International break....

[calscot 0]

Me. After that 2nd half I feel like I have some tactical nous to offer...

[alexscottislegend 2,289]

But more than anything else I despise the jacobite pish from the moronic, cringeworthy tartan army wankers and the endless dreadful droning flower of scotland, led by the latest hasbeen folk singer from yesteryear.

 

Some years ago when my uncle who started me off as a Gers supporter came back from Australia he heard Flower of Scotland for the first time and declared: "anyone with a drop of Scots blood in them would not fail to be moved by it." The hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I hear it sung properly -i.e by the Corries.

 

Forget the Jacobite nonsense. Maybe you would prefer if Scotland was officially renamed England (which is what pre-war history books call it) and we had a GB team which would very quickly be called England as soon as it played at wembley. I'm proud to be British but I'm Scottish first.

[Gribz 826]

Personally Id bring back Scotland the Brave for the anthem before International matches.

[maineflyer 0]

Some years ago when my uncle who started me off as a Gers supporter came back from Australia he heard Flower of Scotland for the first time and declared: "anyone with a drop of Scots blood in them would not fail to be moved by it." The hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I hear it sung properly -i.e by the Corries.

 

Forget the Jacobite nonsense. Maybe you would prefer if Scotland was officially renamed England (which is what pre-war history books call it) and we had a GB team which would very quickly be called England as soon as it played at wembley. I'm proud to be British but I'm Scottish first.

 

Funny, I thought my post was about the dirge-like qualities of a song that was adopted simply because it pandered to the chip-on-the-shoulder mentality of a weak and aimless society. I think we've made progress since then but I still feel the song is a disgracefully cheap choice to represent an ancient and complex nation like the Scots. Maybe your uncle has different tastes, good luck to him, but to claim he is somehow more of a Scot because he finds it difficult to control the hair on the back of his neck is, frankly, childlike.

 

It's disappointing to hear you say forget about the Jacobite nonsense and then infer that anyone who does so is anti-Scottish, preferring instead to call themselves English? That's the kind of fatuous revisionism pedalled by people who choose to believe Charlie was a Scot or that endless romantic tosh is a fair substitute for reality. Ignorance may be bliss for some but it's a poor foundation from which to lead a debate. The truth is that you're no more of a Scot because of what happens round the back of your (or your uncle's) neck and I'm no less of one because of seeing through the claptrap of political fiction.

 

Personally, I'll never be English, nor would I want to be. My reality (and yours presumably) is that we're Scottish and British in equal measure. That suits me like the skin I'm in. It's not anti-Scottish to object to the truth about your country being hijacked by ignorance and poor taste.

[alexscottislegend 2,289]

Funny, I thought my post was about the dirge-like qualities of a song that was adopted simply because it pandered to the chip-on-the-shoulder mentality of a weak and aimless society. I think we've made progress since then but I still feel the song is a disgracefully cheap choice to represent an ancient and complex nation like the Scots. Maybe your uncle has different tastes, good luck to him, but to claim he is somehow more of a Scot because he finds it difficult to control the hair on the back of his neck is, frankly, childlike.

 

It's disappointing to hear you say forget about the Jacobite nonsense and then infer that anyone who does so is anti-Scottish, preferring instead to call themselves English? That's the kind of fatuous revisionism pedalled by people who choose to believe Charlie was a Scot or that endless romantic tosh is a fair substitute for reality. Ignorance may be bliss for some but it's a poor foundation from which to lead a debate. The truth is that you're no more of a Scot because of what happens round the back of your (or your uncle's) neck and I'm no less of one because of seeing through the claptrap of political fiction.

 

Personally, I'll never be English, nor would I want to be. My reality (and yours presumably) is that we're Scottish and British in equal measure. That suits me like the skin I'm in. It's not anti-Scottish to object to the truth about your country being hijacked by ignorance and poor taste.

 

I assure you I know my history. Can't help feeling there's a bit of disingenuousness at work here: some folk don't like FoS because they assume a linkage to republicanism. Now, I happen to believe that the Union has benefited Scotland (the Darien fiasco being one example of that), but if somehow there was a democratic vote for real independence I'd accept it and still be Scottish. What I can't fathom is this craven devolution lark - it does not make us a real nation, it actually dilutes us - it makes us feel like the teenager who wants to leave home but still brings his washing home for Mother England to do.

 

Wandered off the point I know. What I'm trying to say is that sung sincerely FoS is genuinely moving; it may not indicate a past that some would like, but our history is what it is. Prince Charlie received no support from Glasgow but there is something almost uniquely Scottish about glorious failure. It's always been a matter of conjecture for me what some Rangers supporters would do if there was an independent Scotland - would we cease to fly the Union Jack? One thing's for sure - I will still be a RANGERS supporter:)