Wannabe Scot

[Valencian Kilted]

Heres a few home truths about Scotland, stray away from tourist ares and often you will find bleak housing estates and flats where many people are out of work and have drug issues, Glasgow is the murder capital of Europe, in short a very large percentage of Scots, especially younger Scots are Neds, out of work and very little prospect, much like the rest of the UK. Again away from tourist areas people are suspicious of "strangers" and the further north you head, the harder you will have to work to be accepted, Many people -not Just English are buying houses in villages as "second" homes this pushes the house prices up and makes it difficult for people born and bred in the villages to afford to stay there, of course this causes resentmant, Scots are the unheathiest people in the UK with issues like smoking fatty diests heart attacks ettc, in fact Scotland is called the "sick man" of Europe, wages are lower than the rest of the UK -so the last thing on many people minds is going out and spending £300. on a kilt and learning Gaelic. Scotland is also the home of the greatest inventors in History, we have been shafted by eveyone from the Vikings, the English and anyone else you care to google , but we are still here!! we still have our flag and our accent, Scotland is a hard place to live and work, Glasgow has some very scary people- google Paul Ferris, or Tam McGraw , In Glasgow you will find people without two halfpennys to rub together, yet thier spirit and humor is still there. you upset one you upset us all and if you want to come here, as Mike and Ranald will tell you you have to work Damn hard to prove you not some interloper, becasues we get all kinds of people dumped here and because the government is so soft they get better housing and handhouts than Scots.

After reading this, I came into a reflexive mood. I was in Glasgow last Easter, and my intention is to come back again next year, maybe in Easter again or maybe in summer, it depends on the price of flights.

For me, being in Glasgow was a nice discovery. I loved the place much more than "Embra", not just for its architecture (Embra is more monumental) but for the main treasure of Glasgow: GLASGWEGIANS.

I agree that everybody told me before going there about the problems of the city, the unemployed, the football hooligans (I support the bhoys), and the violence in general. I've seen there drunk elder men sleeping over the grass or on the soil with a half empty bottle of Irn Bru laying at their side and wetting their beards. I've seen scottish people selling "pirate" CD's in Barras market (That's a job that only african and south american inmigrants do in Spain) and running as police came into action. I've felt the superficiality of the young lads and lassies in Sauchiehall st. on a Saturday night, and their lack of values, confusing the pride of being scots with a position of beligerance and rejection that made me feel sad. I also had the same feeling when I went to Portsmouth with one of my english friends many years ago, but maybe even worst. I almost had a fight just because it's supposed that we, spaniards are more than sexual obsesses (well, we are, but we are becoming more european year after year! ;) )going to "steal" "their" english gals at the first attempt. I also saw the same rejection to foreigners, and some of the same poverty on the streets. I also know the rejection and missvalue of the english people against the scots, and that made me also feel sad.

Even with all this, I could enjoy the feeling of being accepted and welcomed by almost all the people in Glasgow: at the first taxi I took at Prestwick airport, at shops, restaurants, on the streets, in Barras market, etc,... people was even more polite than in Spain and I was surprised gratefully. When I stopped at a shop and made the step of buying my kilt, was just because I had the convincement that I was going to go back, and have the chance of using it on any social event (at least) over there. I wanted to mix with them and feel just partially as part of the scottish crowd. I know I had a lot of things and thoughts to share with them, and I wish it with all my soul.

The problems I saw in Glasgow are the same that I could see in Madrid, Paris, Geneva, Lisbon, etc,... but the "taste" of that people is unique to me.

Just talking about the problems that people have there and the way for independence as the only solution, as if just the scots were suffering as they do and the english were to blame of all the problems in Alba nowadays is for me a simplistic and not realistic way to face the future. There's also another danger that we also have here in Spain. The creation of groups like this:

http://www.scottishpatriots.org/Website_Index.htm

I also found this kind of guys in Glasgow. People who asked me if I was Spanish or Catalonian (that for me is like asking a McDonald if he is unionist or a Campbell), just to know if I was "good" for them or not depending on MY political point of view about MY country.

I know quite well this kind of propaganda, as if you know Spain you'll know that we have 5 languages, 17 authonomic governments, with 17 flags and the honour of being the only people who prefers to do something bad on their own that something good toghether . This kind of ultra-nationalist groups, with their "soft actions" of urban guerrilla are quite common in Baskian Country or Catalonia, and also in my homeland, but quite softer.This people uses their history, their simbols and their rage to promote a victimism that was also successfully used in the past by other "minor" dangerous extremist groups that started to act in Munich over 1923,... I suppose that you know the rest. They started on the same way, appealing to the national proud and blaming their ancestral "enemies" of all the pains they were suffering, doing minor violent actions and painting the walls to protest and express their "pride" to all their society.

I am not a scottish and I'll never be. I'm a proud spanish and I love my language, my culture, my history and my traditions. Even with all the black spots and legends that you may know about us. But I love also that green foggy land and their people. They deserve the best, and they deserve not to loose their legendary pride and simbols (kilt included, of course) but they don't deserve to sink in irrationality as we, people of the "continent" sunk on so many occasions in the past.

ooops,... I think I thought too much! sorry!

[MacMullen]

(not picking on anyone in particular just using part of the Quote)
The other thing that blows me away about this thread is people's efforts to not look like a tourist. I love being a tourist in my own town!!! How much are you missing out on because you don't want to lower yourself to look like a tourist. Holy elitism Batman! I was not born in B.C., but I have tried to contiue to visit some of the best places it has to offer. Do tourists annoy me, damn right they do, but at the same time it is nice to see people appreciating all my city/province/country has to offer other nation's people. I will never be insulted by being called a tourist.

