|
|
ARE THE SCOTS A UNIQUE BREED?
It is generally accepted that the Scottish nation have provided a disproportionate amount to the world. From inventions and discoveries to literature and poetry the Scots voice is loudly heard.
Were I to list the notable achievements of the Scottish race I would need considerably more paper and while it would no doubt impress the reader, it would not necessarily make my point.
Yes, the Scots are extraordinary, but why? Things uniquely Scottish (or almost unique) for example, are the kilt, bagpipes, regularly drinking to excess, haggis, deep-fried chocolate bars and “Ir’n Bru (a noxious fizzy concoction used as a hangover cure). Not really a lot of clues there though.
Education, perhaps, is a more pertinent line of enquiry. More often than not connected to poverty, education leads to a great desire to better oneself, with the knowledge and learning to achieve that aspiration, necessity being the mother of invention. Poverty took many of the brightest and best abroad. We can claim the first Prime Ministers of Canada and Australia were Scots. In fact, there are Scottish signatories to the American declaration of independence and much of the “British Empire” was won and run by Scotsmen. Still no particular uniqueness there though.
Perhaps in our philosophers we can find a more helpful insight into the character of the Scots. It appears that what the Scottish philosophers have in common is a strong grasp on reality and common sense. Dismissing airy-fairy theories and holding to the ordinary and simply provable. Probably the best known of our philosophers, James Frederick Ferrier (1808-1864), argues that “we have a direct knowledge of reality, both spiritual and material”. This does appear to be a familiar attitude of well-known Scots, a strong current of logic and reason, dismissing superstition as unhelpful nonsense. Also noteworthy to mention here is that many of the “de-bunkers” of spiritualism, clairvoyance and magic have been and are Scots. Though perversely the Scots are a notably superstitious nation we have produced many scientists, engineers and academics, displaying a somewhat contradictory national characteristic.
In truth, it is more reasonable to suggest that if the Scots are truly unique it is as a result of many sometimes contradictory factors. From the changeability of the weather, financial poverty, educational wealth, superstitious religiosity and down to earth reasoned logic. History shows that Scots are often at the forefront of human endeavors. They are often the first to accept new concepts and first to find applications for those new ideas. Perhaps it is just that. Our willingness to go on journeys, both literal and imaginative, that makes the Scottish nation unique. There is very little timidity in the Scottish nature. Scotland is one of the few nations on the globe who has never been occupied by a foreign power. The bravery of the Scottish is legendary, as is our willingness to join in a fight at the drop of a hat. Few, but the least charitable, would gainsay the statement that “the Scots are unfamiliar with cowardice and are brave, often beyond reason”.
What makes the Scots unique? The courage to be unique!
J.Lashbrook.
28/06/04
|
1
Tags
You must be logged in to add tags.
|
Writer Profile
Jack Lashbrook
This user has not written anything in his panorama profile yet.
|
Comments
we all are unique melanie mae | Oct 17th, 2005
Jack Lashbrook | Oct 19th, 2005
If we are all unique wouldn't that make us all the same?
You must be a TakingITGlobal member to post a comment. Sign up for free or login.
|
|
