Identity in the Scottish Diaspora

[neloon]

David,
Your last contribution was excellent and I basically understood it. A couple of thoughts on the last para.

An admiration for the Scotland of today? Only in the sense that you still have a definable culture. Yes, I know it may seem shortbread-tin to you all, but when someone sees a kilt or bagpipes they immediately know "Scotland". The same isn't true with the US.

A feeling of 'spiritual connection' with certain aspects of "Scottishness"? Sure: Fierce independence, willingness to defy kings when one's religion is at stake, loyalty to one's family to the extent that bloodshed is not out of the question...

Look, I know that there is probably shuddering all around the world when they watch America's current machinations. But I think that perhaps we're still just a bit wilder than you. A bit less refined and reasonable and tame. A little less civilized. It's not necessarily flattering for us. But I do think it harkens back to our shared ancestry in a way that is a bit truer to them.

Nemo me impune lacessit, right?

Yes, we do cringe about the kilts and haggis image because it is such a small part of Scotland but a part of which we are very proud and we want to ensure that it is not "betrayed". We will certainly defend it - not, nowadays to the extent of bloodshed but, certainly, to the extent of shouting at XMarkers.
Indeed we are saddened by the ongoing predicament of the US not least because it closely affects us all and we have no say in anything - which probably makes us shout at you even more loudly.
Yes, you are wild - we certainly notice that. I think I have previously called you a bunch of teenagers in reference to the relative ages of our countries - you don't listen properly, you slam doors, you deliberately misunderstand, you know it all and certainly think that we're condescending. Have teenagers ever thought you were being condescending even when you knew you were not?
Just remember that Scotland on a daily basis is also full of great variety. I am sitting 'midst the rolling green fields of Aberdeenshire a million miles away from the buzzi-ness of Glasgow - your average Weegie(Glaswegian) can't understand the speak of the countryfolk around here and vice-versa. But we all share the same eternal backdrop of mountains, lochs and rivers, the same legal system (even if the US doesn't like it), the same education system (our Higher Education is renowned worldwide), the same tourism industry ("The land that likes to be visited" - we really do even if you come kilted), the same social conscience (which makes even Bernie seem right-wing but is what is left of Presbyterianism) and, on top of the variety, we share our long fought-for unity - from our near-Norwegian friends in Shetland to our near-Irish friends down in Wigtownshire.
So, yes, our culture is "definable", but not alone by shortbread and tartan.

Alan