A good way to spot propaganda is that it is always very vague (you can't use facts, because you're lying and if you say anything too specific, we can prove it) and this single short paragraph (it's like they're not even trying) is full of it.
If any of you have ever had the misfortune of being involved with an abusive partner, you should recognise the pleading, manipulative tone of the letter instantly. It shifts the blame on to it's subject immediately with;
"The decision on whether to leave our share country is, of course, absolutely yours alone. Nevertheless, that decision will have a huge effect on all of us in the rest of the United Kingdom."
Leave or share? No-one is going anywhere? What does 'share' in this context, even mean? I'll tell you what it means and why it sounds so grammatically awkward, because it doesn't mean anything, it's simply there to try and make the reader feel guilty and selfish.
(Actually, re-reading that, they haven't even bothered to proof read it, surely that should say 'shared')
Furthermore, it's not a shared country, it's two separate countries forced in to a 'union' under colonial rule (Historically, the Scots have never wanted to be ruled by England and famously fought bravely against it)
"A huge effect" oh yeah, like what? Vague and menacing = propaganda
"The rest of the United Kingdom" What rest of the UK? Do you mean Northern Ireland (again, never wanted to be part of the UK and fought long and hard against colonial rule) Or do you mean Wales who have also voted for devolution (and again historically fought hard against English rule)
Or do you mean England (in your vile land grabbing colonial way that doesn't so much as acknowledge other cultures much less respect or tolerate them)? An England that didn't vote for a Conservative government either, an England that has staged repeated and massive protests against every action this government has made, and England that in almost every county there is talk of devolution and independence from Westminster tyranny and Monarchist cronyism? Not as united as you're pretending now, is it?
"We want to let you know how very much we value our bonds of citizenship with you, and to express our hope that you will vote to renew them. What unites us is much greater than what divides us."
WTF are 'bonds of citizenship'? Again vague as can be = propaganda. Not to mention the fact that 'bonds' in terms of relation to the state very much bring to mind 'shackles' or at very least being restricted, held back and restrained. "What unites us is much greater than what divides us" Now here I have to agree, both the English and Scots are united in having little to no desire to ruled by effete child-abusers whose only interest seems to be to squeeze every last drop of wealth and culture from us. To carve up our health service and welfare system (both once admired around the world). To finish the task of laying waste to anything North of London that that venomous (and now thankfully dead) harpy Margaret Thatcher (virtually universally hated, save for a few money minded fuck-wits) wreaked upon us. In that, yes, we are united. The only division amongst us truly is that which you yourselves have sewn with your vicious war against 'scroungers' and 'immigrants'. With this in mind, I suspect this government is in truth happy to see Scotland 'leave' with a few million proud and bold working class men and women banished from the electoral role, the Tory party might even win a majority vote (something they didn't achieve at the last election, making their current 'leadership' without mandate and entirely unlawful) provided they can pull of a repeat of their last efforts by forwarding a Tory Party advocate as an alternative vote (I'm looking at you Nick Clegg)
Of course, they'll have to find a new major city to store their highly volatile WMD's in (justification to invade Iraq, and Afghanistan for some unexplained reason, on /suspicion/ of /developing/ them, but it's ok if 'we' have them because 'we' are the 'good guys' or perhaps goodfellas, would be a more appropriate term, given this government gangsterism) but not to worry, since Thatcher ransacked the North East ship building industry, I'm sure Newcastle or Sunderland will make an adequate replacement.
This short paragraph is then undersigned by an assortment of D-List nobodies who would likely fuck a pig on live TV if it meant getting a few bob in their back pocket and their name in print. To these feckless few who would sell their souls so cheap I say this; Mind your fucking business and fuck off back to whatever tax haven you crawled out from, no-one asked for your opinion, no-one cares about what you have to say. Every one of you is a washed up embarrassment unfit to kiss the feet of any Scot with sense and courage to vote a loud and proud 'YES' in the coming referendum. Bow your heads in shame!
You can read the original text in full (what there is of it) and a full list of ten-a-penny has-beens that signed it here.
