The Scots Independent Newspaper Online

THAT MAN AGAIN

Alastair MacIntyre writes a weekly newsletter to accompany Electric Scotland and last week he was reporting on a survey that he has carried out among readers. One of the questions he was asked was why he supported only the Scottish national party.

Quite rightly, Alastair pointed out that he does not support the SNP as such, but when he asked all Scotland’s political parties (including the SNP) if they would like to contribute he was turned down by them all.

Incredible! It was only the Scots Independent newspaper which pushed on with his offer, and that’s why I’m typing this out right now.

What an opportunity has been missed! I would love to hear the Conservative, Labour and LibDem arguments against independence.

For one thing, if you belong to any of the equivalent parties in any other country, you are all for your country’s independence. Why are Labour, Tories and LibDems such an aberration in Scotland?

Even their own philosophies and history should lead them in the direction of independence. It was the Tory party after all which gave independence to so many African countries in the late fifties and sixties, and they were far less well equipped for it than Scotland.

Conservatives believe in people standing on their own two feet and being responsible for their own decisions. But not in Scotland, where they don’t think the Scots (unlike the Irish, Norwegians, Icelanders etc) are capable of standing on their own two feet. Or of being responsible.

The Labour party too gave independence to India and Pakistan, and its members are often seen on marches proclaiming that freedom is essential to a country – but not for Scotland. Labour is also supposed to be in favour of the brotherhood of man – except when it comes to London rule of Scotland, where Big Brotherhood seems to be their basic belief.

Scottish Labour activists are normally very keen nuclear disarmament, yet seem unable to see that as a part of Britain with its delusions of grandeur they are on a complete loser, while as part of an independent Scotland they would automatically live in a country free of nuclear weapons.

As for the LibDems, well, once they were in favour of home rule, but now they seem largely to have lost any radicalism and are content to share power in a parliament trapped by its inability to control its own economy.

Let’s hope the great debate can be started again soon, wherever it takes place.

DREAMING OF ICELAND

I’ve always had a soft spot for Magnus Magnusson ever since some thirty years ago I heard him arguing the Iceland case in the cod wars with Britain. He put it very succinctly when he said that he had no problems at all with small countries controlling their own resources, especially when those were of great economic importance to them.

Now his daughter Sally has written a most marvellous book entitled ‘Dreaming of Iceland’.

It starts off as a quest into her family history to discover the truths and separate them from the myths of family legend. But the book is much, much more than that.

Beautifully written, she takes you through the Icelandic landscape, and before you know it you are learning a fantastic amount about Iceland’s history. It is a delightful mix of light humour, memoir, father/daughter relationship, family research, and facts and figures about Iceland.

Anyone who is Scottish will make all sorts of contrasts and comparisons with our own country, as Sally herself does.

Iceland is a country which received its first settlers between the years 860 and 874. The latter year is its official founding date.

It had the world’s oldest parliament, founded in the tenth century.

Its climate is generally awful, it has suffered from appalling natural disasters and for many centuries Icelanders lived in grinding poverty.

It didn’t help that it was ruled by Norway from 1262 and by Denmark from 1380.

In 1874 its capital Reykjavik had a population of about 2,000. That’s right, a mere two thousand people, a century after Edinburgh had been named the ‘Athens of the North’.

Worse: ‘Most trade was in the fists of Danish merchants.’

Sally again: ‘It was only towards the middle of the nineteenth century that Icelandic scholars and poets began the long political struggle to win back autonomy.’

In 1874 the Danish king Christian IX came to visit Iceland. As Sally puts it:
‘Christian IX was the first Danish monarch ever to set foot on Icelandic soil. He was there to deliver a constitution to his restless Icelandic subjects, who were starting to agitate for home rule after nearly five centuries under Copenhagen’s rule.’

Not all Icelanders were pleased, however, believing that this so-called gift of a constitution was in fact theirs by right, and anyway it didn’t go nearly far enough.

