In the late 1970s, as Solidarity came into being, the Polish protesters demanding freedom chanted, "żeby Polska była Polską" - let Poland be Poland.
Poland was partitioned three times in the 18th century and twice during the Second World War. But the Poles never gave up. They didn't want to live in Russian Poland, German Poland, Austrian Poland or Soviet Poland. They wanted their own Poland, run by democratically elected Poles.
Of course, the circumstances of Scotland in 2014 are very different. We are fortunate to live in a democracy which gives Scots the opportunity to vote in an independence referendum - something so far denied to our European neighbours, the Basques and the Catalonians, let alone the likes of Kurds and Tibetans.
Still, the sentiments of that stirring Polish call to action can be applied to Scotland this month. It's time to let Scotland be Scotland.
In 1707, Scotland disappeared from international consciousness as well as the maps of the world. Despite the Poles' sensitivity to matters of nationality, I skimmed through an encyclopaedia in Warsaw and saw Adam Smith described as 'Anglik'. On the television news from Syria, a man calls on "the British to do more…." Well, that's how the voiceover translates his statement. The word he actually uses, clearly audible, is "Inglézi". Nationhood involves more than having an international football team.
Scots now have a chance to address this. As Winnie Ewing famously cried in the 1960s. "Stop the world! Scotland wants to get on."
Can anyone doubt the liberating energy Scotland would reap with release from the life draining grip of the London financial, cultural and political establishment? And oh, the joy of being spared Mr Osborne's scolding, Mr Cameron's love-bombing and Mr Geldof's patronising bon mots.
Better Together tries to scare Scots about the uncertainties of independence. What about the certainties we've experienced as part of the Union? The clearances, de-industrialisation, Thatcherism, the worst housing and health in Western Europe. Tens of millions forced to emigrate. In 1801, one in six of the population of the UK lived in Scotland. Now it's one in 12. Even today, in an oil-rich land, one million Scots live in poverty.
It's a No vote that will bring uncertainty. Five more years of the Tories? A hung parliament with Mr Clegg deciding which brand of neo-thatcherism is to be inflicted on Scotland? Exit from the EU? The winding-up of Barnett? The end of the NHS? Heavens, the worst of the UK's austerity cuts haven't even kicked in yet.
Vague promises are floated about more devolution for Holyrood. But Scottish Labour's plans for more income tax powers are knocked down by London HQ. Its 'social justice' spokesperson justifies Tory cuts. Then good old blustering Boris spills the beans: why on earth would we give the Scots even more powers?
It's a Yes vote that brings certainty, the certainty of a sovereign parliament in Edinburgh, democratically elected by Scots. Tory governments no more. Thatcherism no more. Nuclear weapons no more. Poll tax no more. Privatisation no more. Illegal wars no more. Bedroom tax no more. All certainties.
Unionists even ask us to believe there's nothing all that distinctive about being Scottish. They claim Scottish urban dwellers have more in common with city residents in England than they do with the inhabitants of rural Scotland.
Nonsense. I know London and Manchester very well indeed. I've yet to meet a native of these cities who was still in primary school aged twelve, sat a higher, served on a jury of fifteen, says 'scunner' or 'mawkit' (let alone speaks gaelic) and knows whether Ullapool is on the east or the west coast (or isn't it in the Lake District?)
I know football-crazy fans in these cities too. Not a single one can name the eleven that defeated England at Wembley in 1967. Or, even more damning, the result of our 1971 League Cup final!
The English, country dwellers and city residents, election results show, are increasingly comfortable with the dismantling of the welfare state, privatisation of the public sector, departure from the EU and acceptance of massive inequality. They've been persuaded there is no alternative to an economics based on 'devil take the hindmost' selfishness. As Billy Bragg wrote last week in this newspaper, the English would benefit from the example of another way forward.
Mrs Thatcher famously invited those not with her to 'U-turn'. That's precisely what the vote on 18 September enables Scots to do. To turn away from her legacy. To take control of their own destiny. To fashion a Scotland that reflects the values of its people. Only independence can achieve that.
It's time to let Scotland be Scotland. We may not get another chance.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article