Ask Angry: Cynical? No, Indy rallies are all about looking cool

Barry, Motherwell

IT appears there have been some misunderstandings on both sides, Barry. First of all, we weren’t marching – we were strutting! As much as some elements of social media may wish to view these swaggering get-togethers as spiteful Braveheart fan conventions, the truth is that any cries for freedom at Scottish independence rallies are filled with joy not hate. In my experience, Yes rallies are less bitter protests and more feel-good parties. For example, amid all the flag waving and calls for self-governance, many of us take the time to catch Pokémon and discuss our favourite S Club 7 songs. The broad spectrum of nationalities, ages, lifestyles and upbringings in attendance at these gatherings is something to be celebrated. The events are a place to share ideas, meet new friends and, in the case of George Square, exchange motorcycle maintenance tips. You see, it’s become somewhat traditional for dozens of motorcyclists to join in the festivities at Glaswegian rallies. Now, some might say that a bunch of bikers revving their engines to deafening levels would be seen as obnoxious or immature, but those people have clearly forgotten how cool Arnold Schwarzenegger looked riding a motorbike in Terminator 2.

Speaking of looking cool, one of the big appeals of these get-togethers is seeing lots of awesome individuals from Twitter wandering through the festivities – who knew we were all so charismatic and good looking in person? Indeed, the opportunity to meet people from a variety of different social and political backgrounds in person is something I truly love. For example, English Scots for Yes were a charming group I hadn’t interacted with before, and their welcomed flying of the St George’s Cross was a symbol of the peace and understanding that exemplifies the independence movement. Certainly, hateful is not a word you’d use to describe the images of people at Yes gatherings – even the weather appeared to be having a good time! Once the rally in George Square kicked off last week, the dreary rain and cloudy skies over Glasgow were quickly replaced with gorgeous sunshine; proof that our weather is only unpleasant when we submit to Westminster rule! In my view, our nation should get its regular exercise by strutting for independence. That way we can lose weight as we gain success! Should we perhaps consider the merits of simply declaring George Square independent from the UK and working outwards?

WHY are some Unionists so opposed to the BBC Scottish Six? Jillian, Oban

GREAT question, Jillian. Scots have, for many years, played an important part in the development of both print and broadcast media. For one thing, we invented the television! Beyond this, Scotland has shown an eagerness to improve, innovate and challenge the boundaries of convention within the realm of mass media. I’ve heard that one Scottish newspaper even gave a weekly column to an anonymous satirical Twitter account! Indeed, you only have to look at websites such as CommonSpace to see that independent Scottish media is essential as an antidote to broadcasters corrupted by government intrigue or megalomaniacal owners.

Personally, I am no fan of the BBC licence fee and would much rather our money went towards the crowdfunding of upstart websites, blogs and YouTube channels. Equally, however, I do not see why the proposed BBC Scottish Six will become the vile SNP propaganda machine that many Unionists are claiming it will. Surely these accusations of bias only make sense if you believe the BBC is accommodating of such practices in the first place? British nationalists have previously rebuked accusations that the BBC’s coverage of Scottish politics lacks impartiality; however they are expressing exactly the same concern now the shoe is potentially on the other foot. Of course, it seems extremely unlikely that an organisation called the British Broadcasting Corporation would take anything but a British view of Scotland, no matter how much of its mission statement is amended. Quite frankly the Scottish Six may just become another outdated news show that an ever increasing portion of the population elects to ignore in favour of the internet.

That said, there is an older demographic who still watch the news in exactly the same way they did 30 years ago. This very demographic were the ones who voted No in the largest numbers during the first Scottish independence referendum. If the BBC Scottish Six is even slightly less UK-centric, it could grant these individuals a view of Scotland that isn’t filtered through London. I suspect that this is why such a sizeable portion of Unionists seem frightened or annoyed by the prospect of an improved Scottish news service. If it doesn’t break down the barrier, it could at least create some cracks in the wall that offer a much fairer view of Scottish independence.

The BBC Scottish Six will be far from a revolution, but it could be the journalistic equivalent of devolution. While this would undoubtedly be an improvement on the current media predicament, it is still considerably short of what we, as a nation, deserve. We have already seen how the BBC has ignored the momentum in the lead-up to the 2014 independence referendum and it would seem unlikely to take a pro-Indy stance anytime soon. The truth is that every news outlet is, in its own way, biased. The skill to navigating 21st century journalism is to take your information from a variety of wide-ranging sources from all sides of the political spectrum. The truth is somewhere in the middle. The days of being spoon fed your daily diet of inaccurate opinion-based news from a single source are well and truly over. As much as we should hope for objectivity, the onus should be on the public to be vigilant of lies and hungry for information. In the age of broadband, the facts are at your fingertips.