Scotland the Brave

Spent an evening in a bar in Frankfurt during the Book Fair teasing a couple of Scots (obviously while posing as a German) about why they don't have a proper country of their own. It's the sort of conversation that would end up in a fight if they thought I was a fellow Brit, but only because of the built-in inferiority complex.
Given the chance to explain to a foreigner, most Scots genuinely want to make their position clear. On this basis the group of three lads in their 20s came out 2-1 for remaining within the Union (which is more or less what current opinion polls show), but only because they fear for the economic consequences. Every sentence was preceded by "I don't like the English but..." There is obviously a fear of the new and unknown, but if their economic future was secure it seems most Scots would vote for their own national sovereignty again. The problem is largely now self-esteem. Salmond has a battle on his hands but I get the feeling he enjoys a battle. What happens in Catalunya may be hugely important.
Meanwhile the British imperialists keep threatening Scots that they will need a passport to venture south of Berwick-upon-Tweed, totally ignoring the fact that UK already has a passport-free agreement with the Republic of Ireland. Of course, it would be difference of Scotland joined Schengen, which of course it won't while the rump Uk remains paranoid about its already permeable borders shielded by an army of bureaucracy and inefficient technology - always destined to be futile while the open frontier with Ireland (indispensable for peace in Northern Ireland) remains, though no doubt some Tories would like to have British officials guarding the 'frontier' at Dublin airport too.
Scotland can go it alone, as a member of the EU, and will be able to choose to adopt sterling or the euro as its currency at will. Again there is much misunderstanding about this: any country can effectively choose any currency it wants, with the proviso that it accepts that the issuing central bank, be it Bank of England or European Central Bank is in charge of its exchange rates. Montenegro, for example, split from Serbia in 2006 and adopted the euro even though it is as yet not even part of the EU.
Most of the English big sticks being waved are hollow. It's a question of whether or not 'Scotland the brave' is just a saying.