Q essay: The upside of Scotland's divisive identity debate
Scotland is voting on whether or not to end the 307-year-old union with the rest of the U.K.
In today's opening essay, Jian puts the spotlight on Scotland, where citizens are voting on whether or not to end their 307-year-old union with the rest of the United Kingdom. The high-stakes referendum will determine whether Scotland will stay part of the U.K., or part ways and become an independent state.
Pollsters have said this will be a close one. The build-up to this day has been rampant with bitter arguments, and heated discussions around the dinner table -- but the referendum has also pushed ordinary citizens to take a stance on public policy, societal values and other topics normally left to experts.
That kind of introspection may not be such a bad thing, argues Jian.