Indeed, in a speech greeting Christian to Iceland, he was formally welcomed to ‘this former seat of freedom and heroism’.

But the process had been set in motion. Home rule was expanded in 1904 after a re-writing of the constitution in 1903.

In 1918 the Act of Union (!) recognised Iceland as a fully sovereign state united with Denmark under a common king – the so-called personal union with Denmark. Under this, Denmark would represent Iceland’s foreign affairs and defence interests. This Act would be up for revision in 1940 and could revoked three years later if an agreement was not reached.

But World War II intervened and after a plebiscite Iceland became an independent republic on 17 June 1944. [Thanks to Wikipedia for these details.]

There’s lots more, but that will have to wait for another issue.

ARGUMENTS FOR INDEPENDENCE (2)

Last month I tried to show that as far as modern European states are concerned, independence is absolutely normal, whether for large or small. The critical factor is whether a population sees itself as a nation.

Now I have heard lots of arguments for Scottish independence. Mostly they are economic, political, and democratic, with very good reason, for these are vital strands in the struggle for independence.

But I don’t think I have ever heard anyone make what is for me perhaps THE most important argument for independence, and that is the PSYCHOLOGICAL argument.

Look at it this way. I often think that there are many similarities between a country (i.e. a mass of people living individual lives) and the individual person him- or herself.

Everyone knows that when talking to a child (or an adult, for that matter) reasonable praise is essential to build confidence. Constant criticism will inflict great damage and produce an insecure, unhappy and sometimes an irrationally aggressive individual.

(It’s a sad fact that many Scottish parents seem never to have learned that simple fact of life.)

And of course the implications are even worse for a country. To read the Scotsman newspaper or some of the comments from the London media, you would almost think that the Scots are inferior to the rest of humankind. We could never run our own affairs, and even if we did have the capacity, what is there in Scotland anyway? There’s nothing here.

Moreover, the story goes that we are scroungers of the first order, living off the wealth of England and its south-east. This was the common story, generally accepted, during the twentieth century.
Mrs Thatcher actually said that she recognised that the Scots were subsidised but she didn’t let on about that when speaking to an English audience – so we ended up not only as scroungers but we also connived in her deceit of English audiences. Now there’s a pretty thought!

It is hardly surprising that this constant undermining of Scots and Scotland has undermined our country and the confidence of its people. Many actually do believe that we are inferior and could not manage without England. And so we bump along, despite our incredible immense potential.

What a contrast with other small independent countries of northern Europe. Just as people say (truly) that you can feel the energy when you set foot in the USA, so you can feel the quiet self-confidence when you visit Ireland, or Norway or Sweden.

So what we need is the national equivalent of the sensible, sane individual at peace with him- or herself and happy with their place in the family and wider community; no delusions of grandeur (a danger of bullies and larger states) but a willingness to be a state in the great community of nations and to contribute and help with others to build a better world.

ANOTHER POINT, ALEX

Rich Person It was good to hear Alex Salmond talking recently about the ‘arc of prosperity’ of the small countries all around Scotland.

This arc consists of the very prosperous countries of Ireland to our south-west, Iceland to our north-west and Norway to our east. They are now among the most successful countries in the world. They are all also considerably smaller (or much smaller, in Iceland’s case) than Scotland.

But apart from their prosperity, another very important (for Scotland) should be emphasised.

Not only are these countries now very successful and rich, one hundred years ago they were all very poor indeed. What a contrast a century can make!

And of course – it hardly needs pointing out – just one hundred years ago, they had all been ruled by other larger and more powerful countries for centuries.

Makes you think! (I hope!)

ONE LAST THING

I read somewhere recently a report that the Scottish National Party is going to base its election campaign on personal attacks on the First Minister.

I hope this report is untrue. The SNP is doing very well at the moment by concentrating on issues and by making international comparisons.

Now is the time for inspiration, not personal attacks.

