The Severn Bridge Rename Revisited : Why Symbols Are Important. As Is Welsh Nationalism

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

I have spoken about the proposed renaming of the Second Severn Bridge Crossing before in this blog but am brought to chat about again following an article in the Wales Art Review by editor and journalist Fedor Tot. In it he criticises what he sees as the arguments against the renaming on the basis of the symbolism of what the proposed change means.

So let's stop there for a moment. Symbols are important. Firstly the decision to call it the Prince Of Wales Bridge is a not the symbol of a thrusting nation. It's a symbol of a nation tied to a monarchical past. Also the manner of the decision, done in Roman pro consul style by blog villain and all round political slimeball Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns without any consultation with the Welsh people symbolises a contempt for legitimate opinion about the proposal.

In other words....who cares what the Welsh think?

His view is that this argument plays into the hands of "the worst elements of Nationalism" of thinking that "my country is better than your country". I would argue that Welsh nationalism is different because it never has said "my country is better than your country" it says, just like the equivalent Irish and Scots versions that "my country is different from your country and should be independent from it"

Unlike Mr Tot I do consider Plaid Cymru to be a Nationalist (ie my description of Nationalism mentioned above) party and as an Englishman and a member I've no problems with that. There may be issues as to the timescale but if Plaid Cymru is not the party for ultimate independence for Wales then it is nothing. It's a position that Leanne Wood holds and I would argue when it's previous leader Ieuan Wyn Jones seemingly muddied the waters on it then the party was damaged.

And with his comments with regard to Yugoslavia and it's turmoil when it spilt up well who is arguing for war? Independence without the vote of the people for it will mean failure. As Scotland showed you can have a referendum on a nation's future without bloodshed.

So there is nothing wrong with Welsh Nationalism, nor indeed with disagreeing with the symbolic effects of decisions made without consultation with the Welsh people. For people who believe in Welsh Nationalism know that whether "my country is better than you country" is unimportant. What's important is that independence means that every decision is made without having to look over a bridge (which will of course be renamed).

Until the next time.