Aug 19
Fading tartan
Arthur Herman wrote a fine book about Scotland and its achievements a few years ago. I enjoyed ploughing through this terrific volume during a long flight to California last year. No-one who studies the history of post-Reformation Scotland, the Englightement, the contributions of Scots the the British Empire and to the development of the USA can doubt that the Tartan lads and lasses have made a huge difference to the world, one emphatically for the better. Think of the Scottish engineers, doctors, scientists, novelists, poets, political leaders, soldiers and actors, for starters. Remember, even James Bond was a half-Scot!
With that it in mind, Andrew Neil’s rather elgaic piece in the Spectator bemoaning the demise of Scottish influence in the higher regions of British political life makes for an interesting read. I don’t think that Scotland is at risk of turning in upon itself – the costs of that are likely to be too severe – but it cannot be ruled out.
When a nation ceases to look afar, it crumbles. It happened to the once-mighty Chinese in the 15th century and could happen much more severely to a smaller nation. I hope and am confident that the Jocks won’t make that mistake.
As you may or may not already be aware, members of the Watcher’s Council hold a vote every week on what they consider to be the most link-worthy pieces of writing around… per the Watcher’s instructions, I am submitting one of my own posts for consideration in the upcoming nominations process.
Here is the most recent winning council post, here is the most recent winning non-council post, here is the list of results for the latest vote, and here is the initial posting of all the nominees that were voted on.
2 Comments so far
I fail to see the problem here – the possibility of actually reducing the number of Scots in government is just about the only thing that motivates me to continue voting Conservative. The Scots have been hideously over-represented in the last few years – it’s about time they were told to take their peculiar socialist practices back to their overstuffed welfare state north of the border. I can understand Andrew Neil’s position on this – many Scots pretend that they sympathise with the English whilst the table is tilted in their [the Scots’] favour then start moaning the moment the tables begin to turn – but what’s your point here, Jon P? Do you not believe that the English are capable of governing themselves without Scottish interference?
David, I am no greater fan of Scottish socialists than you are. The point that Neil is making – rather well, I suggest you actually read his article – is that aspiring Scots are allowing their horizons to shrivel and this is to the long-term detriment of Scots.
I am glad that great Scots in the past like Adam Smith and David Hume had global horizons, for instance.