Now in its seventh year, this week marks the addition of over 100 new dates since June 2006. This brings the total time-line to over 1300 dates and we are grateful to Alistair McIntyre for his comment in last week’s Electric Scotland Weekly Newsletter –

“They [The Flag] probably have the most comprehensive time line of Scottish history.”

25 August 1270
King Louis IX of France died in Tunis while leading a Crusade – his Scottish contingent was led by the Earl of Atholl.

25 August 1787
Robert Burns, accompanied by his friend William Nicol, classical master in the High School of Edinburgh, set out from Edinburgh on His Highland Tour, visiting histories sites and battlefields.

25 August 1888
Scottish Labour Party (1888-1893) was inaugurated, with Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham as President and James Keir Hardie as Secretary, in Glasgow.

‘Resolved that its object be to educate the people politically, and to secure the return to Parliament and all local bodies of members pledged to its programme.”

25 August 1942
Prince George, Duke of Kent, younger brother of King George VI, died on active service when his Sunderland flying boat crashed at Eagles Rock near Dunbeath, Caithness, en route to Iceland.

25 August 2005
The gas supply company Transco was fined a record £15 million after being convicted of gross and numerous safety breaches which led to the deaths of a family of four in an explosion at Larkhall, Lanarkshire. The Findlay family died as a result of an explosion caused by a leak from a severely corroded gas main outside their home.

27 August 1745
The Appin Regiment commanded by Charles Stewart of Ardshiel, Tearlach Mòr, and the MacDonalds of Glencoe under Alexander MacDonald of Glencoe joined the Jacobite army at Aberchalder, a township at the North end of Loch Oich, bringing the total Jacobite strength up to some two thousand.

27 August 2003
A painting worth £37 million was stolen from Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfriesshire, home to the Duke of Buccleuch. Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Madonna with the Yarnwinder’ had been in the Buccleuch family for over 200 years. The da Vinci masterpiece, painted in 1501, was listed in 2005 as one of the FBI’s top ‘most wanted’ missing works of art.

29 August 1513
A Scottish army, led by James IV, King of Scots, which had invaded England on behalf of France, accepted the surrender of Norham Castle on the Tweed.

31 August 2005
A winter landscape, ‘Through the Calm and Frosty Air’, by Joseph Farquharson, Laird of Finzean, Aberdeenshire, fetched £310,400 at auction – a record for the artist. The painting was bought by a private collector at the Sotheby’s sale of Scottish pictures at the Gleneagles Hotel, The price eclipsed the previous best for a Farquharson, £264,000 at Gleneagles in 2004 for ‘On a Clear Eve, When the November Sky Grew Red’.

31 August 2005
After winning three qualifying games, 18-year- old Dunblane tennis player Andrew Murray won his first-ever match in the US Open by defeating Romanian Andrei Pavel in five sets.

See Dates in History in our Features Section

SCOTTISH QUOTATIONS

I like to have quotations ready for every occasions - they give one's ideas so pat and save one the trouble of finding expression adequate to one's feeling.

Robert Burns

We continue our new Feature in this section of the Flag - Scottish Quotations - statements in prose and verse which reflect all aspects of Scottish life and outlook from the 13^th century to the present day. New quotes added every week. The quotations are not restricted to native Scots but include observations from abroad which help us, in the words of our National Bard, Robert Burns, "To see oursels as others see us"

John Buchan, 1^st Baron Tweedsmuir of Enfield (1875-1940)

It’s a great life if you don’t weaken.

(1919)

I believe that every Scotsman should be a Scottish nationalist. If it could be proved that a separate Scottish Parliament were desirable, that is to say that the merits were greater than the disadvantages, Scotsmen should support it. I would go further. Even if it were not proved desirable, if it could be proved desirable by any substantial majority of the Scottish people, then Scotland should be allowed to make the decision.

(Speech in House of Commons, Westminster, England 1932)

Hugh MacDiarmid (Christopher Murray Grieve) (1892-1978)

It is time we in Scotland put England in its proper place and instead of leaning on England and taking inspiration from her, we should lean and turn to Europe, for it is there our future prosperity lies.

