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Rosie Kane - MSP
Rosie is a member of the Scottish Socialist party and is based in Glasgow."The moment you ask why, who is responsible, what can be done about something - you are doing politics. We all do it - so take the power back because it belongs to the people."
My immediate response is the weather. Since that's not possible, I guess I would like to
change the Scottish Parliament. I would like to see the parliament unshackled from Westminster.
A parliament with full powers would allow us to control our own destiny. Control over immigration
would truly free us to deal with our population and skills shortage. We could then welcome those
new citizens who come to Scotland looking for a better life.
This would include the thousands of asylum seekers who are so brutally treated under the current
system at Westminster. It would also mean we could link with worker throughout the world in
a real effort to end exploitation and environmental destruction.
We would be able to say no to young people being sucked up as canon fodder by the army. We could
distance ourselves from war and destruction. Remove nuclear weapons from Scotland's shores as
a beginning to global disarmament.
I never wanted to become an MSP, it kind of happened. However, I entered politics through community activism. I cut my teeth on the M77 motorway protest. It was around the protest camp fire I found confidence, acceptance and courage. This prepared me for the world I now work in.
I received a letter from an elderly man whose father had died in the Second World War. For a number of very petty reasons his Dads name had never appeared on the local War Memorial despite promises that it would.
The man and his sisters were worried that they would never see his name on the stone. The letter really touched me. I managed to get some media coverage and asked a few questions of the relevant bodies.
A few weeks later I received a letter from the man telling me his father's name was now being added to the war dead from his town. It meant a great deal to them and their happiness was very contagious. It wasn't the hardest or biggest thing I have ever done but it was a lovely and very important result.
Their future. There is great deal of fear among young people. They see a world at war; environmental
disaster and so on. They may not articulate this but I was a youth worker, I also worked a child
line and this is my feeling.
The beauty of youth is the feeling you will live for ever, the sorrow is that there is not light
at the end of the tunnel. I hope that somehow we help young people to feel confident; to feel
safe and to feel part of society.
Asylum - I just wish there was more compassion in legislation. The wealthy northern hemisphere
countries have taken what they want from the rest of the world for centuries.
This has created war, divide and environmental destruction. It's time we paid our dues and opened
our hearts and borders, apologized for our wrongs and protected people from the hell that is
now their lives.
Young people - they are the future and deserve the best encouragement and assistance possible. Also I used to be one and I have a long memory.
Empathy and courage.
The woman who stands against the tide. Who struggles to bring up her children on a low income. The elderly woman who has lived through war, worked hard bringing up her family yet always has time for others. She is many women and I see them everyday, they inspire me.
The Whole of the Moon by The Waterboys. The lyrics speak for themselves. It was once
thrown at me as an insult by a not very kind person but when I listened to it I realized they
were right. It's about big dreams and huge imagination. Here's a wee bit of it.
I pictured a rainbow, you held it in your hand - I saw flashes you saw the
plans.
I wandered round in the world for years - you just stayed in your room.
I saw the crescent - you saw the whole of the moon.
I feel it describes the way my head works.
The Simpsons. Now and always. I could watch it wall to wall and have dedicated my bathroom at home to the cartoon. It is a truer picture of American life than Friends and the scripts are simply magic.
I have a temper but you will rarely see it. Last year I was in the Immigration Office with
a woman and her three children. We were led to believe they were in for a routine interview.
I was waiting for them when an immigration officer came out and told me she had had the mother
handcuffed.
I knew this would have been in front of the kids, and had sent them to a detention centre. I
was hurt and lost. I asked 'why?' she replied with a smile on her face that she had cut her
finger that morning and if she was having a bad day then everyone was having a bad day.
My hurt and lost feeling turned to anger. I had a full on row, I actually almost punched her.
I am not violent and have never tried to resolve anything with violence. But those wee children
and there mum were vulnerable and they deserved much better. I boiled for a while then took
a long walk to reflect and calm down. I will never forgot my anger that day - but I do not apologise
for it.
To find out more about The Scottish Socialist Party please see www.scottishsocialistparty.org
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