This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/20/world/europe/referendum-over-debate-on-independence-lingers-in-scottish-homes.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Debate on Independence Lingers in Scottish Homes | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| GLASGOW — Fiona Ivanski and her husband, Vincent, woke early the morning after the Scottish independence referendum, even though they had barely slept. Anxious to discover the verdict on Scotland’s future, they sat down on their living room couch at 6:08 a.m. Friday and turned on the television. | GLASGOW — Fiona Ivanski and her husband, Vincent, woke early the morning after the Scottish independence referendum, even though they had barely slept. Anxious to discover the verdict on Scotland’s future, they sat down on their living room couch at 6:08 a.m. Friday and turned on the television. |
| Dr. Ivanski’s face fell. “We didn’t make it,” she said. | Dr. Ivanski’s face fell. “We didn’t make it,” she said. |
| “Thank God,” her husband replied, smiling. | “Thank God,” her husband replied, smiling. |
| Dr. Ivanski, a veterinary surgeon, had voted for Scottish independence. Her husband, a retired police officer, had voted against it. She said she was devastated that her country did not grab this “once-in-lifetime opportunity to break free.” He said he was relieved to retain the safety of the status quo, including the pound and his pension. | Dr. Ivanski, a veterinary surgeon, had voted for Scottish independence. Her husband, a retired police officer, had voted against it. She said she was devastated that her country did not grab this “once-in-lifetime opportunity to break free.” He said he was relieved to retain the safety of the status quo, including the pound and his pension. |
| In homes across Scotland, a civil war of a very personal kind has been raging, pitting husband against wife, mother against son, and brother against brother. Like countless other families, the Ivanskis, married for 33 years, found themselves on opposite sides of a national rift opened by two years of intense debate about the most momentous decision their country has faced since joining the union with England over three centuries ago. | In homes across Scotland, a civil war of a very personal kind has been raging, pitting husband against wife, mother against son, and brother against brother. Like countless other families, the Ivanskis, married for 33 years, found themselves on opposite sides of a national rift opened by two years of intense debate about the most momentous decision their country has faced since joining the union with England over three centuries ago. |
| Fifty-five percent of Scots cast their ballots in favor of staying in that union. But 45 percent would rather leave. And after a high-energy pro-independence campaign that dominated cityscapes and was fueled by slogans of hope and positivity, the losing side may now collectively be feeling what Dr. Ivanski described as “a terrible emptiness.” | Fifty-five percent of Scots cast their ballots in favor of staying in that union. But 45 percent would rather leave. And after a high-energy pro-independence campaign that dominated cityscapes and was fueled by slogans of hope and positivity, the losing side may now collectively be feeling what Dr. Ivanski described as “a terrible emptiness.” |
| “We got so close, you could almost touch it,” Dr. Ivanski said. | “We got so close, you could almost touch it,” Dr. Ivanski said. |
| “There is a split, it’s there now,” Mr. Ivanski said, taking his wife’s hand. “People voted for yes and no in about equal measures. How do you move on from that?” | “There is a split, it’s there now,” Mr. Ivanski said, taking his wife’s hand. “People voted for yes and no in about equal measures. How do you move on from that?” |
| On the commuter train outside Glasgow, crestfallen faces could be seen side by side with those discussing in hushed voices their delight at the outcome. On George Square, for weeks the hub of local pro-independence campaigners, unionists and nationalists briefly faced off, forcing the police to separate the two sides. | |
| Politicians on both sides were quick to urge reconciliation. Before conceding defeat in the referendum and announcing that he would step down this year, Alex Salmond, the leader of the Scottish Parliament and the pro-independence Scottish National Party, changed his profile image on Twitter and Facebook from a “Yes” slogan to “One Scotland.” | Politicians on both sides were quick to urge reconciliation. Before conceding defeat in the referendum and announcing that he would step down this year, Alex Salmond, the leader of the Scottish Parliament and the pro-independence Scottish National Party, changed his profile image on Twitter and Facebook from a “Yes” slogan to “One Scotland.” |
