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Archiver > GEN-TRIVIA-SCOTLAND > 1999-08 > 0934016000


From: "John K Shearer" <>
Subject: Re: Mutual Understanding (was Renewal Intro)
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1999 09:53:20 +0100


Good Morning Don,

I am new to the list and I missed the earlier exchanges on Bonnie Prince
Charlie and your article, Scotland on Sunday. I hope you will forgive a new
boys presumption but I felt the need to comment on some of your remarks.

>You might get the brush off (occasionally) in the Cities or from folk who
depend on
>tourist trade and may be resentful of this dependency.

I have visited Scotland last year, with Texan friends, and they were
overwhelmed by the friendliness and hospitality of people in Glasgow and
Edinburgh. They were especially surprised since their experiences of London
and other English tourist centres had left quite a different impression..

>I suspect that most Scots would support / defend Bonnie Prince Charlie to
the death - because he (or his >followers) beat >the English. This is
clearly A good thing!
>Sadly, the result of the 1745 away match left us at the mercy of a
>foreign power

Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales became the United Kingdom in 1603 under
James VI of Scotland and the Scottish and English parliaments were merged in
1707. There were a number of attempts made to destabilise the protestant
regime by people who thought they would fare better under King James
Catholic descendants rather than his Protestant descendants but they were
always a minority in England and Scotland.
There were more Scots on the Government side at Culloden, where Charles was
decisevely defeated, than there were on Charlies side.

I do not believe it is helpful to present the misleading impression that the
1715 and 1745 Jacobite rebellions were Scots, English wars. They were French
inspired Catholic uprisings which were easily supressed and caused little
inconvenience to anyone other than the poor Scots Highland people who paid
dearly for Charlies arrogant folly.


>HOWEVER! - very few would be keen on a Roman Catholic Royal dynasty
>ruling Scotland and/or Britain then, if it would have meant something
>similar now! :o)
he (or his >followers) beat >the English. This is clearly A good thing!

With great respect, I do not think it is helpful to perpetuate the view that
most Scottish people are anti- Catholic or anti- English. I know some are
both but I would suggest they are an ageing minority.

>a foreign power which set the rules until recently, and still clings to
>the remnants.


The Prime Minister, Tony Blair was born to Scottish parents in Scotland and
was educated in Edinburgh. the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown is
Scottish, the Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook is Scottish, and The Defence
Minister, George Robertson is Scottish. These are the four most powerful
politicians in Britain.

The 'Speaker' of the Scottish Parliament, David Steele, a wiry Border Scot,
left the British Liberal Democrat party an important third force in British
national politics at Westminster when he retired. The 'grey eminence' of
that party is Menzies-Campbell, a distinguished Edinburgh lawyer and the
next leader is likely to be Charles Kennedy a fine red headed young Scot.

Her Majesty's opposition, the Conservative and Unionist Party could elect
Malcolm Rifkind, another Edinburgh lawyer, as its next leader and two out of
five Conservative Prime Ministers in the second half of the 20th Century
have been Scots. (i.e. Harold Macmillan and Alec Douglas-Home.)

>Bear in mind that the teaching of SCOTTISH history has not been a
>priority here for many generations,

I was educated in Scotland and was taught Scottish History by teachers who
loved it with a passion. In fact they might even have been a trifle biased
(grin).

>like killing Gaelic with English in the past.

The Scots language of Burns became the commercial language of Scotland,
replacing French, at the end of the 15th Century. Irish Gaelic introduced to
the West Coast of Argyle about 1500 years ago spread accross the Highlands
replacing the native Gaelic sometime after Kenneth McAlpin became King of
Picts and Scots. Why I do not know.

>Even though we were supposed to have our own independent Education system.

I met a top English educationalist who gave up a well paid job in the USA to
have his children educated in Scotland to ensure their entry to Cambridge
University. I sent both of my children to Edinburgh Schools and one to
University there.

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