1320

For those who don't recognise the date it's the year the Declaration of Arbroath was signed in Scotland. A truly important historical document as it was one of the first statements of nationhood in the world. Where are the likes of its signatories now?

The G8 is coming and what is happening in our land of the free?

Our police are the first in the UK to threaten the use of the new 'anti-terror laws'. These laws were brought in under the proviso that they would not be used to stifle legitimate protest. What are the plans of those protesting at the summit, but a legitimate protest?

Yet it seems that there are already plans to arrest and imprison protestors for up to seven days without trial just for daring to protest. There are stories circulating about people wearing G8 protest t-shirts being questioned by police officers and even having follow-up 'interviews' conducted in their homes by detectives. The notion of an al-qaieda terrorist advertising their presence in Scotland by wearing one of these anti-globalisation t-shirts indicating that 'Police Intelligence' just may be an oxymoron. People have been pulled over & questioned just for being in the area of Gleneagles, and it's just been announced that 2,000 American troops have been flown into Scotland to 'protect' the delegates.

Who the fuck do they think they are?

Please excuse the profanity, but I'm so angry about this. Foreign troops being flown in to suppress our citizens' right to protest? Yes, we are now one of the countries America has seen fit to bring peace to. So much for our 'special relationship'. Don't we have our own troops? Or are they too busy fighting Tony & George's war in Iraq? Not that troops should be required there in the first place. But foreign troops? It's an abomination. And there's been almost no comment on this. That's the Big Brother generation for you.

I think much, if not all, of the protest is going to be wasted. These people don't listen for one thing. For another, the complaints of the protestors about not being allowed to march past the hotel as part of their activites stikes me as a combination of foolish and pointless. Have any of them ever been there? The gates are nearly a mile from the hotel and it's surrounded by trees. Even if they were allowed to march none of the delegates would see or hear them. Even if they did, I remind you that they don't give a toss what you say. The only people who will be affected will be the residents of the village you plan to descend upon instead.

This Live8 pish about coming to Edinburgh, too. Do you know how far Edinburgh is from Gleneagles, Sir Bob? What's the point in screwing up life in Edinburgh? By the way, do you know how many children live in poverty in Scotland? Are you aware how many children fetching up in casualty are also diagnosed as suffering from either borderline or even full-blown malnutrition? Where's the concert for them?

However, the use of these laws and foreign troops to enforce them is a disgrace. That the Scots police should be the first to even consider using these laws in this way makes me ashamed. These laws were put in place to 'protect' us from people who wanted, we were told, to take away our freedoms. The only people threatening my freedoms today are my own government and some 2,000 American marines.

The Declaration of Arbroath talks about how grateful the Scots were when Robert Bruce delivered them into freedom from the English, but went on to state that if he, or any of his descendents betrayed Scotland or her people or became a tyrant then they would 'cast him down' using any means neccessary.

Our leaders are permitting this to happen in Scotland today.

Where are the likes of the men who signed that document in 1320?