The Scots Independent Newspaper Online

CONFERENCE SPEECHES

SALMOND: MING THE MERCILESS BECOMES MING THE MUNDANE

Commenting following Sir Menzies Campbell's lacklustre address to the Lib Dem Party conference, SNP Leader Alex Salmond MP said:

MING THE MERCILESS "Sir Menzies’ speech failed to address the main problems facing his party in Scotland. Attacking Labour on health, transport and education might be what his party followers want to hear, but the fact remains that in Scotland, all three are devolved and are under the control of the Labour/Liberal administration. Both are equally guilty of failing to deliver in Scotland.

On rendition, he seems to have forgotten that the flights landing in Scotland, known to be carrying suspected terrorists, could have been stopped by his very own Scottish Ministers. Ming might think he can pull the wool over the voter’s eyes, but he certainly won't make Scottish voters believe that his party has any substance.

The Liberal leadership in both Scotland and the UK has proven to be unimaginative and inconsistent. Indeed, Ming the 'merciless' has become Ming the 'mundane'.

MCCONNELL HAS RUN OUT OF IDEAS

idea SNP Deputy Leader, Ms Nicola Sturgeon was speaking following the speech by the First Minister at the Labour Party conference in Manchester.

Ms Sturgeon said: "Mr McConnell proved yet again that he has run out of ideas and has nothing new to say to take Scotland forward. Only the SNP offers the ideas and the leadership that can change Scotland for the better and that's why more and more people think it's time for an SNP government.

"We are a party determined to give Scotland a strong voice in the world which is why we are working hard and preparing for Government in 2007 with Alex Salmond as First Minister."

BROWN'S TIME HAS COME AND GONE

Alex Salmond, Leader of the SNP said of Mr Brown’s speech; “Mr Brown started his speech by apologising to Blair for their squabbling. He should have apologised to the people for the disastrous war in Iraq, to a health service being crippled by the burden of his PFI contracts and for the failures in education that he lambasted.

British bulldog Brown has been around a long time. Children have been through their entire education since he became Chancellor. If education has failed them in reaching their potential then it is Brown who has failed them.

The Chancellor banged the British drum throughout the speech with some 50 mentions. The reason for this British bulldog act is obvious. He wants to be British Prime Minister and is perfectly prepared to trade his Scottish nationality for that job application form.

He says he wants to trust people to govern themselves. Then why not trust Scotland to take the big decisions on the economy, on war and on nuclear weapons?

Listening to Brown's litany of all that is wrong you would think he had been AWOL for ten years, not at the heart of Government. If so much needs changing then why hasn't he done something about it long before now? He cannot pretend to be in opposition when he has been pulling the financial strings of the Government.”

SURVEY SHOWS 66% OF SCOTS WANT MORE POWER FOR
SCOTS PARLIAMENT

A study by the Electoral Commission shows that 66% of Scots want more power for the Scottish Parliament.

Scottish Parliament However they don’t seem to realise just what powers the Parliament has. There is a perception that it has fewer powers than it actually does have. Maybe that’s because the full powers have not been used.

The study also shows that the Scottish Parliament is highly trusted and accessible and is seen as having more integrity than Westminster.

This study shows the majority of Scots want to move Scotland forward. Seven years on from the advent of devolution, people recognise that Holyrood has not made the difference they hoped for.

Next year Scots will have a chance to vote to take Scotland forward in a straight choice between Alex Salmond as First Minister or the continuing failure of Jack McConnell's administration."

POLL SHOWS McCONNELL AND BROWN UNPOPULAR

Recent polls indicate the depth of Labour’s leadership problems.

Populus survey for BBC2

60% of people thought that Mr. Brown had failed to make himself appear more likeable, charismatic and in touch with ordinary people.

ICM/Guardian Poll

Amongst all voters

62% say Labour does not deserve to win the next election (General), 69% think it is the most divided, 64% think it has run out of steam.

Gordon Brown

35% of people thought Mr. Brown was “likely to stab a colleague in the back”

Who has the most pleasant personality?

David Cameron 52%
Gordon Brown 17%

Who is more arrogant?

David Cameron 15%
Gordon Brown 36%

A recent Yougov poll showed Alex Salmond leading Mr McConnell in the race for First Minister.

With the SNP and Labour neck and neck and independence more popular than devolution, it is clear that the Labour Party’s fortunes are in serious decline. There is a growing public feeling that Labour has had its chance and that it is now time for change.