There, you said it better than I did. If my area has something breathtaking or historical or educational or fun, why should I avoid it simply because people might think that I'm from out of town?

On the subject of tourist stops vs. reality you have the same thing in the Caribbean, only worse. Get away from the beaches and hotels and you will find that you're suddenly in a third world country after walking just a few blocks from the lights and the tourism money.

[davedove]

I also don't understand not going to certain sites because you don't want to be considered a tourist. Some of those sites you should see because they are exceptional.

Now I do understand not going to the sites while there are a lot of tourists there, because after all, you can see them anytime. Just be careful or you may never see them while waiting for a better time.

The thing with the Smithsonian is also strange. I don't go there very often because it's often crowded and "I can go anytime", but there are some very interesting things to see there. I will admit about the only time I do go is when someone from out of the area comes to visit me and wants to go. I suspect a lot of us are that way; we wouldn't see what's in our own back yard if it weren't for out of town visitors.

[Ranald]

Heres a few home truths about Scotland, stray away from tourist ares and often you will find bleak housing estates and flats where many people are out of work and have drug issues, Glasgow is the murder capital of Europe, in short a very large percentage of Scots, especially younger Scots are Neds, out of work and very little prospect, much like the rest of the UK. Again away from tourist areas people are suspicious of "strangers" and the further north you head, the harder you will have to work to be accepted, Many people -not Just English are buying houses in villages as "second" homes this pushes the house prices up and makes it difficult for people born and bred in the villages to afford to stay there, of course this causes resentmant, Scots are the unheathiest people in the UK with issues like smoking fatty diests heart attacks ettc, in fact Scotland is called the "sick man" of Europe, wages are lower than the rest of the UK -so the last thing on many people minds is going out and spending £300. on a kilt and learning Gaelic. Scotland is also the home of the greatest inventors in History, we have been shafted by eveyone from the Vikings, the English and anyone else you care to google , but we are still here!! we still have our flag and our accent, Scotland is a hard place to live and work, Glasgow has some very scary people- google Paul Ferris, or Tam McGraw , In Glasgow you will find people without two halfpennys to rub together, yet thier spirit and humor is still there. you upset one you upset us all and if you want to come here, as Mike and Ranald will tell you you have to work Damn hard to prove you not some interloper, becasues we get all kinds of people dumped here and because the government is so soft they get better housing and handhouts than Scots.

I got to chime in again and say thanks to Daz , excellent post on realities and does tell me a thing or two I didn't already know.
This is a most excellent thread.

[Graham]

Agreed Ranald, that is an excellent post by daz, it kinda strips away any romantic illusions about Scotland

However, no matter how dark a situation, there is alway light. There are some fine people doing fine things there too.
Scotland has two things that may redeem it, 1. the most beautiful scenery in the world (and that is me saying that living in Tasmania!)
2. A rich spiritual past, that if revived, could address the many social problems Daz outlined.

[highlander_Daz]

My friends despite everthing Ive said about this beautiful country and it really breaks my heart to type some of these things, I would urge you to visit Scotland at least once in your life, come her with no preconceptions about Kilts,castles, Haggis and all that crap, and you will meet some of the warmest people you will ever meet, It is a deeply flawed country no doubt, but its more than the sum of its parts.

To every last one of you on Xmarks, no matter how much we have disagreed, had heated discusions or whatever, I would shake every last one of your hands and welcome you like brothers and sisters. And can I raise my glass to you and wishh you all and you loved ones a happy Christmas and all the best for the coming year. truly Xmarks is the kindest and most passionate group of people on the net.

Scotland forever

[Colin]

My friends despite everthing Ive said about this beautiful country and it really breaks my heart to type some of these things, I would urge you to visit Scotland at least once in your life, come her with no preconceptions about Kilts,castles, Haggis and all that crap, and you will meet some of the warmest people you will ever meet, It is a deeply flawed country no doubt, but its more than the sum of its parts.
Scotland forever

I agree Daz, it is a beautiful country with incredibly warm and friendly people. It may be a flawed country (which country isn't?) but as is usually the case the positive is seen on a visit rather than the faults of the country which are often highlighted to those that live there.

www.visitscotland.com
www.scotlandistheplace.com
www.visitbritain.com

I have been only once and can't wait to get back to explore more of this vibrant, scenic, and entertaining country.

[Sherry]

I am blown away! Wonderful thread!

You are wonderful people with big hearts & beautiful souls.

Thanks for all the sharing, thoughtful posts. Blessings to all.

Sherry

[Graham]

Our country is flawed also, http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/st...001030,00.html
it's always the people that mess it up, but good people can make any place wonderful.

Cheers daz, I hope my next visit will include a visit to you.
Mike, thanks for the invite, I would love to come over with you, our last trip cost about $20,000, I need to recover from that first

[Mike1]

Daz, you've been honest, brutally so. You've painted a stark picture, but we know there is more to Scotland than just woes. (OK, more than the thought of giant pylons, too. )

But I do want to say this to you - Alba is no more flawed than our own country. The state I live in (Indiana) is 6,000 square miles larger than Scotland, yet we do not have anything near to what your country has to offer. The Scots are no more flawed than our own people. We have NEDs here, too. (No choking on that one, Bubba! )