I agree with Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie’s remarks about Alex Salmond and the SNP hijacking the Saltire for political purposes (Mail). I’m working on a PhD examining identity among Scots of minority backgrounds and I’ve become disgusted at the Scottish Parliament’s politicising of all aspects of our culture and its seeking to define a national identity through culture and ancestry. The advert for the Homecoming Scotland event (taxpayer-funded) with its all-white cast (not reflective of a diverse Scotland) and featuring tax exile Sean Connery is nausea-inducing. Is this how we’re being defined at home and overseas: a nation of bagpipe-playing, kilt-wearing whisky drinkers? I’m Scottish and proud to be so, but I’m also British (the two aren’t mutually exclusive — Alex Salmond take note, identity is multi-faceted) and I’m fed up with Scottish culture and symbols being hijacked by the SNP’s bandwagon of a parochial form of cultural nationalism. This is the 21st century. Scotland is home to migrants from all over the world; it’s not all tartan and heather. Nationalism of any sort has the potential to turn nasty; national identity shouldn’t be about defining the imaginary ‘us’ through our cultural heritage.
KATHLEEN-FRANCES LESLIE (of the Clan Leslie),
supporters of the 1707 Act of Union, Dalgety Bay, Fife
Halftime in America
57 minutes ago
supporters of the 1707 Act of Union,
And let me take this opportunity to express my support for the 1842 Coal Mines Act, as well as the 1763 Treaty of Paris.
How could you not support both Acts, they are part of our British constitution.
I think Alec may just be having a wee giggle to himself! It was rather awkward wording.
The most bizarre thing about this letter is that she signs herself as being of the Clan Leslie.???
Also weird is the suggestion that Homecoming is a nationalist event.
I really can't see that. The cast of the advert may be all white (and I agree that is a shame) but let's look at who they are.
Amy Macdonald, Chris Hoy, Brian Cox, Sam Torrance, Eddi Reader, Thom Evans, Kelly Brown, Sandi Thom, Sean Connery, Lulu.
So far as I know there are only 2 SNP supporters in that list, Sandi Thom and Sean Connery. Others - like Lulu if I remember correctly - are not in favour of independence for Scotland.
But they seem to be 'tarred' with the SNP brush simply because they appear in the advert. That is such a weird logic although it works to the SNP's advantage - anyone associated with Scottish imagery is by definition a nationalist. I would have thought that was your worst nightmare not something to be lauded as 'excellent'.
Yet another 'patriot' complaining about Scottishness because it doesn't fit their ideal mold. Typical unionist lunacy. The SNP did it so it must be bad chain of thought.
BSH: She isn't “complaining about Scottishness” but Nationalism!
One of the most significant dangers of Nationalism, even in civic/cultural rather than ethnic forms, is that its adherents invariably come to see themselves as more patriotic and (in our own case) “more Scottish”, something which Ms Leslie sees very clearly. I look forward to reading her finished thesis.
Indy: Why ??? about the Clan Leslie. Are you imagining Sir Andrew Leslie turning in his grave? Ah well, times change you know! ;-)
It seems bizarre to me that someone complaining about kailyard culture should identify herself as belonging to a particular clan. You don't get much more kailyard than that, do you?
But it is the underlying snobbishness of the criticisms of Homecoming that annoy me. Yes it is all about tartan and heather and whisky and shortbread and all that kind of stuff. A lot of people in Scotland earn their living from tourism based on that kind of stuff. It's all very well to be snobbish if it is not your livelihood that is at stake.
The accusations of parochialism are just plain stupid. The Edibburgh Festival - if you take all the festivals together - is the largest international festival in the world. There is nothing parochial about other events like Celtic Connections and so on either.
But Homecoming is not aimed at the kind of people who come to the festivals. It is aimed at a particular market, a very traditional market. I can't see what is wrong with that particularly when a lot of people depend on it for a living.
We will see if the campaign works next year, if we manage to buck the recession. I have no idea if it will work or not but the attempt has to be made.