Two Telling comments? The Answer Perhaps?

[Calgacus]

I would agree with Jock that recent events in Scotland have led to a growing national confidence and awareness of ourselves and our place in the world. I'd also agree that there is an element of "anti-romantic, let's get real" as he puts it. A belief that somehow you can't be a modern country and still hold on to these things that I think has been around for a decade or more now. I also think however that there's another view forming that "it's OK to be Scottish" that I have noticed only in the last year or two which is more embracing of our cultural uniqueness.

I agree with Jock that these things can be discussed apolitically. It is not necessary to discuss the reasons behind the changes in order to discuss the changes themselves.

It is not at all clear which way things will go in the future, all one can say for sure is that change is afoot.

It's also worth remembering that the tourist industry does what it does with the sole aim of increasing revenue. It cares little for any real culture that it might trample on in the process.