Shock as Shir Shaun shuns Tartan Week

[Lallans]

Whilst I have no wish to be parsimonious with handing out the credit, I am not altogether sure that he could be described as a" National icon".

Sir Sean is well known however as a nationalIST icon, having spent some years endlessly preaching Scottish separatism to all and sundry, interested or nae. While not a fan of separatist anything, I had to admire his brass equipage when he at the same time demanded a knighthood from Great Britain and bitterly complained about being left off the yearly honours list.


PS: in the war of warring icons, I do believe Mr Gibson is Irish Catholic by descent.

[Tobus]

Those of you in Scotland may not see him that way, but in America he certainly is seen as such. There are many Americans who could not name a single Scottish person except Sean Connery. When they think of Scotland, they think of him.

[Zardoz]

There are many Americans who could not name a single Scottish person except Sean Connery. When they think of Scotland, they think of him.

Well, him or Mel Gibson

Honestly, if I was him I'd rather play golf in the Bahamas than deal with that show as well.

[Chirs]

Well, him or Mel Gibson

Mel? The Mel? He was born in New York and moved to Australia. Not so Scottish.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Gibson

[Zardoz]

Mel? The Mel? He was born in New York and moved to Australia. Not so Scottish.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Gibson

I never claimed Mad Max was a Scot!
But I do think if you say "Scotland" in front of the 'average person' here, their mind's eye is gonna see Braveheart more often than James Bond.

Perception , for better or worse, is reality for many. I may think of Glasgow born Billy Connely as a 'Scottish Icon', but I had an argument with a guy once who insisted he was Irish because of his role in Boondock Saints (I&II).

[Tobus]

Well, him or Mel Gibson

Honestly, if I was him I'd rather play golf in the Bahamas than deal with that show as well.

I'm sure Zardoz knows this. He was making reference to the fact that many Americans don't know diddly about Scotland except what they see on television. And since Mel Gibson portrayed William Wallace in the most popular movie about Scotland of all time (even though it was wildly inaccurate), a lot of Americans probably do think he's Scottish. Sad to say, but there it is. Which is why Zardoz used the emoticon.

Sigh and sigh again.

Oh lord do they?

Indeed, yes. But again, I think it's probably not so bad as you think. Sean Connery is highly respected and admired over here. Compare him to what you Scots think of as our American icons and you'll understand why.

[sydnie7]

Well, him or Mel Gibson

Honestly, if I was him I'd rather play golf in the Bahamas than deal with that show as well.

It's OK, Zardoz, I "got it" the first time around

And had pretty much the same thought about the Bahamas vs. NYC! No offense to our New Yawkers, but weigh the one against the other and . . . sign me up for the beach. The entire affair sounds either poorly handled or poorly reported (probably both) but I'm also with the "he owes nobody nothing" crew.

[Galician]

Gee, I'd love to do both!

[auld argonian]

Ah, cripes....who's got Ewan MacGregor's phone number...this year's Scotsman/last year's Scotsman...they can get Alan Cumming, for that matter...y've seen one guy in a kilt, y've seen 'em all, right?

Best

AA

[Jock Scot]

Those of you in Scotland may not see him that way, but in America he certainly is seen as such. There are many Americans who could not name a single Scottish person except Sean Connery. When they think of Scotland, they think of him.

Sigh and sigh again.

Oh lord do they?