A peculiar little spat is being reported in this morning’s Scotsman and Press & Journal. Labour MSP Michael McMahon and Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser have criticised the SNP Executive for not wanting to mark the Reformation’s 450th anniversary. The Scotsman’s David Maddox says that the SNP’s decision is being attributed to the Reformation being “associated in many minds with paving the way to the Union”.I fail to see why an elected government should mark such an event. The historical significance of the Reformation in Scotland was, and remains, notable — but how could it be marked in a non-divisive way? Should politics and religion not have as little overlap as possible?
But that said, Murdo Fraser’s quote in the Press & Journal is spot on:
“The SNP are not normally shy in celebrating Scottish history when it suits them. Whether it is the annual event at Bannockburn to commemorate victory over the English, the attempt to hijack the Saltire for party political purposes, or the abuse of St Andrew’s Day as a date for the proposed rigged referendum on separation, the SNP will use our heritage whenever it can to promote its narrow nationalist agenda.”
The Bannockburn anniversary is marked by the SNP as a party, though, not as an executive, which is what Murdo seems to be advocating for the Reformation.
That strikes me as a somewhat tenuous distinction, Colin.
But out of interest, I wonder if you agree with Kenny MacAskill or Alex Salmond about the Bannockburn rally?
Kenny MacAskill: “Bannockburn’s position in the psyche of the party and the people must change. We must advance — both as a party and as a nation — and stop defining ourselves in terms of a victory over the English ... Should the Bannockburn rally, with its celebration of victory over the English, remain an accepted part of the SNP’s calendar? The answer has to be no.”
Alex Salmond: “I have spoken at most of the Bannockburn rallies over the last ten years, and I do not accept that those who turn up are in the slightest anti-English. The difficulty is with people that believe there’s something anti-English about it.”
SU
I applaud the SNP on this: mixing politics and religion in Scotland always brings out the worst in us. Murdo Fraser does no better with his wee quote in which he uses a religious event to obtain political gain. Better trying to stick to the 'high ground'. Also, Maddox seems intent on 'Red Top' sensationalism, but I guess it just means more hits to the comments thread and perhaps saving The Scotsman from extinction. Well done again to the Lib Dems for not getting involved in a stupid argument.
SU - I'd go with Kenny on this one. I don't see how Bannockburn is relevant to today's political situation. It's also possibly detrimental to the party, since Siol nan Gaidheal sometimes turn up and shout racist stuff, which the press then attributes to the SNP.
SnG allegedly turns up, etc. Please spare me a legal headache!
SnG do go to the Bannockburn commemoration and so do all kinds of odd bods like the Knights Templars and so on. That is nothing to do with the SNP however. They go in the morning, the SNP has an event in the afternoon. It is no big deal really - here is the programme for this year's event.
This year's Bannockburn Commemoration will be held on Saturday 20 June.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS NO MARCH FROM LOWER BRIDGE STREET THIS YEAR.
The event timetable is as follows:
14h00 Assemble at Bannockburn Field
14h30 Wreath-laying by Dr Duncan Ross, SNP National Secretary
Followed by music from Clanadonia
At the Bannockburn Heritage Centre (free event):
15h00 Lecture by Chris Brown, Author and Historian, on the Battle of Bannockburn. Introduced by Dr Duncan Ross
Followed by a showing of the new National Trust for Scotland 'Battle of Bannockburn' film.
Alternatively, at the Bannockburn Field:
15h00 Walking tour of the Battlefield. A 2hr (approx) walk around the main sites of interest on the Bannockburn field, led by National Trust for Scotland staff.
Additionally, there will be a 'Kids-go-free' day at the Heritage Centre, allowing free entry to the exhibition for under-16s.
We are grateful to the National Trust for Scotland for their cooperation with the event.
I do find it a bit bizzare to launch a state sponsored religious event that argues for Martin Luther who wrote the first thesis arguing for the separation of state and religion.
But hey! Let us not consider this at all!
Let's complain about people honouring soldiers who fought for their country in the past! (albeit a very different country from now)
How dare those ruffians!