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The Flag in the Wind
Features - Gaelic Column
April 2004

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Colbh Gàidhlig 13

Nach eil e neònach mar a bhitheas ùine a’ dol? Tha mi cinnteach gum b’ e dìreach an-dè a bha mi toilichte gun do chuir mi crìoch air mo cholbh agus gun do chuir mi air falbh e. Tha fhios agaibh dè tha mi a’ ciallachadh, nach eil? An fhaireachdainn mhath sin a gheibh sibh nuair a bhios rud eigin deante agus bidh saorsa air faire? Uill a charaidean, cha do mhair i fada. Saoil dè thachair don mhìos? Feumaidh seo bhith a-staigh a-màireach agus chan eil sian a dh’fhios agam dè tha mi dol a ràdh.

Co-dhiù, na gabhaibh dragh, smaoinichidh mi air rud eigin. Ball-coise. Carson nach eil mise faighinn cothrom a chluich san sgioba nàiseanta? B’ urrainn dhomh a bhith ceart cho dona ‘s a tha iad. Agus rugbaidh – chan eil fios agam ciamar a chluicheas tu, ach air an làimh eile chan eil fios aig ar sgioba nas mò. Leugh mi carson a tha sinn cho truagh. Gu fortanach, tha mi a’ dol a dh’innse dhuibh. (Am b’e sin ‘Haud mi back’ a chuala mi?) Seo e – na tidsearan. Tha ar n-òigridh mi-fhallain agus chan e coire neach sam bith a th’ ann ach na tidsearan. ‘S e àm math a th’ ann a bhith nad phàrant – faodaidh tu a h-uile rud a chur air na sgoiltean. Tha Pontius Pilate beò, gu math, agus na phàrant ann an Alba.

Biadh an toiseach. Am faca sibh dè dh’itheas òigridh, agus dè cho tric? Anns an sgìre far a bheil mise bidh bhanaichean a’ tighinn don sgoil aig leth uair an dèidh ochd sa mhadainn airson burgers agus sliseagan a reic. Bidh clann a’ coiseachd ann an trannsaichean na sgoile ag ithe brisgein agus ag òl Irn Bru mar bhracaist. Aig àm dinnearach bidh na bhanaichean air ais, agus bidh bùthan air an t-sràid àird a’ reic isbeanan, burgers, agus – gu nàdurra – sliseagan, ann an ròlaichean anns am bi cnapan mòr margerine. Bidh an cafaidh a’ deanamh ‘School Special’ – sliseagan, marag dhubh agus a leithid. Tha clann ann nach faic glasraich sam bith ach sliseagan agus rud beag tomàta air mullach burger. O chionn ghoirid san sgoil stad iad Coke is rudan mar sin a reic; agus chuir iad bainne nan àite. ‘S e cuideachadh a th’ ann, ach sin air fad. Ma bhios clann ag iarraidh biadh mi-fhallain tha airgead aca agus tha àitean gu leòr ann far an ceannaich iad e. Dè ghabhas deanamh? Uill cha chuir e iongnadh oirbh gum feum na sgoiltean an t-uallach a ghabhail. An-diugh chan eil e gu diofar dè ‘n trioblaid a th’ againn – feumaidh na sgoiltean ga cur ceart. Taobh a-staigh nas bige na 28 uairean an uaireadair san t-seachdain, thèid aig na tidsearan a h-uile cron anns an t-saoghal a cheartachadh. Miorbhaileach, eh? Chan eil uallach sam bith air na pàrantan, no air a’ chloinn fhèin, no neach sam bith eile. Chan eil e gu diofar nach eil smachd sam bith aig na tidsearan air na bhanaichean no na bùthan, agus chan eil e gu diofar nach urrainn dhaibh a’ chlann a chumail anns na sgoiltean tron latha. Nì iad an gnothach le . . . uill, le dè?

Rud eile a bhitheas a’ toirt air daoine na tidsearan a chàineadh – spòrs. Mura bitheadh na tidsearan air stailc còrr is deich bliadhna air fhichead air ais, bhitheadh barrachd chlubaichean spòrs ann, bhitheamaid nas fhallaine, agus bhitheamaid nas fheàrr air ball-coise. O aidh? A-rithist, chan eil uallach sam bith air pàrantan a leigeas le cloinn nan laighe mun cuairt fad an latha, agus a chleachdas Armoured Personnel Carrier a dhraibheadh 500 miotar sìos an rathad don sgoil – na toisichibh mi air a’ cheist ‘carson a tha feum agad air bull bars ann am meadhan baile?’. Falbhaibh seachad air bunsgoil sa mhadainn agus bidh an rathad cha mhòr bristeadh as a chèile le cudthrom thancaichean mhòra a leigeil aon phàiste beag dheth. Mar as bige am pàiste, ‘s ann as motha an càr.

An ath-mhìos tha mi smaointinn gun tòisich mi le ‘An t-adhbhar a dh’fheumas sinn crochadh a thoirt air ais airson sgudal a leigeil anns na sràidean’. Gus an t-àm sin, ma-tà.

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