Two Telling comments? The Answer Perhaps?

[neloon]

Jock (post # 177) and Calgacus (post # 178) have remarked on Scotland "reviewing its place in the modern world". To expand on this, we need to go back a couple of hundred years (which is not that far - my great grandfather was born in 1812). At that time, half the world map was coloured pink and Scots were playing a completely disproportionate part in the Empire. They were explorers, administrators, diplomats, teachers, missionaries, tea planters, jute traders, (kilted) soldiers, engineers (my grandfather spent most of his days as a marine engineer in Singapore and my father helped to design Lagos harbour) and so on. Those who stayed in Scotland dug coal for the Empire, built ships on the Clyde for the Empire, built locomotives for the Empire. Scotland had status in the world. Victoria and her family were kilt devotees so Highland Dress, clans, chiefs, heather and shortbread were the order of the day in a proud Scotland.

But, in the 20 years after the WW2, the Empire evaporated and with it, Scotland's self-confidence. So modern Scotland struggles to regain a small element of that status, to be able to look at itself with self respect again. The result is a rather schizophrenic psyche, reflected in attitudes to the question that we may not currently discuss on this forum but also to a perceived battle between head and heart. The "head" people (such as Harry?) say we must be modern - be hyper-connected with the world on its terms, concentrate on being innovative, get rid of all that old tartan nonsense (after all, the young "Royals" won't go near the kilt). That's the way forward for a vibrant new Scotland that can today welcome 71 countries from around the world to the Commonwealth Games, they say.

But the heart is still beating deep down. So if we puzzle some of you, we puzzle ourselves as well.
Alan