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Hector_Lector · Joined: 20 Apr 2004 Posts: 548

Correct - David Byrne is Scottish.

Alex Harvey - how could we have forgotten him?

Chip on our shoulder? No way.

zaneth · Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 1:00 pm Post subject:

I'm of Scottish descent, mostly. A little American Indian mixed in but Scottish from lots of different directions in the family tree. An overwhelming majority I'd say.

In Russia I have no nationality, only citizenship - American. People sometimes ask me what my race actually is and I must answer 'Scottish, I guess' though I've never been there. When tired of my wandering and the fact that my country exists on stolen land, I sometimes speculate about returning to the ancestral homeland. Wouldn't it be nice to be in the place I came from, instead of on somebody else's land? The place where the bones of my distant ancestors mingle with the very soil?

What do you real Scots think of this conjecture? Is there a right of return for slightly worn Americans? Or are we descendants of intrepid scottish forebears merely an object of derision and mirth? Too far gone?

Never really had an occasion to ask before, but it's a serious question. Can you go home again?

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1548&ncid=1548&e=1&u=/afp/20041216/lf_afp/afplifestylehealthfood_041216144522

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

benno · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 501 Location: Fake Mongolia

ShapeSphere · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 386

It's amazing how people in one breath can express outrage at insults about the Scottish, but yet in the same breath feel it proper to make broad disparaging remarks about the English.

A little less hypocrisy please.

Cardinal Synn says most English people would want to stay in the Union and with Scotland - true. But if we did separate, it would be no big deal to import your minerals and pay a reasonable price. England is hardly short of industry and exports itself. But all this is purely hypothetical.

One great thing about Scotland is the Highlands and such beautiful scenery. Tourism is a valuable commodity for the Scots.

Scotland on its own has the ability to be a reasonable power within the EU. Wales & Northern Ireland may find it harder going.

Magoo · Joined: 31 Oct 2003 Posts: 651 Location: Wuhan, China

I'm a Geordie, so it's my sworn duty to look down on the Scots (I once told a couple of ENGLISH girls that it was illegal in N.E. England to like Scotland. They actually believed me! Wink

(okay, I could BS for Britain)).
Never mind the bloody Krankies Evil or Very Mad

, what about education? Engineers (not just the famous ones, but those whom one still meets all over the world, today)? Responsible legislation aimed at protecting the common people, not big industry and banks (that comes under 'Insularity' in an Engish dictionary Wink

)? The Scottish Executive recently introduced stringent guidelines for school meals, whilst, in England, kids are still being helped along the path to heart disease.
You do have a thing about the English, though. Rolling Eyes

ContemporaryDog · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 1477 Location: Wuhan, China

dajiang · Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 663 Location: Guilin!

The Scots are some of the most excellent people in the world. Walked into the first pub there and some guys kept buying me drinks because I could say 'Drumnadrochit'.
I wasn't even allowed a shout, cuz me being a backpacker coming from the mainland (Holland... we also have the 'ggggh') would think the beers be too expensive probably (and they were). But honestly those guys could not at all be called stingy. Dunno why they've got the rep.

People started conversations spontaneously, on the bus, on the streets, no worries. They're musical, got a groovy accent, they play a wicked form of hockey, and there's wildlife, snowcapped mountains, Loch Ness.

Fokkin' Brilliant.

matttheboy · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 854 Location: Valparaiso, Chile

Scotland is a beautiful country, edinburgh's great and glasgow has come a hell of way in the last few years, the lochs are amazing as is the coastline and the highlands incredible...in general (they are dcikheads everywhere, a fair few million in england) the Scots are a very likeable bunch....until a few years ago (when was a kid and a teenager) i just assumed the scots liked us english people, an assumption thoroughly smashed when i was at my scottish cousins during euro 96 and you bstards were supporting the germans....i still like you lot but boy am i happy when you lose at any sport!! And all english people know that maradona is a hero in scotland... ( Evil or Very Mad

) which kind of annoys us...still i'm a big peru fan Very Happy

There is a very obvious bias in england that borders on racism when it comes to any of the home nations. Most english newspapers will describe sporting, research or academic achievers as English or, if from the home nations, British. When the 'papers talk about failures the Scots, Welsh and Irish suddenly become Scottish, Welsh or Irish and not British. I don't think journalists even realise they do it, it's just built into our subconscious to perpetuate this bias.

vre · Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 371

At least now a lot of the journalists, correspondents, newscasters are from places other than the south of England.

And that brings me onto Northern English people. They seem to get the rawest of deals. They are tarred with the same brush as the English that did as much harm to them as they did to the Scots, Welsh and Irish (both), yet they seem to relate well to them more than to the 'bloody southerners' Wink

And back to the opq. Scotland for me is Edinburgh (agree on the beauty of the city, which I used to visit regularly). millionaire shortbread, whisky, men with nothing under their kilts, who, after a few at a wedding, will happily answer your question "do you wear....."

And a final thought, in my expeience I never found the Scottish to be stingy at all, in fact the opposite! My experience has been of jolly, down to earth people. But I also agree with previous poster, It annoys me that they will support anyone before the English, but that is also true of half the world, isn't it?

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

My grandfather once dropped a 50 pence coin. It hit him on the back of the neck.

And did you know that copper wire was invented by two Scots fighting over a two pence piece.

{Apologies to Billy C.}

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I worked up in the highlands for a bit and loved it. I would go back in an instant!

Spinoza · Joined: 17 Oct 2004 Posts: 194 Location: Saudi Arabia

Cardinal Synn · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 586

Wow Spinoza, what a bizarre diatribe. Where did that come from? What was it addressing? Funny how my original posting about SCOTLAND, in which I made no claims other than those which can be backed up ( a quick search on the net will reveal all), has resulted in such a rant. Braveheart indeed. I do strongly beleive that the cultural representation of Scotland is pretty awful in many ways - haggis shortbread kilts and men who aren't very generous with their cash, but it happened long, long ,long before Braveheart.
If you want to go on about how wonderful England is, start a new thread. I'm afraid your posting has no relevance here. Other than Scot bashing.
I shall not lower myself to racism here. I will say this though - The only negative posts in this thread seem to have come from English people.
I, as a Scot, am also a Brit and when England play some other country at football, I support England. All that Scotland against English stuff is outdated and pathetic.
If I can't write about Scotland's contribution to history without provoking anti Scot reaction from English people, then I'm afraid that only reflects badly on those who make the negative comments.