F Marian McNeill (1885-1973)

Of course one doesn’t deliberately set about being a Scot, or an Englishman, or any other national. That would simply lead to eccentricity. If one is content to be oneself, one’s nationality will make itself felt unobtrusively, like the scent of a flower. Just as a flower draws its sustenance both from the soil from which it has sprung and from the sun and air in which it unfolds, so the human being in relation to the civilization and traditions of his own country and those of the wider world that gradually opens up to him.

(The Scots Cellar – Its Traditions and Lore 1956)

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)

Oh What a tangled web we weave,
When first we practise to deceive.

(Marmion Canto VI Stanza 17, 1808)

See Scottish Quotations in our Features Section

SING A SANG AT LEAST
(compiled by Peter D Wright)

"That I for poor auld Scotland's sake
Some useful plan or book could make
Or sing a sang at least ........"

- Robert Burns

COD LIVER OIL AND THE ORANGE JUICE
Carl MacDougall/ Ron Clark
Hamish Imlach

Chorus:
Oh, oh, Glory Hallelujah,
Cod Liver Oil and the Orange Juice.

Oot o the East there cam a hard man.
A’, A’, the way frae Brigton.

He went intae a pub an he cam oot paralytic.
Aw haw, V. P. an cider.

‘Does this bus go tae the Denny Palais,
Aw haw, I’m lookin for a lumber,’

In the Palais he met Hairy Mary,
Aw haw, the flo’er o the Calton.

He says tae her : ‘Hey hen are ye dancing?’
‘Naw, naw, it’s just the way ah’m staunin.’

He says tae her : ‘Ye’re wan in a million.’
‘Aw, haw so’s yer chances.’

‘Can I run ye hame, I’ve gpt a pair o sannies.’
‘Aw haw, ye’re helluva funny.’

Up the back close an doon the dunny.
Naw, naw, it wisna for the first time.

Her mammy came oot tae go tae the didgy.
Aw haw, he buggered aff sharpish.

She tried tae find the hard man. He’d jined the Foreign Legion;
Aw haw, Sahara an the camels.

So Hairy Mary had a little baby.
Aw haw, its faither’s in the Airmy.

Footnote: A song long associated with the late, great Hamish Imlach (1940 - 1996), whose ‘evil’ laugh added immensely to the number. His recording of ‘Cod Liver Oil’ became the most requested song on British forces Radio. Hamish was probably the most popular and best loved singer/entertainer during the Scottish folk Revival. He is sadly missed.

See the SING A SANG AT LEAST in our features section

A BURNS COLLECTION

For your next Burns Supper
Compiled by Peter D Wright

It is never to early to plan ahead for your next, or indeed first, Burns Supper, and the intention of this new feature is to give you a ready accessible collection of the National Bard’s material for the 25^th of January each year. Over the next few months we will give you a variety of items by Robert Burns, which should prove useful to you.

Interest in the life and work of Robert Burns has never faltered and, indeed, as we now approach the 250^th anniversary of his birth in 2009, this should grow apace. He holds a special place in the hearts of his countrymen and his appeal spans the continents. A genius, he spoke for his people and captured their hopes and fears, their joys and sorrows, in poetry and song. The Flag collection will reflect this.

WEEK TWO

No Burns Supper would be complete without the Haggis being addressed with Robert Burns ‘To A Haggis’. The poem was composed within two weeks of the poet’s arrival in Edinburgh, and was printed in the pages of the ‘Caledonian Mercury’ on 20 December 1786. It was produced, apparently extempore, at a dinner held at the Castlehill home of merchant Andrew Bruce.

TO A HAGGIS

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great Chieftan o' the Puddin-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang's my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o' need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see Rustic-labour dight,
An' cut you up wi' ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!

Then, horn for horn they stretch an' strive,
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
Bethankit hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout,
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi' perfect sconner,
Looks down wi' sneering, scornful' view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his rtrash,
As feckless as a wither'd rash,
His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;
Thro' bluidy flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll mak it whissle;
An' legs, an' arms, an' heads will sned,
Like taps o' thrissle.

