Take note of history

There is an old saying: ‘‘Be careful what you wish for’’, the implication being that the outcome may not be to one’s liking.

The saying comes to mind following Glenn McConnell’s injunction: Don’t be so scared of a little self-determination .Iamnot scared, but those seeking selfdetermination might like to be wary.

Many peoples in many countries have shrugged off, or fought off, the yoke and shackles of what they saw as paternalistic, colonialist rule. Unfortunately, and taking many African countries as examples, these efforts have failed, with the outcomes of war, famine and degradation of the economies.

British withdrawal in India left a well-oiled bureaucracy which has largely seized up since. Hopes of democratic government in numerous former colonies have failed through greed and internecine fighting.

Ukraine and the autonomous region of Tibet still struggle for selfdetermination from repressive regimes and suffer unpalatable consequences.

Self-determination doesn’t necessarily have to lead to such horrors, but it would be as well to take note of history and the selfdestructive potential of human frailty before making irreversible changes to society.

There is, too, one important point that has not yet been discussed: does self-determination also mean self-funding?

Allen Heath, Woburn