6th July 2007
Voices From History
Beth yw cenedl? (What is a nation?) asked Waldo whose other famous poem Cymru’n Un gave us the name of the historic programme my party will debate tommorow. Waldo, who came to Plaid, like so many others, via pacifism and the ILP, gave that most evocative, almost mystical answer: cadw ty mewn cwmwl tystion (keeping a house in a cloud of witnesses). This is what early Christians called the “fellowship of the saints”.
Plaid Cymru has its ’saints’ who are sadly no longer with us - all those who worked so tirelessly who never saw what we may yet see: Plaid Cymru ministers in a Welsh Government and a Parliament for Wales. But I am sure their spirits will be felt tomorrow in the Pafiliwn when we gather as a party in Pontrhydfendigaid. Who knows what they might have said, but this is what two of our greatest figures did say on the proposition on which we must now decide:
“Many who used to think of Wales as a British region, and of themselves as British Labour, think now of Wales as their nation, as their country, and of themselves as Welsh. If this change develops then it is bad news for the British Government and the British Labour Party, for it may presage a fusion of the national and the labour movement in Wales into such a powerful force that a free and just Wales may emerge”
Gwynfor Evans, 1980
“The possibility exists of a radical alliance between the left and the national movement. The Left must recognise the radical potential of the submerged nations of Europe and we must recognise that the case for national freedom is to transform societies according to the principle of community socialism.”
Phil Williams, 1982
“Within the Party of Wales there is a recurring debate as to whether an essential prerequisite for self-government is that Plaid Cymru replaces the Labour Party as the mainstream, dominant party in Wales. Alternatively, it is possible for a single-minded and uncompromising Plaid Cymru to create the conditions whereby other parties deliver self-government, albeit step-by-step and with some reluctance. Progress over the past forty years, and especially the establishment of the National Assembly, point to the latter strategy.”
Phil Williams, 2003
2 Responses to “Voices From History”
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alanindyfed says:
July 6th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
It is indeed to be regretted that the former loyal and statesmanlike guardians of the party and the nation are not with us to witness the fruits of their hard-fought struggles. It seems that Gwynfor’s prophetic remarks are about to become manifest as nationalist and grass-roots socialist forces unite.
The men and woman of yesterday are becoming increasingly isolated from the mainstream of Welsh politics. This is exemplified by a report on Radio Wales that Lord Neil Kinnock received a standing ovation at the Labour conference …… by a grand total of seven supporters.
It is our duty to play our part in propelling the momentum for change to its natural conclusion, so that we can bequeath to our children a free and self-confident nation within our own lifetimes, and you will note I have young children and that I am now well into my sixties. I look forward with great anticipation to that day.
alanindyfed.blogspot.com
Blog Dogfael - Hanes ym Mhontrhydfendigaid says:
July 10th, 2007 at 12:19 am
[...] on the shoulder’ am sylwadau Adam Price. Cafwyd rhagflas ohonynt ar ei flog o dan y teitl Voices from history. Beth yw cenedl? asked Waldo whose other famous poem Cymru’n Un gave us the name of the historic [...]