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll mak it whissle;
An' legs, an' arms, an' heads will sned,
Like taps o' thrissle.

Ye Pow's wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae shinking ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if you wish her gratefu' pray'r,
Gie her a Haggis!

BILL O FARE

A suggested menu or Bill o Fare for your Burns Supper

SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS

Wallace Statue, Aberdeen

This weekend sees two major celebrations of Scotland’s greatest warrior hero, Sir William Wallace, who was brutally murdered 701 years ago by King Edward I of England. The Society of William Wallace will hold their annual Wallace Day on Saturday 26 August 2006 at Elderslie, the birth-place of the Guardian of Scotland. As in past years those wishing to join the parade are requested to assemble at 2pm in the Ludovic Square, Johnstone, for a 2.30pm march-off to the Wallace Monument, Elderslie, where a wreath-layng and speeches will take place. Among the speakers should be Bill Speirs, former General secretary of the STUC. The Elderslie Village Hall, Glenpatrick Road, will be open from 12 noon for the usual tearoom, bar and stalls.

On Sunday Wallace celebration moves north to Aberdeen where the Wallace 700 Association, a non-political charitable body, will once again pay tribute to Sir William Wallace at his magnificent statue at Rosemount, involving all age groups. A full three hour programme will start and finish with piping. A Piper’s Vigil will start at 12.30pm and the event will conclude with Portlethan and Kintore Pipe Bands beating retreat. In between primary school pupils will enact the crowning of Robert I, King of Scots, 700 years ago, and a pageant of six scenes on the life and death of Sir William Wallace. A Historic Procession will take place at 1.40pm through the city centre and the Wallace Address will be given by J Derrick McClure of Aberdeen University following a wreath-laying ceremony led by Lord Provost John Reynolds of the City of Aberdeen.

Through his valour Sir William Wallace inspired Scots of his day to resist English domination and he has continued to inspire Scots over the centuries. Our National bard, Robert Burns, spoke for many when he wrote to Dr Moore –

‘The story of Wallace poured a tide of Scottish prejudice into my veins which will boil along there until he flood-gates of life shut in eternal rest.’

From thoughts of a martial hero, next week we will look at a Flower & Food Festival which over 18 years has become one of the best in Scotland – the three day Dundee Festival. The annual show starts on Friday 1 September (11am- 8pm), runs through Saturday 2 September (10am – 6pm) and concludes on Sunday 3 September (10am – 5,30pm), in the Camperdown Country Park. Flower Shows, large and small, will dominate the coming weeks and act as a reminder that the year is wearing on. So our recipe this week is another which acts as a reminder of summer time when the nights have drawn in – Rhubarb and Ginger Jam.

Rhubarb and Ginger Jam

Ingredients: 2 lb rhubarb; 2 lb sugar; 1 tbsp ground ginger; grated rind and juice of 2 lemons; 1/8 pt of water

Method: Chop the rhubarb into one inch lengths, discarding any tough or stringy pieces. Put into pan with the lemon juice, ginger and water. Heat slowly until mixture softens then add the sugar and bring slowly to the boil. Check frequently by spooning a little of the mixture onto a cold plate until it sets. Spoon into prepared jars, seal and label.

See our Scottish Food, Traditions and Customs in our Features section

A KIST O FERLIES
A Keek at the Guid Scots Tung

By Peter & Marilyn Wright
(Note: All words underlined in this section are RealAudio links)

forefowk: ancestors
forenent: facing; in front of; opposite
hership: famine; ruin
maist: most
syver: a drain; a gutter; a sink

Aye reddin the fire: Always stirring up trouble

Auld Scotland's howes, and Scotland's knowes
And Scotland's hills for me;
I'll drink a cup to Scotland yet,
Wi' a' the honours three.

frae "Scotland Yet" - Henry Scott Riddell

COMPLETE POEMS

CASTLES IN THE AIR
by J Ballantine

Click here to listen to this in RealAudio read by Marilyn P Wright

This poem is a picture of a child gazing into the fire, and seeing pictures in it. Robert Louis Stevenson writes a poem in English about "Armies in the Fire".

