How the Unionists steal our future by having us deny our past
By Christian Wright (updated)
Since Unionists are forever poking Braveheart in our face as a pejorative, it is time that we took ownership of it and defined it.
Braveheartism: Advocates that Scotland’s past is integral to it’s future. That its history and mythology play a key role in the creation and development of the Scottish identity. That it is legitimate for Scots to take pride in the accomplishments of their forebears, including their struggle against an implacable and powerful foe. That Scotland’s mythology and ancient history are the roots of a continuing development that is manifest in and integral to the character of Scotland’s culture and people today.
Braveheart: A person who subscribes to and espouses Braveheartism.
oOo
Making those whom you wish to lord it over feel inferior is an effective instrument of control.
The British State has set aside £50m of taxpayers money to celebrate the centenary of
the commencement of the Great War in August 2014. Why would anyone celebrate the start of such a bloody war? Among other things, this seems deliberately designed to compete with and overshadow the June 2014 anniversary of Bannockburn in the run-up to the referendum.
While promoting their odd remembrance, the Unionists, particularly the likes of Lord Jim Wallace, Lord Forsyth, and Lord Foulkes, are at pains to ensure we should forget Bannockburn on its 700th anniversary (why else have British Armed Forces day celebrations on this day in Stirling).
“It’s seven hundred years since”, the noble lords will admonish with mocking tone – “for goodness sake, no one cares!” – It’s not relevant – it’s clownish braveheartism, braveheart, BRAVEHEART!!!
. . . . We are told to grow up and get real.
There is method to their madness, and I think those of Nationalist persuasion – most of us – have fallen for it. We are sheepishly apologetic and readily agree to demean and dismiss Bravehearts and Braveheatism. We deny “Ourselves” in doing so.
The Unionist “Braveheart gambit” – seeks to denigrate Scotland’s historical fight for freedom against a belligerent neighbour whilst vigorously promoting Britain’s colonial wars and continental wars.
They would have us forget Bannockburn and how the bravery and guile of brave men helped forge this nation and temper our national character.
I call it the Braveheart Gambit because usually the focus of their derision is
not really the film about the life of William Wallace, but rather Wallace
himself, and the attack on Wallace remains the template upon which all other such attacks are made.
Mythologies are an essential ingredient of the glue than binds a people and creates a national identity. That is why icons of Union and Empire were paraded endlessly by the broadcast media in London’s Olympic pageant of 2012.
Yet simultaneously there has been a concerted effort by the chattering class and the jocktocracy in the Lords, to delegitimise that phenomenon where Scotland is concerned (whilst as noted, promoting the notion shamelessly where Britain is concerned).
None speaks to the heart of our people like the deeds and the persona of Wallace and events like Bannockburn, and no Scot should feel embarrassed to embrace that narrative, so shamefully demeaned and ridiculed by Westminster’s pet jocks and their counterparts in Holyrood.
Whatever you self-identify as, carries with it an encyclopaedia’s-worth of historical and cultural defining referential events. They are the very essence of a polity’s sense of itself. They have been used and abused since the dawn of civilization by the unscrupulous to further their nefarious ends, and by visionaries to build nations.
Scotland has a rich and glorious narrative from which to hew an identity and it is on the cusp of creating a richer one yet. The battles of independence continue to this day and the prize not yet won.
We can acknowledge and embrace our inner braveheart and celebrate it, or spurn it and cringe. But I would ask you to consider who it is that would have us deny and dissolve the glue that binds us, and why they would have you cringe.
It is they who dismiss and delegitimise national aspiration and scorn the enabling and inspiring notion that tomorrow can be better than today. Their vision and message is that this is as good as it gets. Their only plan is to tell us what we can’t do.
The past determines the present, and the present, the future, and ours awaits.
Of course, this does not mean that anyone will make a decision on September 18 solely on the basis of ancient history and mythology, but that we should look to the past for an understanding of how we came to be who we are today, in order that we may more fully contextualize the alternatives that confront us in this referendum, and choose the direction of our tomorrows.
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The UK establishments WW1 celebrations and the decision to concentrate them in Scotland are blatant propaganda. It’s an excuse to parade the butchers apron and restate the BS of togetherness. I’m sure the majority of Scots and English for that matter will see it for what it is.
Talking of the denial of history you should try being English. No BBC multi series epic History of England. No English history at all on the BBC website – it’s all British. Zero funds for the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. Zero funds for Flodden anniversary. You get the picture.
We have a similar problem in Cornwall with the Duchy of Cornwall. The successive governments of the UK and the Duchy authority have tried to tell us all that the Duchy is just a simple collection of private estates most of which exist outside of the territory of Cornwall.
When you actually look into the constitutional status of Cornwall and the Duchy however a totally different picture arises.
The Duchy of Cornwall – A Very Peculiar Private Estate:
Couldn’t agree more with you. We, I do this and it is a trap. Very insightful remarks.
Hi. I spotted this intention to celebrate the START of WW1 some months ago. I wrote to my MP and asked her why on earth would any government celebrate the beginning of war. Surely we should celebrate the END.
My letter got shunted around a bit but eventually i recieved a reply (15/11/12) from ‘Ed Vaizey minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries’ !!!!
He attempted to explain the commemorations would cover not just 2014 but the four years to 2018. He didn’t convince me. In fact i doubt he convinced himself.
As an Englishman who would be only too happy to see Scotland sail off to independence, i hope you’ll forgive me for not caring much about your romanticising about Bannockburn ( I prefer to remember Culloden myself ) But make no mistake, this ridiculous and deceitful decision by the (dis)UK Gov. is designed not to obscure Scottish celebration of a long ago battle. This decision is designed to re-create a unified memory of British sacrifice during WW1 in the hope it may make some Scots vote against leaving the (dis)UK in the forthcoming referendum.
Don’t listen to this nonsense. Vote for independence………………………….please.
Wow! Great post and so true. Everybody has to understand this!