RECYCLING

recycling_logo I heard a piece on Good Morning Scotland today which raised my spirits. The Scottish Executive has made available about £40 million to a limited number of local authorities to bring recycling to people who live in flats. I live in a tenement flat in Glasgow and have been campaigning for recycling facilities for years.

There may be some technical reason why it’s difficult but anything which means not having to carry the bags of stuff to the nearest supermarket for recycling will be welcomed. Whether it’s doorstep collection, shared wheelie bins or whatever, I’m for it. And with the number of tenements in Glasgow it’s bound to make a difference.

29 September 1792
The Theatre Royal, Dumfries, was opened – Robert Burns was a regular patron and frequently wrote addresses for the actors.

29 September 1853
The Annie Jane, an emigrant ship bound for Quebec, sank off the Hebrides with a loss of 348 lives.

29 September 1996
The Stone of Destiny was handed back to Scotland, 700 years after it was stolen by King Edward I of England in 1296. It was displayed with the Scottish Regalia in Edinburgh Castle.

30 September 2005
In a double-first, the first ever Commonwealth title fight was staged in Fife and it was also the first to go to the judge’s scorecards in Scotland instead of a referee’s decision. In a close fought contest Buckhaven’s Kevin Anderson won a split-decision over defending Commonwealth welterweight champion Joshua Okine, Ghana, over 12 thrilling rounds in the Fife Ice Arena, Kirkcaldy. The successful 22-year-old Buckhaven boxer became only the fourth Scot to win the title.

1 October 1923
Sir Thomas Lipton received the freedom of his home-town the City of Glasgow.

1 October 2005
A statue of motorcycle legend Steve Hislop was unveiled at Wilton Lodge Park, Hawick. The bronze statue of the 11 times Isle of Man TT race winner and twice British Superbike champion was one of two created by Fife sculptor David Annan, The other statue was unveiled during the TT race week on the Isle of Man in June 2005. Steve Hislop, known to his fans as Hizzy died aged 41 when the helicopter he was piloting crashed just south of Hawick on 30 July 2003.

2 October 2005
Colin Montgomerie became the third Scot in five years to win the Dunhill Links Championship at the Old Course, St Andrews. A four-foot putt on the 18^th green gave him a one-stroke victory and a cheque for £450,000 in his first tournament win for 19 months.

3 October 2005
Documents relating to the 1986 Dunblane school massacre were released after a 100-year secrecy rule was lifted.

4 October 1870
George Chalmers, a native of Fraserburgh, was the first culprit to be hanged behind closed doors in Scotland. Chalmers, 45, was convicted of the murder of a toll-keeper at Braco, Perthshire, and was executed by the London hangman William Calcraft at the Old County Jail, Perth.

4 October 2005
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Tom Farmer became the first Scot to be presented with the prestigious Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy at a ceremony held in the Scottish parliament. Five others including His Highness the Aga Khan were honoured at the event which was held outside the United sates of America for the first time (inaugurated in 2001 and held every two years).

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"

For the 60^th week of this feature all the quotations are about the
musical instrument for which Scotland is most famous world-wide – the Bagpipes – including a quote by the 2^nd President of the United States of America, John Adams.

John Adams (1735-1826)

Many of them were Scotchmen in their plaids and their music was delightful. Even the bagpipe was not disagreeable.

Robert Fergusson (1750-1774)

At glomin’, now, the bagpipe’s dumb,
When weary owsen homeward come;
Sae sweetly as it wont to bum,
                        An’ pibrachs screed;
We never hear its weirlike hum;
                        For Music’s dead.

Macgibbon’s gane: Ah! Waes my heart!
The man in music maist expert,
Wha’ cou’d sweet melody impart,
                        An’ tune the reed,
Wi’ sic a slee and pawky art;
                        But now he’s dead.

(Elegy on the Death of Scots Music)

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

Only one occasion
Would I have loved to witness – after Inverurie
When Lord Louis Gordon’s pipers kept silence
Since Duncan Ban MacCrimmon was his prisoner.
No Scottish Army or English, no army in the world,
Would do that today – nor ever again –
For they do not know and there is no means of telling them
That Kings and Generals are only shadows of time
But time has no dominion over genius.

(Lament for the Great Music)

Flagnote: Lord Lewis Gordon was appointed a member of the Prince’s Council at Edinburgh where he joined the Jacobite army in October 1745. Prince Charles sent him north to recruit in the counties of Aberdeen and Banff and collect arms and money. By drastic methods he raised a regiment of two battalions. He completely defeated Hanoverian troops under MacLeod of MacLeod and Munro of Culcairn at the Battle of Inverurie on 23 December 1745. Among the prisoners taken by the Jacobites was the greatest of all Highland Pipers - Duncan Ban MacCrimmon, Hereditory Piper to the MacLeods of Dunvegan. The silence of the Jacobite pipers ensured his release. Duncan Ban rejoined the Hanoverians and was the only casualty at the Rout of Moy on 16 February 1746. Hugh MacDiarmid further wrote that ‘the silent bagpipes on the morning after the battle of Inverurie was the greatest tribute ever paid to genius.’