The bonnie, bonnie bairn wha sits pokin' in the ase,

Glowerin' in the fire wi' his wee round face.

Laughin' at the fuffin' lowe - what sees he there?

Ha! the young dreamer's biggin' castles in the air.

His wee chubby face and his touzie curly pow

Are laughin' and noddin' to the dancing lowe;

He'll brown his rosy cheeks, and singe his sunny hair,

Glowerin' at the imps wi' their castles in the air.

He sees muckle castles towerin' to the moon;

He sees little sodgers pu'in' them a' doun;

Warlds whommlin' up and doun, bleezin' wi' a flare, -

See how he loups as they glimmer in the air!

For a' sae sage he looks, what can the laddie ken?

He's thinkin' upon naething, like mony mighty men:

A wee thing mak's us think, a sam' thing mak's us stare -

There are mair folk than him biggin' castles in the air.

See Scots Language in our Features Section
for other poems, stories, songs, sayings, jokes and words in the Scots language

SCOT WIT

Enjoy a Scottish Joke every week and listen to it as well

Words Without End

A noted Minister invited to preach at a country kirk was asked by the beadle "Hae ye skrievit yir sermon?" When the reverend gentleman replied that he had, the beadle exclaimed -

"A'm fell gled, because whan you fowk cum wi a paper, we ken ye'll stap whan it staps, bit whan ye hae nae paper, the Guid Lord hislane disnae ken whan ye're likelie fir ti feenish."

Click here to listen to this joke

Read and listen to Jokes in our Scot Wit section

AND AS WE CONTINUE...

If you read our first issue of The Flag in the Wind you will know that this is a weekly Internet commentary on the Scottish political scene; if you desire further erudition click on Archives.

SOME OF OUR FEATURE SECTIONS....

About Us
Our mission is to fight for an Independent Scotland and to promote its history, heritage and culture. Learn all about us here.
The Scots Language
A great introduction to the Scots Language, produced by Peter and Marilyn Wright, and added to each week both in text and RealAudio. Enjoy listening to words, poems and stories told in a real Scots accent!
Scottish Quotations
A variety of quotations in prose and verse reflecting all aspects of Scottish life and outlook.
The Rebels Ceilidh Songbook
An excellent introduction to traditional songs from Scotland.
Sing A Sang At Least
Our collection of Scottish songs. A new song is added to the collection each week.
Scottish Food, Traditions and Customs
Enjoy our collections of recipes and our comments on them.
Notable Dates in History
Each week we add three new notable dates in history building this into an historic timeline for Scottish history.
Features
Lots more stories, recipes, historical articles and even whole books are added here on a regular basis.
The Oliver Brown Award
An annual award given to an outstanding Scot(s) each year. Also included picture galleries from the annual lunch.

THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY

The Scots Independent Newspaper is independent of the Scottish National Party, but we support the Party in its drive for Independence; while space precludes us commenting on all the issues raised by the 27 MSPs, 5 MPS and 2 MEPs, also the Party Office Bearers, we have provided a link to the SNP Website.

THE FLAG IN THE WIND

The above was the title of a book written in the early Fifties by John MacDonald MacCormick, one of the founder members of the Scottish National Party in 1934. The sub-title was "The Story of the National Movement in Scotland". His comment in the book said "It is perhaps in the symbols which men use that their deepest sentiments are most readily expressed. Flags as well as straws show which way the wind is blowing". A fuller account appears under Features.

WE WOULD WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK

The Flag in the Wind would welcome your feedback on what you think of this weekly service. Happy to receive any comments or suggestions. Simply email webmaster@scotsindependent.org.

The Working Life of Linda Fabiani MSP