Comments on: Cymru am Byth

By: Crys T

Crys T — Tue, 08 May 2007 00:20:14 +0000

It’s nice to see someone other than a handful of Welsh people actually rooting for Wales for a change. But it’s too bad that apparently most people here have taken one look at the subject line and decided it doesn’t belong in the American-progressive-designated “important shit.”

I voted for Plaid last week, even though in my constituency they didn’t have a chance of winning, and although I don’t agree with every single stand they take. However, they’re the only party I can see that gives a damn about the language, so they get my vote.

Independence would be a great thing, ultimately. However, the problem right now is that Wales simply doesn’t have money. Outside of Cardiff, there’s not a whole lot going on. Of course, this is due to the history. Wales in the 19th Century was the source of immense weath due to its mineral resources (coal, zinc, slate), but most of the money generated went out of the country. All you have to do is look at the map: all the roads lead out. And that’s because they were constructed for the convenience of the English (to get to the mines, etc in the South, and to the holiday spots in the North). Wales at this point in time is simply not strong enough economically to stand on its own.

Also, I haven’t seen any analyses on the phenomenon yet, but I’m betting that a big reason the BNP got as many votes as it did in the North is because that’s where all the English are moving in, driving housing prices out of the reach of locals and killing Welsh-speaking communities. They’ve stated that a big reason they’re attracted to North Wales is that there are virtually no ethnic minority people there. Of course there aren’t: there are no jobs and tons of small communities that have been left to rot for ages, but just happen to be located in areas of outstanding natural beauty.

I suppose some North Walians, sick of being sold out by Labour and feeling that Plaid is getting them nowhere, also may have voted BNP, but I still bet the majority were actually English. Myddyffycys yn bob man.

By: Amanda Marcotte

Amanda Marcotte — Mon, 07 May 2007 02:07:00 +0000

I’m half Welsh and 100% behind this. Preserving the language, at least, is so important. It would just be sad to see it waste away.

By: W.B. Reeves

W.B. Reeves — Sat, 05 May 2007 15:59:40 +0000

Hadn’t heard about the BNP’s gains in Wales. Unfortunate. I’m tempted to raise the question of Nationalism’s affinity for xenophobia but it would be difficult to reconcile British Nationalism and the Welsh variety wouldn’t it? I’m ignorant of the character of the population in North Wales so I really can’t even guess what BNP success there signifies. Disconcerting though, that the main thrust of the campaign was reportedly aimed at Poles, Rumanians, et al. That has a particularly nasty atavistic stench. Color prejudice is bad enough but are we going to see a further relapse into old style euro-racialism? Of course, as far as the BNP is concerned, they’d just be staying true to their ideological roots.

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 04 May 2007 23:08:31 +0000

My daughter lives in Scotland, but I don’t know too much about the politics up there. I do know that there is a move for Scottish independence too.

The English really did some serious injustices to their closest neighbors, and don’t even get started on Ireland.