Francis George Scott (1880-1958)

Pibroch is not ‘Ceol Beag’ [light music]. It would, on the contrary, be better to think of it as the only musical form Scotland has given to the world; as an aristocratic art in classical shape and as keeping its distance away from the common and popular. I doubt if it ever was popular, even in the Highlands.

(‘Pibroch’ Lecture 1946)

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

A Hundred Pipers
Caroline Oliphant, Lady Nairne 91766-1845)

Jacobite Piper

Chorus:
Wi' a hundred pipers, a' a', an' a',
Wi' a hundred pipers, a' a', an' a',
We'll up an' gie them a blaw, a blaw
Wi' a hundred pipers, a' a', an' a'.
O it's owre the border awa', awa'
It's owre the border awa', awa',
We'll on an' we'll march to Carlisle ha'
Wi' its yetts, its castle an' a', an a'.

O! our sodger lads looked braw, looked braw,
Wi' their tartan kilts an' a', an' a',
Wi' their bonnets an' feathers an' glitt'rin' gear,
An' pibrochs sounding loud and clear.
Will they a' return to their ain dear glen?
Will they a' return oor Heilan' men?
Second sichted Sandy looked fu' wae.
An' mithers grat when they march'd away.
Chorus

O! wha' is foremos o' a', o' a',
Oh wha' is foremost o' a', o' a',
Bonnie Charlie the King o' us a', hurrah!
Wi' his hundred pipers an' a', an ' a'.
His bonnet and feathers he's waving high,
His prancing steed maist seems to fly,
The nor' win' plays wi' his curly hair,
While the pipers play wi'an unco flare.
Chorus

The Esk was swollen sae red an' sae deep,
But shouther to shouther the brave lads keep;
Twa thousand swam owre to fell English ground
An' danced themselves dry to the pibroch's sound.
Dumfoun'er'd the English saw, they saw,
Dumfoun'er'd they heard the blaw, the blaw,
Dumfoun'er'd they a' ran awa', awa',
Frae the hundred pipers an' a', an ' a'.
Chorus

Footnote: Another rousing Jacobite sang I first learnt at St Combs Primary School. I have always been thankful for the sound basic knowledge of Scottish history and culture I received at primary school in Aberdeenshire. From a fervent Jacobite family Caroline Oliphant of Gask, writing as Mrs Brogan of Brogan, was at her best in songs of a Jacobite nature.

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 SEVEN

This week we present two differing love songs which would adorn any Burns Supper. First a haunting song of lost love – ‘Ye Banks and Braes’ – the version here is the later one of a song written in 1787 and the second is the beautiful love song Robert Burns wrote for his wife Jean Armour in 1788 –‘ Of A’ the Airts’.

YE BANKS AND BRAES

Ye banks and braes o’ bonnie Doon,
            How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair?
How can ye chant, ye little birds,
            And I sae weary fu’ o’ care!
Thou’ll break my heart, thou warbling bird,
That wantons thro’ the flowering thorn:
Thou minds me o’ departed joys.
            Departed never to return.

Aft ha’e I roved by bonnie Doon
            To see the rose and woodbine twine
And ilka bird sang o’ its love,
And fondly sae did I o’ mine:
Wi’ lightsome heart I pu’d a rose,
            Fu’ sweet upon its thorny tree!
And my fause lover stow my rose –
But ah! He left the thorn wi’ me.

OF A’ THE AIRTS

Of a’ the airts the wind can blow
            I dearly like the west,
For there the bonnie lassie lives,
            The lassie I lo’e best,
Where wild-woods grow, and rivers row,
            And many a hill between,
But day and night my fancy’s flight
            Is ever wi’ my Jean.

I see her in the dewy flowers,
            I see her sweet and fair;
I hear her in the tunefu’ birds,
            I hear her charm the air;
There’s not a bonnie flower that springs
            By fountain, shaw or green,
There’s not a bonnie bird that sings,
            But minds me o’ my Jean.

See the Burns Collection in our Features section

SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS

The Whisky industry is still a major factor in the Scottish economy but one which tends to be overlooked nowadays with the emphasis on oil and electronics. Scotch, however, is perhaps the best known symbol of Scotland, the world over.