| Even Queen Elizabeth II addressed the issue. “For many in Scotland and elsewhere today, there will be strong feelings and contrasting emotions — among family, friends and neighbors,” she said in a statement from her Scottish estate at Balmoral. “Now, as we move forward, we should remember that despite the range of views that have been expressed, we have in common an enduring love of Scotland, which is one of the things that helps to unite us all.” | Even Queen Elizabeth II addressed the issue. “For many in Scotland and elsewhere today, there will be strong feelings and contrasting emotions — among family, friends and neighbors,” she said in a statement from her Scottish estate at Balmoral. “Now, as we move forward, we should remember that despite the range of views that have been expressed, we have in common an enduring love of Scotland, which is one of the things that helps to unite us all.” |
| Halfway through the morning on Friday, Dr. Ivanski turned down the volume on her television. She paused, then smiled. “You have to take the positives from it, the turnout, the new powers they are promising,” she said. Her husband nodded. “This may be the beginning of something new anyway?” | Halfway through the morning on Friday, Dr. Ivanski turned down the volume on her television. She paused, then smiled. “You have to take the positives from it, the turnout, the new powers they are promising,” she said. Her husband nodded. “This may be the beginning of something new anyway?” |
| The day before, the Ivanskis had driven to the polling station together in their black Volkswagen — she trying one last time to persuade him to change his mind — he trying to change the subject. But they were able to agree at least on one thing. | The day before, the Ivanskis had driven to the polling station together in their black Volkswagen — she trying one last time to persuade him to change his mind — he trying to change the subject. But they were able to agree at least on one thing. |
| “Whatever the outcome, Scotland is better off for having had this referendum,” Mr. Ivanski said. “It’s been a kind of kick up the backside to Westminster, and in a way, I’m kind of proud and happy that it went this close. Scotland woke up and voiced an opinion.” | “Whatever the outcome, Scotland is better off for having had this referendum,” Mr. Ivanski said. “It’s been a kind of kick up the backside to Westminster, and in a way, I’m kind of proud and happy that it went this close. Scotland woke up and voiced an opinion.” |
| The debate had galvanized both of them early on. Mr. Ivanski, 56, had not voted since he was 18, having become disillusioned by politics. “But this was different,” he said. “This was a historic moment. It was too important to leave to other people to decide.” | The debate had galvanized both of them early on. Mr. Ivanski, 56, had not voted since he was 18, having become disillusioned by politics. “But this was different,” he said. “This was a historic moment. It was too important to leave to other people to decide.” |
| “I was worried,” he said, “worried about the economy, the currency and companies leaving Scotland.” | “I was worried,” he said, “worried about the economy, the currency and companies leaving Scotland.” |
| Dr. Ivanski, 54, had had her own doubts, but one day in July, house-sitting for a friend, she found the white paper on independence on a coffee table. She read the chapter on economics and was won over. | Dr. Ivanski, 54, had had her own doubts, but one day in July, house-sitting for a friend, she found the white paper on independence on a coffee table. She read the chapter on economics and was won over. |
| “Read this,” she told her husband later that night. He refused, and they had a fight. “Nothing too serious,” she said, “but basically that day we agreed to disagree.” | |
| Around them, similar debates were happening. | Around them, similar debates were happening. |
| Dr. Ivanski’s brother voted no, while her sister voted yes. Three couples the Ivanskis socialize with are split the same way they are. Their son, Adam, 25, a yes voter like his mother, had sparred so much with his father in the run-up to the vote that they ended up banning the subject. | Dr. Ivanski’s brother voted no, while her sister voted yes. Three couples the Ivanskis socialize with are split the same way they are. Their son, Adam, 25, a yes voter like his mother, had sparred so much with his father in the run-up to the vote that they ended up banning the subject. |
| “In the end we avoided the conversation and just talked about football,” Mr. Ivanski said, adding: “Luckily we support the same club.” | “In the end we avoided the conversation and just talked about football,” Mr. Ivanski said, adding: “Luckily we support the same club.” |
| At their home, outside Glasgow, both the “yes” and the “no” leaflets have gone into the trash. Not even Dr. Ivanski wants another referendum. | |
| “This was the best shot we had,” she said. | “This was the best shot we had,” she said. |
| Her son, Adam, disagreed. Pointing to a higher percentage of yes voters among young people, he said, “We will want another chance down the line.” | Her son, Adam, disagreed. Pointing to a higher percentage of yes voters among young people, he said, “We will want another chance down the line.” |