Another wee guestie from Shonagh McEwan, a bit more partisan this time. Thanks Shonagh!
Back in the day, I was cynical. At the beginning of the referendum campaign, I simply thought us wee Greens would be a lost grain of sand on a very SNP beach. How could our distinctive Green voice be heard? Salmond would beating his SNP drum upfront, I’d get a headache and the rest would be history.
The start of the campaign seems so long ago now, and so does my cynicism. My initial concern was, thankfully, misplaced. It’s been a vibrant, dynamic, creative and colourful Yes campaign. The nature of grassroots activism and community campaigning has enabled diverse strands of the debate to grow.
Postive campaigning has also allowed the Yes collective to gain strength from that diversity. There has been a shared space for the distinctive Green Yes to flourish alongside others. Visually, we’ve made our mark. The badges, the t-shirts, posters – a fantastic display of Green Yes. In the public debates, whether broadcast or not, we’ve sung our vision for a different future for Scotland beautifully and because of that, we’ve been heard.
I have hope for the music of Yes this Thursday. As someone listening closely to the campaign, it actually has been like an orchestra to listen to. And that’s not just because I’ve been moved by the distinctive, individual sound of the Green Yes. It’s also because all the Yes campaign strands have worked so well together.
Part of me could go back to being cynical, but I’m going to try hard not to. Because after Thursday, I have hope for something much bigger. And that’s for a new politics, in a new Scotland, that continues its diverse musicality without me getting a headache.