Things
Scottish
A Sense of Identity
For that is the mark of the Scot of all classes: that he stands in an
attitude towards the past unthinkable to Englishmen and remembers and
cherishes the memory of his forbears, good or bad; and there burns
alive in him a sense of identity with the dead even to the twentieth
generation -- Robert Louis Stevenson
Tartan
Day
The US Senate voted to make April 6th Tartan Day. The following is an
extract from the account of the proceedings:
Whereas
April 6 has a special significance to all Americans, and especially to
those Americans of Scottish descent, because the Declaration
of Arbroath, the Scottish Declaration of Independence was
signed on April 6, 1320 and the American Declaration of
Independence was modelled on that inspirational
document;
Whereas
this resolution honors the major role that Scottish Americans played in
the founding of this nation . . .
Whereas
this resolution recognizes the monumental achievements and invaluable
contribution made by Scottish Americans . . .
Resolved,
that the Senate designates April 6 of each year as "National Tartan Day".
Scottophobes:
Fortunately there is less hatred of us now among the English than there
was in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. These days there is
probably every bit as much anti English sentiment in Scotland than
there is anti Scotishness south of the border. It would do well to
remember, however that The Scottish Enlightenment occurred in a century
when many Englishmen were calling for 'the total extirpation' of the
Scottish people".
A famous professed scottophobe
was Dr Samuel Johnson, however his good friend and biographer Boswell
was a Scot. There was good natured humour in their interchanges, some
of which are amusing.
The Declaration of
Arbroath --
"For as long as but
one hundred of us remain alive, we will never on any conditions submit
to the domination of the English. It is not for glory nor riches, nor
honours that we fight, but for freedom alone, which no good man gives
up except with his life."
You can buy a framed copy of
the document at the following Website: http://www.scotiafineart.com/
Links to other sites about the
Declaration of Arbroath
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Enlightenment
Stone of Scone:
Also known as the 'Stone of Destiny'
The Scottish
Enlightenment: A period when ideas and philosophies were
coming from Edinburgh based thinkers, many of them ordinary citizens,
David Hume and Thomas Paine were foremost among the protagonists.
(Paine not native to Edinburgh, he was was English as was Erasmus
Darwin and Benjamin Franklin an American). One good thing
that came from the period was a debate that led to the general
acceptance of the idea that slavery should be abhorrent to all men.
Different from
the English?
.... there is nocht tua
nations vnder the firmanent that ar mair contrar and different fra
vthirs nor is inglis men and scottis men, quhoubeit that thai be vitht
in ane ile, and nychtbours, and of ane langage, for inglis men ar
subtil, and scottis men ar facile. inglis men ar ambitius in
prosperite, and scottis men ar humain in prosperite. inglis men ar
humil quhen thai ar subieckit be forse and violence, and scottis men ar
furious quhen thai ar violently subiekit. inglis men ar cruel quhens
thai get victorie, and scottis men ar merciful quhen thai get
victorie.... -- Wedderburn's Complaynt of Scotland, 1549
Tablet, A Recipe
1/2 lb Butter
1 pt of water
4 lb of Caster Sugar
1 lb Tin of Condensed milk
Put the butter and water into a deep pan and melt on a low heat. When
melted add the sugar and bring to the boil, add the condensed milk and
simmer for 25 minutes, stirring to prevent sticking. Take off the heat
and add the flavouring of your choice, and beat very well for 5
minutes. Pour into a greased pan and score as above, or into little
bars about 5 in. long and 1 1/2 in. wide. Wrap each bar in waxed paper
when cold.
Makes 4 lb .
Flavourings:
Cinnamon
Clove
Ginger
Lemon
Orange
Peppermint
Vanilla
or Nuts...
Source: A Taste of Scotland. Fitzgibbon...
We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at
home. Edward R. Murrow
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