In honour of our national saint's day (St. Andrew) fond thoughts of what it was like to be a true independent nation, the first to declare the sovereignty of its people - and how we have been downtrodden since. I pray for an independent Scotland, an inclusive nation welcoming all, a true and equal partner in Europe and the world, as it was, should be, and shall be again, Amen.
Independence, Freedom, Nationhood!
Slainte! This divine nation.
These renowned people.
Scots! your passion
has known no equal
since time immemorial!
Arise!
Near seven hundred weary years
since our fathers signed Arbroath,
yet we thole this veil of tears
'neath unworthy England's yoke!
So long as a hundred stand alive,
we will never surrender!
Therefore let us stretch and strive,
refuse to tender lesser terms
to foreign tyrants!
For glory is not our aim,
nor dirty gold, nor even fame,
but freedom!
That which no true Scot loses,
but with his very life!
Oli 30/11/06 Various Scottish Nobles, Arbroath 1320
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Put down that claymore !
Written by patterjack (1430 comments posted) 30th November 2006 | One thing I noted , and this is not meant derogatorily , was that when we were in Scotland I seemed to gain the impression that the whole country was a series of interconnected war memorials !
And BTW -- me mother was a Macdondald .
patterjack | Oh gawd !
Written by patterjack (1430 comments posted) 30th November 2006 | Too much Dond ingalong -- please correct the surname to Macdonald .
patterjack | Thanks Brian
Written by Talisker (1331 comments posted) 30th November 2006 | Very interesting, I wonder if she was of the Clanranald line or the MacDonalds of Sleat.
In any case you are a proud descendant of the Lords of the Isles, who held their court on Islay and ruled the western isles for 400 years. Some of your ancestors may have been slaughtered at Glencoe, the Glen of Tears by the English sponsored Campbells.
You will be descended from the progenitor of the clan, Somerled, who drove the vikings from the Isle of Man in the 12th Century, his grandson was the first Donald (Domnuill) who established the family seat at Finlaggan.
By war memorials, do you mean the recent kind, or ancient battles like Culloden, Bannockburn etc...If the latter, of course its because we were always bullied by the sassanachs to the South.
Happy St.Andrews day! Have a wee dram of malt, even though I can't 
Oli | From up th' kilt...
Written by gerardconnolly (1186 comments posted) 30th November 2006 | Wonderful Oli!
So very you! Yes. Without wishing to sound in any way sanctimonious, look at the example of Ireland. A derisory joke until we stuffed the English yoke! Now we are responsible for our own mistakes. English empire up yer breeks! Spare a thought for the Welsh, though. Those poor downtrodden fellows are still getting up a head of steam. Fuck the Saxon!! Prince Albert was a pansy!! As for his wife.....!!?
Lovely stuff! From one marooned in the land of heresy and humbug. We will discuss John Knox later. For now my fondest compliments to you. And from Michael Collins. [ posthumous award ]. Tell Alex Salmon to loose some weight if he wants to get on. He could do worse than take a leaf from Fergie. [ The Lord Alexander ]. OK he failed to put down Colonel Strachan's rebellion, but a single incident does not win a war.
Really. A super read. I wonder how many international mooseheads will appreciate it? No matter. I did!
Slainte!! | I forgot...
Written by gerardconnolly (1186 comments posted) 30th November 2006 | PS I forgot to add I was informed by one who knew Edward 1 [ Plantegenet ] that on hearing of the death of Wallace he is said to have remarked ' Trish asheen feasting all! There is no comfort for any man but that he does discharge himself of lingering and troublesome turd! ' That should get your organic tomatoes going!
Slan again!! |
Written by coosh (922 comments posted) 30th November 2006 | | Beautiful, Oli. A fine accompaniment to this fair day. Imagine them requesting the Pope's advice on such a declaration now - and the wee man searching desperately for any 14th century text that would neatly offend both sides. To quote the Abbot himself, "we must defend our freedom with our lives, and our title with our back four", even if that was not perhaps the case at Easter Road last Sunday. Excellent. |
Written by ellipinnock (1784 comments posted) 30th November 2006 | Despite being a member of the 'unworthy english' I liked this so Happy St. Andrew's Day 
E | Wasn't it the other way around?
Written by Fledermaus (3482 comments posted) 30th November 2006 | Isn't it the other way around?
First of all, the Scots took the Lowlands from Northumbria, so the Highlanders sort of vanquished the Lowlanders.
Then, centuries later, in 1603, James VI, who was king of Scotland, became king of England. So actually they did not conquer you, but you conquered them.
OK, OK, I do know of Culloden and the Highland clearances. Seems English are better at politics than at fighting  |
Written by Phil (6959 comments posted) 30th November 2006 | Fine poem Oli, in fact, very fine indeed.
Politically I sit on the fence as far as this is concerned. As you know (I think) blood wise, I'm more Scots than anything else. There's something special about being a Yorkshireman though - very special. (Take the piss all you like.) For what it's worth, I don't feel at all represented by the London-centric government - English and Scottish MPs alike.
Perhaps come the revolution, I'll take duel nationality.
All the best,
Phil. |
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