scottish male hides under his kilt... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo2 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 >...unless they moved to the Bahamas (or wherever) and ceased being citizens of an independent Scotland. And with the other major drawback to this tact being the inability to ever again get good Haggis. (...unless one considers the thought of "good Haggis" being an oxymoron, such as MOST people do!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkblue Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 FREEDOM!!! (braveheart,ay) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMeingast Posted September 19, 2014 Author Share Posted September 19, 2014 "Och aye, it's the noo!" (Piers Morgan) Well, Scottish Referendum results in on the independence vote and it's the Nae's have it with 55.3% with the Ayes at 44.7%: http://www.bbc.com/news/events/scotland-decides/results Celebrities have weighed in on the results: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2761860/Och-aye-noo-How-celebrities-reacted-Twitter-news-really-Better-Together.html And here: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/celebrities-react-scotland-rejecting-independence-734272 Sir Sean was a "Dr. No-show" for the vote, apparently: http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/scottish-independence-sean-connery-is-a-no-show-1-3543174 This article states that Sir Sean wasn't eligible to vote in the referendum: http://blogs.marketwatch.com/thetell/2014/09/16/dr-no-show-sean-connery-may-not-vote-in-scotland-referendum-over-tax-fears/ No word, as yet, from Mel Gibson on results... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 All is well. The union survived! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibi Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 All is well. The union survived! From what I've read, Sir Sean couldnt vote since he doesnt reside there............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 I am a wee bit disappointed, not shaken just slightly stirred, that the Scots voted to stay with the lime eaters, but the people have spoken. And they would still be keeping the old bag lady and her parasitic brood. Yuck. I'm consoled by the fact that we had the smarts to give the bloody bastards the heave ho all those years ago. Thank goodness for that. I'll drink(a wee dram of Single Malt) to THAT thought, Vautrin! (...though I wonder IF those Scots would have voted for independence, would they have ALSO been as insightful as we Yanks are and ceased spelling certain words with that dumb British superfluous letter 'u', TOO???...I guess we'll never know now, huh!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrroberts Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Clearly the idea of "independence" for Scotland has pros and cons. Going it alone can be a rough road and I believe many Scots are erring on the side of caution here. What this effort and the vote result may do is help promote a greater amount of autonomy in deciding localized issues. The central government has to be more sensitive to local concerns throughout Britain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
primosprimos Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 I am a wee bit disappointed, not shaken just slightly stirred, that the Scots voted to stay with the lime eaters, but the people have spoken. And they would still be keeping the old bag lady and her parasitic brood. Yuck. I'm consoled by the fact that we had the smarts to give the bloody bastards the heave ho all those years ago. Thank goodness for that. Hoo boy, I couldn't agree more. Imagine being lorded over by that princess off'er and her inbred brood? No thank ye. I feel really badly that there weren't enough Scots with the ken to tell the quin to get that U-Haul up to her property in the lovely Scotland and get out, lock, stock, and barrel. Oh well, here's hoping they'll try again, and the 'yes' vote will win next time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
primosprimos Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 I'm surprised the word bastards wasn't starred out. Hmmm. Maybe the truth is more powerful than the censor. I'll take a cup of kindness now for auld lang syne. Aye. There were what, 2mil+ 'no' votes? All the quin had to do was sell a few baubles and beads that she never paid for, and distribute a few pounds sterling (or whatever it is they're using these days) to all the 'no' voters. Plus, the votes were on PAPER! Didja not see that? Can ye say 'hanging chad'? Am I right, or am I right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NipkowDisc Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 If Sean Connery wants to demonstrate his love for Scotland and her independence then let him get off his duff in the bahamas and announce he will personally finance a new James Bond film with himself reprising the role for the first time since 1983 and that he will shoot it on location in Scotland and dedicate the film to Scotland. He does all that and I might even consider going to see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swithin Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Scotland made the right choice. Had it opted for independence, the people in the Orkney and Shetland Islands -- now part of Scotland, may have opted for independence from Scotland (their NO votes were among the highest in the country). And much of the North Sea oil is in their domain. These islands were actually a gift from Norway to Scotland, in the 15th Century, as part of a dowry. I've been there -- they seem more Scandinavian in many ways. St. Magnus Cathedral in the Orkney Islands is the northernmost cathedral in the UK. It was founded by a Viking. The current Scottish parliament in Edinburgh (the Scottish capital which voted strongly NO) is among the most centralized in Europe, so all this clamoring for more authority is kind of amusing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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