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Scottish village copes with heartbreak after defeat of independence referendum Scottish village copes with heartbreak after defeat of independence referendum
(about 1 hour later)
EILEAN IARMAIN, ISLE OF SKYE, SCOTLAND — The clouds settled low over the gold-green hills of this west coast isle for the first time in days on Friday, an apt metaphor for the glum mood weighing on many residents.  EILEAN IARMAIN, ISLE OF SKYE, Scotland — The clouds settled low over the gold-green hills of this west coast isle for the first time in days on Friday, an apt metaphor for the glum mood weighing on many residents. 
It wasn’t just Scotland’s rejection of independence from the United Kingdom that depressed them. It was that the western isles, a stronghold of Scottish nationalism, had also voted against the measure.It wasn’t just Scotland’s rejection of independence from the United Kingdom that depressed them. It was that the western isles, a stronghold of Scottish nationalism, had also voted against the measure.
Along this coast, emphatic “Yes” signs are posted at the end of gravel drives and spelled out in white rocks against the dark green hillside.Along this coast, emphatic “Yes” signs are posted at the end of gravel drives and spelled out in white rocks against the dark green hillside.
“I’m absolutely gutted,” said Mary Young, as she served up pints and venison burgers inside the village’s wood-paneled pub. “We’ve just been in tears.” “I’m absolutely gutted,” said Mary Young, as she served up pints and venison burgers inside the village’s wood-paneled pub. “We’ve just been in tears.” 
“It was Scotland’s chance to put the X in the right box,” she added.“It was Scotland’s chance to put the X in the right box,” she added.
That chance is now gone “for at least 30 years,” Young predicted. That chance is now gone “for at least 30 years,” Young predicted. 
John Kiplocks, a retired aircraft engineer sitting at the bar, found it difficult to address the topic. John Kiplocks, a retired aircraft engineer sitting at the bar, found it difficult to address the topic. 
“Can’t put it into words,” he said after a long pause, then added, his voice choking: “I’m led by my heart, not my head. And my heart is sad.”“Can’t put it into words,” he said after a long pause, then added, his voice choking: “I’m led by my heart, not my head. And my heart is sad.”
Kenny Scott, 57, summed up how he felt: “Shafted. Shocked. Stunned.”Kenny Scott, 57, summed up how he felt: “Shafted. Shocked. Stunned.”
“I’m really disappointed in my fellow Scotsmen,” he added. “It’s an opportunity of a lifetime. We should be grabbing it with our hands.”“I’m really disappointed in my fellow Scotsmen,” he added. “It’s an opportunity of a lifetime. We should be grabbing it with our hands.”
What would have changed, exactly, if independence had won? Scott said it was a matter of the current government not reflecting the values of the people.  What would have changed, exactly, if independence had won? Scott said it was a matter of the current government not reflecting the values of the people.  
“Scotch culture is entirely different than English culture,” he said. “We look out for our friends and relatives. We have a camaraderie with people around the world.”“Scotch culture is entirely different than English culture,” he said. “We look out for our friends and relatives. We have a camaraderie with people around the world.”
Westminster wants Scotland only for its natural resources, such as oil, Scott added. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they stripped us of our resources and then gave us our independence.”Westminster wants Scotland only for its natural resources, such as oil, Scott added. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they stripped us of our resources and then gave us our independence.”
The results of the vote were the talk of the village of Eilean Iarmain, a picturesque cluster of white-washed buildings nestled by a slate-blue bay. The results of the vote were the talk of the village of Eilean Iarmain, a picturesque cluster of white-washed buildings nestled by a slate-blue bay. 
“Quite a few people are feeling defeated today,” said Nicola Thomson, as she served up whiskey at the small tasting house. “Quite a few people are feeling defeated today,” said Nicola Thomson, as she served up whiskey at the small tasting house. 
Thomson, 33, had campaigned for independence, recording TV spots in Gaelic that were used in the community and participating in a local march. The anticipation in her family was so high that on Thursday night, her 8-year-old niece exclaimed, “It’s like Christmas, without Santa!”Thomson, 33, had campaigned for independence, recording TV spots in Gaelic that were used in the community and participating in a local march. The anticipation in her family was so high that on Thursday night, her 8-year-old niece exclaimed, “It’s like Christmas, without Santa!”
But at 5:20 a.m. Friday, her husband woke her up with the grim news. But at 5:20 a.m. Friday, her husband woke her up with the grim news. 
The day after was hard to get through. But the village still planned to go ahead with a referendum party it had set for that night, no matter the results. Despite the outcome, the debate had fueled a new level of civic engagement that Thomson said she had not seen before.  The day after was hard to get through. But the village still planned to go ahead with a referendum party it had set for that night, no matter the results. Despite the outcome, the debate had fueled a new level of civic engagement that Thomson said she had not seen before.  
“We’ll do what we do best,” she said. “We will wipe off the dust and move on.”“We’ll do what we do best,” she said. “We will wipe off the dust and move on.”