Many reading this piece will no doubt be concerned that intolerance of Siol nan Gaidheal is itself intolerance, and the last thing we want to be is intolerant. We are an “inclusive” movement after all. But this paradox has been dealt with before, by the Austrian-born philosopher Karl Popper. After the horrors of the Holocaust and the defeat of Nazism in Europe Popper reasoned – rightly – that it is not intolerance to refuse to tolerate the intolerant.
Scottishness is not about the blood in my veins. There is nothing genetic about being Scottish. No matter how soggy the turf, no matter how refreshing the water, or glorious the scenery, there is nothing in Scotland’s fields and brooks that makes us Scots. Scotland is a beautiful relationship; a long and intimate conversation with the people we love most and count as our own. It is a friendship that continues to be new and alive no matter how long the parting or wide the distance between us. My Scotland is home – where I started and where I am going.
Whether we remain in union with England or retain membership of the European Union are decisions for the people of Scotland to make, and the problem is that we do not have the independence to make these decisions for ourselves.
These people are tools. They leave their integrity at the door and go on air with a message. Sure, it was Paxo’s voice, but the words were always coming directly from the mouth of Aunty Beeb.
While this assumption of Scots’ dislike of the English was being subtly stoked by the BBC and the British media something else was becoming apparent; their loathing for us. However, this wasn’t framed in terms of national or ethnic dislike, and nor should it be because that’s not exactly what it was or is.
Reubalachd Dealan-dè Albann
the theories and thoughts of jason michael
