I believe that everyone in this country is a real Scot.Implicit in that comment is a thorny issue about the forced inclusiveness of so-called civic nationalism: its projection of Scottish national identity onto even those living in Scotland who for whatever reason, as is their right, consider themselves not to be Scots.
But that’s a complex topic best left for another time. More immediately relevant is how overdue, but nonetheless welcome, Mr Salmond’s comment is. It represents the first time that I’ve heard any senior SNP politician say anything to contradict Winnie Ewing’s revolting claim at the 2003 Bannockburn rally (which later wormed its way into CyberNat dogma) that the unionist parties are “enemies of Scotland” and only “claiming to be Scottish”. Better late than never, Mr Salmond.
I wonder if he includes in that the 205,768 people in Scotland who statistically see themselves as 'British not Scottish' in terms of identity.
But yes, at least the notion that Unionists can be real Scots is a surprising and positive assertion from Mr Salmond. Alas, there are plenty within his party's ranks who are not so enlightened.
not sure in what way this contradicts anything the snp has ever said. mibbe you jist didnae get it
So embracing multiculturalism in britain isnt confused, but in scotland it is?
Multiculturalism is about accepting and supporting different identities and cultures. It's not about imposing a one-size-fits-all nationality.
What a stupid argument to make Scottish Unionist.
The USA is probably the most multicultural country in the world yet every President in living memory has started his state of the union address with 'My Fellow Americans.'
One day you will understand why.
Indy
You're missing the point. This is nothing to do with multiculturalism. The issue is one of self-definition. One either is or isn't an American citizen; it's well defined in law. But that's not the case for the nations of the United Kingdom, as they form parts of the larger nation state.
Can we look forward to a repudiation of "Hapless" Swinney's "tell the Brits to git aff"?
No, thought not.
That's a scandalous misquote, sm753. ;-) His actual words were: “tell the Brits to get off”.
The responses to Swinney's comment were interesting.
A spokesman for Scottish Labour: “Mr Swinney is prepared to say anything to placate the fundamentalists in his party. This time, he has gone too far. There is no place in Scotland for his brand of extreme nationalism. He has shamed himself, and he has shamed Scotland.”
David McLetchie, then leader of the Scottish Conservatives: “This little Scotlander attitude has come out loud and clear. For him, nationalism is about being anti-everything - anti-English and anti-British - in his frustration he has let his mask slip.”