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Course work I am occassionally asked (surprisingly often really) to write a contentious piece to prompt discussion.This 'ere was written for t' Open University degree i completed many moons ago.Sadly no-one has ever disagreed with it so i guess this is a failure lol. -----ARE THE SCOTS A UNIQUE BREED?----- It is generally accepted that the Scottish nation have provided a disproportionate amount to the world. From inventions and discoveries to literature and poetry the Scots voice is loudly heard. Were I to list the notable achievements of the Scottish race I would need considerably more paper and while it would no doubt impress the reader, it would not necessarily make my point. Yes the Scots are extraordinary, but why? Things uniquely Scottish (or almost unique) for example, are, the kilt, bagpipes, regularly drinking to excess, haggis, deep-fried chocolate bars and “Ir’n Bru (a noxious fizzy concoction used as a hangover cure) Not really a lot of clues there though. Education perhaps is a more pertinent line of enquiry. Very often combined with poverty this would lead to a great desire to better oneself, with the knowledge and learning to achieve that aspiration, Necessity being very much the mother of invention. Poverty took many of the brightest and best abroad, hence we can claim the first Prime Ministers of Canada and Australia were Scots, there are Scottish signatories to the American declaration of independence, most of the “British Empire” was won and run by Scotsmen. Still no particular uniqueness there though. Perhaps in our philosophers we can find a more helpful insight into the character of the Scots. It appears that what the Scots philosophers have in common is a strong grasp on reality and common sense, dismissing airy-fairy theories and holding to the ordinary and simply provable. Probably the best known of our philosophers, James Frederick Ferrier, (1808-1864) argues that “we have a direct knowledge of reality, both spiritual and material”. This does appear to be a familiar attitude of well-known Scots, a strong current of logic and reason, dismissing superstition as unhelpful nonsense (many of the “de-bunkers” of spiritualism, clairvoyance and magic have been and are Scots) Though perversely the Scots are a notably superstitious nation we have produced many scientists, engineers and academics, displaying a somewhat contradictory national characteristic. In truth it is more reasonable to suggest that if the Scots are truly unique it is as a result of many sometimes contradictory factors, from the changeability of the weather, financial poverty, educational wealth, superstitious religiosity and down to earth reasoned logic. History shows that Scots are often at the forefront of human endeavour. First to accept new concepts and first to find applications for those new ideas. Perhaps it is that. Our willingness to go on journeys, both literal and imaginative, that makes the Scottish nation unique. There is very little timidity in the Scottish nature. One of the very few nations on the globe who have never been occupied by a foreign power, the bravery of the Scots is legendary (as is our willingness to join in a fight at the drop of a hat) and few but the least charitable would gainsay the statement that “the Scots are unfamiliar with cowardice and are brave, often beyond reason”. What makes the Scots unique? The courage to be unique! 
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3/11/2009 1:46 pm |
None of the characteristics you describe are unique. Except the Irn Bru. Their particular combination is, of course. But then, you can say that about any group. Anyway, everbody knows that you need at least 10 million people to be considered a nation.
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Ahh bless you, you big ole sweetheart. At least you tried to find it contentious lol but surely drinking to excess as a hobby is uniquely Scottish? Well maybe not lol I'm thinkin rooskis prolly have us beat for that.Maybe Ir'n bru as a hangover cure is at least unique?
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