http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/03/27/nospli t/dt2701.xml
DAILY TELEGRAPH (UK) LETTERS March 27, 2008 The success of nationalism Sir - Gordon Brown (Comment, March 25) says that independence would mean "retreat into 19th-century nationalism". This is odd, from someone who supports the independence of Kosovo. Since 1991, 16 European countries have gained their independence. The Czech-Slovak split shows what can be done. Those who support Scottish independence are 21st-century civic nationalists. Mr Brown says that "there is no Scotland-only, Wales-only, England-only solution to transnational challenges". Well, how does the Republic of Ireland or any other independent country cope? Mr Brown says there are "advantages of our economic union". How does he explain that the Republic of Ireland has a far greater gross domestic product per head and higher ranking on the quality life index? He states that, within the United Kingdom, we share common values. How do the values of western Europe or those of Australia, New Zealand and Canada differ from those of the United Kingdom? He claims that the Union is not about partnership at the expense of pride. Yet it results in Scotland being seen around the world as a region, not as a country. Thomas Murray, Perth . <http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=14871632/grpspId=1705043917/msgI d=32524/stime=1206624649/nc1=5170410/nc2=5191955/nc3=4763762> __,_._,___