For further reading, you might enjoy 'Another Angry Voices' take on this issue. He goes in to more detail and is considerably less sweary, check him out here
If any of you have ever had the misfortune of being involved with an abusive partner, you should recognise the pleading, manipulative tone of the letter instantly. It shifts the blame on to it's subject immediately with;
"The decision on whether to leave our share country is, of course, absolutely yours alone. Nevertheless, that decision will have a huge effect on all of us in the rest of the United Kingdom."
Leave or share? No-one is going anywhere? What does 'share' in this context, even mean? I'll tell you what it means and why it sounds so grammatically awkward, because it doesn't mean anything, it's simply there to try and make the reader feel guilty and selfish.
(Actually, re-reading that, they haven't even bothered to proof read it, surely that should say 'shared')
Furthermore, it's not a shared country, it's two separate countries forced in to a 'union' under colonial rule (Historically, the Scots have never wanted to be ruled by England and famously fought bravely against it)
"A huge effect" oh yeah, like what? Vague and menacing = propaganda
"The rest of the United Kingdom" What rest of the UK? Do you mean Northern Ireland (again, never wanted to be part of the UK and fought long and hard against colonial rule) Or do you mean Wales who have also voted for devolution (and again historically fought hard against English rule)
Or do you mean England (in your vile land grabbing colonial way that doesn't so much as acknowledge other cultures much less respect or tolerate them)? An England that didn't vote for a Conservative government either, an England that has staged repeated and massive protests against every action this government has made, and England that in almost every county there is talk of devolution and independence from Westminster tyranny and Monarchist cronyism? Not as united as you're pretending now, is it?
"We want to let you know how very much we value our bonds of citizenship with you, and to express our hope that you will vote to renew them. What unites us is much greater than what divides us."
WTF are 'bonds of citizenship'? Again vague as can be = propaganda. Not to mention the fact that 'bonds' in terms of relation to the state very much bring to mind 'shackles' or at very least being restricted, held back and restrained. "What unites us is much greater than what divides us" Now here I have to agree, both the English and Scots are united in having little to no desire to ruled by effete child-abusers whose only interest seems to be to squeeze every last drop of wealth and culture from us. To carve up our health service and welfare system (both once admired around the world). To finish the task of laying waste to anything North of London that that venomous (and now thankfully dead) harpy Margaret Thatcher (virtually universally hated, save for a few money minded fuck-wits) wreaked upon us. In that, yes, we are united. The only division amongst us truly is that which you yourselves have sewn with your vicious war against 'scroungers' and 'immigrants'. With this in mind, I suspect this government is in truth happy to see Scotland 'leave' with a few million proud and bold working class men and women banished from the electoral role, the Tory party might even win a majority vote (something they didn't achieve at the last election, making their current 'leadership' without mandate and entirely unlawful) provided they can pull of a repeat of their last efforts by forwarding a Tory Party advocate as an alternative vote (I'm looking at you Nick Clegg)
Of course, they'll have to find a new major city to store their highly volatile WMD's in (justification to invade Iraq, and Afghanistan for some unexplained reason, on /suspicion/ of /developing/ them, but it's ok if 'we' have them because 'we' are the 'good guys' or perhaps goodfellas, would be a more appropriate term, given this government gangsterism) but not to worry, since Thatcher ransacked the North East ship building industry, I'm sure Newcastle or Sunderland will make an adequate replacement.
This short paragraph is then undersigned by an assortment of D-List nobodies who would likely fuck a pig on live TV if it meant getting a few bob in their back pocket and their name in print. To these feckless few who would sell their souls so cheap I say this; Mind your fucking business and fuck off back to whatever tax haven you crawled out from, no-one asked for your opinion, no-one cares about what you have to say. Every one of you is a washed up embarrassment unfit to kiss the feet of any Scot with sense and courage to vote a loud and proud 'YES' in the coming referendum. Bow your heads in shame!
You can read the original text in full (what there is of it) and a full list of ten-a-penny has-beens that signed it here.
For further reading, you might enjoy 'Another Angry Voices' take on this issue. He goes in to more detail and is considerably less sweary, check him out here