"FREEDOM and WHISKY gang thegither" wrote our National Bard and one man who firmly believed in the poet's adage was the late Jock Mackie of Kirkcaldy. Jock, an Ayrshire man, born and bred, was both a great fan of Robert Burns and of our National Drink. For Jock, an avid Scottish Nationalist, Whisky and Freedom did indeed "gang thegither". Not only did he fervently believe in Scottish Independence but in the belief that every Scot should distil his own Whisky. A baker to trade, Jock added distilling to his bakery skills! For many years he made his own Whisky until he fell foul of the authorities in the early 1960s. An appearance in Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court resulted in a £50 fine and the confiscation of the still. Unabashed Jock appeared on Scottish Television that night and much to the consternation of the interviewer produced a bottle of his own "illegal" hooch!

Unfortunately we cannot give you Jock's recipe for distilling Whisky but the "water of life" is the basis of an excellent use of oatmeal - Atholl Brose.

Atholl Brose

Ingredients for one serving : 2-4 rounded tablespoons medium oatmeal, toasted; 2-4 fl oz ( 50-100 ml ) double cream, stiffly beaten; 1 glass Malt Whisky; 1-2 tablespoons heather honey.

Put the oatmeal into a bowl, mix in the cream and leave to thicken. Pour in the Whisky and add honey to taste. Divine!

Atholl Brose ( The Duke of Atholl's recipe )

Ingredients for a house awthegither: 6 oz ( 200 g ) medium oatmeal; 4 dsp heather honey; 1 1/2 pt ( 750 ml ) Whisky; 1/4 pt ( 150 ml ) water.

Put the oatmeal into a small bowl and add water to make a paste. Leave for one hour, then put into a fine sieve and press all the liquid through. Add the honey to the sieved liquid and mix through. Pour into a large bottle and fill up with Whisky. Shake well and always shake before use.

And always think of independent Scots like Jock Mackie when you tak aff yir dram!

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)

alane: alone

bard: minstrel, poet

ilka: each, every

road: direction; route; method

sair: sore; dire; severe; grief-stricken

yill: ale

He that wull ti Cupar, maun ti Cupar: If someone is determined on a course of action there is no stopping him / her.

Some merry, friendly, countra folks,

    Together did convene,

To burn their nits, an' pou their stocks

    An' haud their Halloween

                       Fu' blythe that night.

Frae "Halloween" - Robert Burns

COMPLETE POEMS

The Land o' the Leal
by Carolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne

Lady Nairne and her son

Listen to this in Real Audio here read by Marilyn P Wright

Daughter of a Perthshire Jacobite, Carolina Oliphant ( 1766-1845 ) married William Nairne and called herself 'Mrs Bogan of Bogan' to write her songs, many of which are still widely popular today, including 'Caller Herrin', 'Willye no come back again?' and 'The Auld Hoose'.

I'm wearin' awa', John,

Like snaw-wreaths in thaw, John,

I'm wearin' awa'

To the land o' the leal.

There's nae sorrow there, John,

There's neither cauld nor care, John

The day is aye fair

In the land o' the leal.

Our bonnie bairn's there, John,

She was baith gude and fair, John,

And, oh! we grudged her sair

To the land o' the leal.

But sorrow's sel' wears past, John,

And joy is comin' fast, John,

The joy that's aye to last

In the land o' the leal.

Sae dear's that joy was bough, John,

Sae free the battle fought, John,

That sinfu' man e'er brought,

To the land o' the leal.

Oh! dry your glist'nin' e'e, John,

My saul langs to be free, John,

And angels beckon me

To the land o' the leal.

Oh! haud ye leal an' true, John,

Your day it,s wearin, thro', John,

And I'll welcome you

To the land o' the leal.

Now fare ye weel, my ain John,

This warld's cares are vain, John,

We'll meet, and we'll be fain,

In the land o' the leal.

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

Word Confusion

The Inspector was on his annual visit to a Country School in the North. On being informed that the class had been studying Gray's 'Elegy' he proceeded to put the pupils through their paces.

"The curfew tolls the knell of parting day" intoned the great man before addressing the class. "Now, children" he began "can you tell me what a curfew is?"

No reply came from the class. After a long pause the Inspector continued :

"Come, come now - surely you must know what a curfew is !"

Still there was no response from the nervous pupils. At last the old schoolmaster could contain himself no longer :

"Ye lot o stupid eediots" he cried in exasperation " dae nane o ye ken whit a whaup is ?"

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

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The Working Life of Linda Fabiani MSP