Scotland, listen to Hillary.

I don't like America. They're greedy, warmongering capitalists who will do anything to dominate the world whatever the cost. At least that is what it used to be like. Since Obama came into power, becoming the first black President of the United States, and we saw a change come to America. Obama has been a huge contrast to the Republican government that preceded him. Led by George W Bush, America invaded a middle eastern nation for no real reason and have yet to apologise for their actions. He took us to war in Afghanistan and is one of the leading figures in the huge rise in Islamophobia in the past ten years (of course Blair doesn't get off unscaved). Under Obama, America is set to leave Afghanistan next year, has legalised gay marriage in various states and is set to roll out free health care across the country. This, to Republican's despair, has caused America's reputation as the GLOBAL SUPERPOWER to fall by the wayside a little and America now has a softer look on the world.

This week parts of Iraq were invaded by Islamists who have taken control of the countries second largest city, Mosul. Since then, eyes have been on America (who invaded Iraq and started a war to "liberate" the Iraqi people from an Islamist dictatorship) to see whether or not they would take military action against the terrorist group. Obama made a statement yesterday telling the world that American troops will not be entering Iraq as he felt that this was a conflict that had to be sorted amongst themselves. I sighed a sigh of relief when I watched him make his statement and thought about how different it could have been if Romney had been elected in his place in the last election.

On Thursday's Newsnight, Hillary Clinton took part in a 20 minute interview with Jeremy Paxman where she discussed the situation in Iraq and whether or not she will run for President in the next election. At a point in the interview, Paxman brought up the issue of Scottish Independence, to this she said she was against the idea of it. Naturally, she took J K Rowling's

place as the SNP's most hated woman of the week but surely her statement is sending alarm bells ringing throughout the whole of the SNP's agenda.



Clinton is arguably the most powerful woman in the world, she was in charge of foreign policy in America for four years - she knows her stuff! To me, the only politicians in the world who think independence is a good idea is the SNP. It seems to be becoming more and more apparent that the SNP's manifesto is a clumsy one based on grudges rather than politics. More and more great powers are saying this is a bad idea, why not listen?

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"The Sun is an unashamedly positive celebration of Englishness"

Ed Miliband has apologised for any offence caused by a picture released of him with a free copy of the Sun Newspaper. The picture was viewed as controversial because the Sun is #1 a right-leaning newspaper and #2 because many Labour supporters condemn the paper for its involvement in the Hillsborough disaster coverage. As a Labour member, I was slightly disgruntled to see Mr Miliband appearing with my most hated paper (yes, more than the Daily Mail) but I was more annoyed with the statement made by the Sun in response to the event.

The issue in question is the free copy of the Sun released to celebrate England's participation in Brazil's World Cup. The issue was described by the Sun as being:

"An unashamedly positive celebration of Englishness" 

which made me rock my head in a disapproving manner. As a Scottish/British who has lived in England for most of my life, I have a very balanced view (I like to think) on the England vs Scotland rivalry. This is the main reason I support 'Better Together' and condemn the SNP and why I really hate Thatcher and the England football team. To me, the patriotic England issue (which all three of the main parties' leaders were photographed with) was in bad taste considering we are less than 100 days away from the Scottish Referendum. 

Here is why:

When I said I hated the England football team, I didn't mean the likes of the 11 players who kick the ball around and disappoint everyone every four years by being utterly CRAP. These are the men my brother has looked up to since he was 6 years old and, for a time, I did too. What I mean is THE FANS. English "yob" football culture is one of the most exhausting things I have ever witnessed. The drunken bias and bitterness that seeps from football fans every 2 years (counting the Euro) is just not necessary. I was at Soccer Aid on Sunday and the hatred towards Edgar Davids after he fouled Johnny Wilkes was disgusting - it actually ruined the game for me. He was booed every time he touched the ball and, to be honest, that is not what a charity event for Unicef should be about. If it had happened the other way round, most certainly the England fans would have been silent. It isn't just me who is irritated by this, and no doubt many more find it more irritating than I do.

Considering the SNP are such an influence on the Scottish people and it is very plausible that Scotland will say "yes" to independence (which, as far as I know, is something the Government and EU does not want to happen), you would expect for English bias to be turned down a notch until September in the media. 

It is unfortunate that the World Cup and Scottish Referendum are months apart and I understand that the English do want to be patriotic - I know if Scotland were in the World Cup there would be ten times the party but Scotland leaving the U.K seems very likely to me and personally I think more needs to be done to turn people against it. If Scotland votes "no", which it is still probable that they will do, there will be a huge debate sparked about why Scotland is so unhappy within the United Kingdom and I believe that English bias in the media is one of the main problems.

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Leave JK Rowling alone.

98 days until the Scottish referendum, will it go ahead or won't it? Are we reaching our final days as the "Great Britain" we know and hold dear? Nobody knows. SNP stickers are popping up all over Twitter making it seem that the party had lots of support (although by that logic the rest of Twitter is against it) including celebrities and journalists (many of whom are not Scottish/ or live in Scotland). The "Better Together" campaign, less so on Twitter although they too have had a lot of support from onlooking celebrities.

One of the celebrities is writer J K Rowling who recently came out in support of the "No" campaign by giving them £1million. This has sparked outrage amongst SNP supporters who think she needs to shut up. Granted, Rowling is only 1/4 Scottish and so you could argue that her view is biased and invalid but she is a highly intelligent woman who has made millions through the Harry Potter franchise, a franchise that has brought happiness to millions all over the world. Despite her wealth, Rowling is a long running Labour Party supporter and regularly donates to charities and good causes. This is why SNP supporter's reactions sadden me deeply.

Throughout the day, many Scots have called J K Rowling a Tory which is unfair and completely wrong. As a Scottish person, I get deeply offended by generalisations made and satire found in the Scottish people -"Monopoly money" is a term I particularly hate. I do agree with the view that the English (overall) underestimate and undermine the Scottish (and Welsh) people subconsciously. The misconception that "English" and "British" are synonyms, the change in the media of Andy Murray being "British" or "Scottish" depending on whether or not he won the final of a competition or not. The undermining of Scottish sport in general. I get it and I hate it. Despite this, I am not a suspect of using double standards. Just because Scots are met with prejudice by some of the English doesn't mean we should subject the English to the same kind of prejudices. Just because Rowling is English does not mean she is a Conservative. Just because she dares have an opinion does not mean she is a bitch or any less of a successful human being.

People are rich and sometimes they give to needy causes. Yes, she could have given to food banks or to the poor but she didn't, she gave to the "No" campaign and in my opinion that money will go to good use. She is just as entitled to have a voice and an opinion as you or I - so let her. Just because Thatcher was a bitch doesn't mean that every successful woman in England is too!

Here is her statement.
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