The Scottish Independence Vote

(Photo/Courtesy of theguardian.com)

Doesn't matter if you took the high road or the low;

Scots, in a secession referendum, voted No.

Meaning that they chose to stick with England and with Wales

And the Northern Irish...  From the Highlands to the dales

85% of those who registered took part.

Independence voters wound up trailing from the start.

Polls showed things much tighter in the race, but I would guess

Scotsmen didn't advertise if they were voting Yes.

Either that or England's last ditch effort at the Scots

(Letting Edinburgh  be the one to call the shots

On some local issues) may have paid off dividends.

As for this American; I'm glad the two stayed friends.

Glad the kingdom's still united; that it didn't split.

World is busy fracturing and I've grown sick of it.

Scotland's voters proved beyond the shadow of a doubt

People of good will can find a way to work things out.

Sincerest Sympathies to NATO Leaders

 

 NATO member leaders, who are gathering in Wales,

Greeted news that France postponed 2 Russian warship sales.

France has been reluctant to give up the revenue

But, with Putin's actions, it's the safest thing to do.

NATO is unhappy about Russians in Ukraine;

Angry that their missiles killed a passenger airplane;

Skeptical of anything that Putin has to say;

Worried that they can't predict how far he plans to stray.

NATO also has to deal with the Islamic State;

(Savage terrorists whose ideology is hate)

Unsure about Syria and which guys they should shoot...

Crisis in Afghanistan - election's in dispute.

Certainly no shortage of the problems NATO faces.

They will be debating if there's need for forward bases.

NATO better start recruiting now to staff them all;

That's a lot of problem spots they're dealing with this Fall.