CAMPBELL-L Archives

Archiver > CAMPBELL > 1997-08 > 0870951311


From: Iain Sommerville< >
Subject: Scottish independence and other matters
Date: Thu, 07 Aug 1997 10:55:11 GMT


A few of the replies to Patti, who was looking for materials on
Scottish culture, strayed a wee bit from the topic. Can I comment on a
few of the points made.

I left school in 1963. At that time the teaching of Scottish history
in Scottish schools was practically non-existent. Pat will be pleased
to hear that there has been a considerable improvement since then.

The comparisons between Scotland and Ireland were interesting. I agree
that, in the 19th century, the Scots did not suffer in the way that
the Irish did. But today many of us in Scotland envy the Irish -
having their own government means they have real influence in the
European Community, and they are benefiting from EC-generated economic
growth.

Russ compared Scotland with Vermont - hardly valid. Scotland is one of
the oldest nations in Europe, and was an independent state until 1707.

These matters are probably outside the scope of the Campbell list
(although my maternal grandmother was a Campbell!), so I'll finish
quickly. As you've probably guessed, I support Scottish independence.
In fact, as the Secretary of the Scottish National Party's Kirkcaldy
Constituency Branch, I never miss an opportunity to get in a plug!

The SNP welcomes overseas members and some of you have expressed
support for our aim. You can get full membership details at the SNP's
official web site at http://www.snp.org.uk/ Overseas enquirers should
approach SNP HQ initially, except for those in Australia and Canada
who have their own email contacts which are listed on the site. (The
United States office, which was in Portland, Oregon, is closed at
present.)

--=20
Iain Sommerville
Burntisland, Fife, Scotland

This thread: