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SLG

700 years today since Robert the Bruce was crowned King of Scots. The Scotsman are publishing a number of articles to mark this. The first is 'Birth of a new nation' by Ted Cowan. http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=465302006. There are more articles at http://heritage.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1351.

Rinty · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:07 am Post subject: t

Kevin Wiliamson gives the event at Bannocburn today a plug in his "Rebel Ink" column in this weeks Voice.

http://www.scottishsocialistvoice.net/

True Scotsman · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:53 am Post subject:

700 years since Robert the Bruce was crowned King of Scots, that's a long time. It is getting closer to the day when the Declaration of Arbroath was signed.

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sandmountainslim · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 2:26 pm Post subject:

Remember Bruce today! Wear your tartan and honour history.
Hats off to Robert Bruce!
Deo Vindice
WP
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wisnaeme · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 2:46 pm Post subject: Re: t

Rinty · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:01 pm Post subject: y

Its a good paper wisnae especially given its tiny budget. Kevin is a great columnist and inpires a lot of debate (complaints Smile

).

I'm glad you will now read it but could I suggest that you buy a copy instead from your local branch and help the paper keep going. Its the only left wing weekly paper in Scotland and as such is very important.

Tell me where you are and I'll let you know where you can find a copy locally.

Of course, if your skint, then read it for free!

azzuri · 'Our Scotland' Fossil Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 3777

REBEL INK

Kevin Williamson

No more heroes?

“I don'’t have any heroes. They’re all useless.” I first heard those words spoken on a radio show, back in 1977, contemptuously spat out by a young John Lydon, then lead singer in the Sex Pistols. Which I must say, I found a bit confusing, because Lydon’s anti-establishment venom had made him a hero of mine. I’'m still not sure about the value of heroes, as such, but inspirational figures are important. Scotland’s own radical history, often buried deep beneath the weight of official British history, has a rich vein of inspirational figures that we can draw strength and learn from.

Whenever any poll is taken among Scots, regarding the most inspirational characters from Scottish history, the first two on the list have usually been William Wallace and Robert Burns. And rightly so. Both have a deep and enduring emotional appeal to all Scots who value freedom, independence and our unique Scottish culture. But Wallace and Burns are only two of many. For the Scottish left there is no shortage of inspirational characters.

If I was asked to name Scotland’s three most inspirational political figures from the last century there wouldn’t be much hesitation: the names of Ethel Moorhead, Hugh MacDairmid and John Maclean would instantaneously trip of the tongue. In that order.

Ethel Moorhead, the most militant and uncompromising of all the Scottish suffragette, was a one woman direct action tornado. No amount of imprisonment, force feeding in jail, nor police harassment could stop her for long. And, most importantly, her cause was actually won. Which is why she’d be number one on my list. Hugh MacDairmid has left his cultural and political footprints across the face of 21st century Scotland in a way no other political or cultural figure has even come close. MacDairmid’s impact on the world of literature and poetry, allied to his championing of the Scots language, would have by themselves secured his place in history. But MacDairmid, like John MacLean before him, made his greatest impact on Scottish political life through his understanding of the need to link the national liberation struggle in Scotland with class politics. That is the inspirational legacy of both men.

Along with Wallace and Burns, those three giants of Scottish history are a constant source of inspiration. But go back further into Scottish history and there’s plenty more individuals whose inspirational lives are worthy of study. In the nineteenth century, the lives and actions of militant land agitators, Alexander Robertson and John Murdoch, as well as Hardie, Baird and Wilson, the executed leaders of the 1820 Insurrection, are held dear by all Scots who value liberty and freedom. In the century before that Thomas Muir of Huntershill, another militant revolutionary, and one of the original Friends of the People, is rightly recognised as being another great hero of the Scottish resistance. Fletcher of Saltoun is another inspirational figure from the past who stood up in 1707, at a crucial juncture in history, against the “parcel o rogues” who, in the words of one of Robert Burns’ greatest poems, “were bought and sold for English gold”.

And yet there is another larger-than-life historical character, without whom, modern day Scotland would not even exist. The story of Robert The Bruce, who was a vacillating Scottish noble during the first phase of the Wars of Independence, is inspirational in every sense. In March 1306 Bruce seized the crown of Scotland, and then took to the hills as an outlaw and fugitive, to wage a courageous guerrilla struggle that led triumphantly to Bannockburn, and then to 400 years independent nationhood. On the basis of results, Bruce is perhaps the greatest Scot of all.

On Saturday 25 March at 1pm, a commemoration is being held at the Bannockburn statue, to mark the 700th anniversary of Robert The Bruce’s seizure of the Scottish crown and the relevance of that act today. Author David Ross, Robbie The Pict, and yours truly will all be speaking. All welcome.
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wisnaeme · Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 12:48 am Post subject: The Bruce

I'm muckle scunnered that I'll no be there myself,"rs_azzuri",I hope the Pict is in good form at the gathering, he usually is. Yer man has got me out of many an awkward position wae the forces of law and order.Mair power to his elbow.
Wee Jack and the Lanarkshire mafia were recently spouting off about history not being a subject of worthy importance in a school's curriculum,I wonder why not? Could it be that the teaching of Scottish history to receptive minds that would include the stories of working class heroes,heroines and others who have overcome adversity become a benchmark and a cause celeb to aspire to.Couldn't have that, could we.Imaging it,little people growing up to think for themselves and asking why it must be so.Oh dearie me no,that would never do.

wisnaeme · Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 1:21 am Post subject: Re: y

azzuri · 'Our Scotland' Fossil Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 3777

Rinty · Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 4:26 pm Post subject: y

Actually, subsrcibing to the paper would be a big help. It is the SSP paper but as it is the only independent not-for-profit left of centre weekly paper in Scotland its really for everyone, and is bought and read by many outside of the party.

Subscriptions at http://www.scottishsocialistvoice.net/subs.html

If you would rather not subscribe and still want to help we have an appeal at http://www.scottishsocialistvoice.net/appeal.html

They are also always looking for contributions especially about local campaigns and events in Scotland. Anyone who wants to write something for the paper should email Jo Harvey at voice.editorial@btconnect.com

azzuri · 'Our Scotland' Fossil Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 3777

why not add a post about this under 'campaign/events' section?
_________________
"Every single person on this planet is unique. Just like everyone else..." - Random Guy in Edinburgh Pub

Possibly the funniest site in the world, 'The Daily Mash' - http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/

Rinty · Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 8:34 am Post subject: h

Smart thinking batman

Blackadder · 'Our Scotland' Fossil Joined: 28 Jul 2006 Posts: 4300

Robin thought so too. But he turned to be a bit of a Joker!