“Scotland: the only country in the world where the artists conspire with the government against the people.” Stephen Daisley Who took the satire out of the Saltire? The following article will delve into the Scottish Comedy scene and its relationship with politics. Looking back to comedy in Scotland before the Nationalists came to power: whenContinue reading “Send In The Clowns”
Tag Archives: Scottish
Putting the Con in Constitution
A Constitution for an Independent Scotland: A Populist’s Dream or a Misuse of Public Funds? While the idea of a written constitution for an independent Scotland may seem appealing, the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) proposal is fraught with potential pitfalls, oversimplifications, and a lack of detail that raises serious questions about its feasibility and theContinue reading “Putting the Con in Constitution”
The Lady Doth Protest Too Much
The lady doth protest too much, methinks. Queen Gertrude, Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 2 In politics, the phrase “the lady doth protest too much, methinks” from Hamlet often rings true. This line, uttered by Queen Gertrude, suggests that an overabundance of denial or protestation can inadvertently reveal the truth. Politicians, in their quest to maintainContinue reading “The Lady Doth Protest Too Much”
Pushing the Envelope
When people of influence are caught with envelopes of cash, it rarely ends well for them It’s about as grubby and corrupt a scene as you can find in popular culture; the trope of “envelopes of cash” is often used in films and television shows to depict bribery and corruption. It has become a cliché,Continue reading “Pushing the Envelope”
Empire State
Scotland: Colony or Coloniser? “The primary aim of propaganda is, of course, to influence contemporary opinion, but those who rewrite history do probably believe with part of their minds that they are actually thrusting facts into the past.” Notes on Nationalism – George Orwell It’s sadly become a nationalist trope to claim Scotland is aContinue reading “Empire State”
The Wrong Good Friday
The Good Friday Agreement is not Justification for the SNP’s Unilateral De Facto Referendum demands The pub in the film the long good Friday is called “The ‘Lion and Unicorn’ – representing the standards of England and Scotland as united on the banner of James VI of Scotland when he became James I of EnglandContinue reading “The Wrong Good Friday”
Cognitive Dissidents
The mind needs to spend effort and energy coping with the constant conflict, and we can become uncomfortable, stressed and even irrationally angry when our attention is drawn to them.
Happy Hogmanay!
A look at Hogmanay with some of the Scottish new year traditions and their sources.
Against Nationalism
Why Do I Oppose Nationalism? Many of the arguments I make are economic, or practical, or based on the fact that the case being made for Scottish independence is inaccurate, dishonest or weak. However, I have a more fundamental opposition to Nationalism as a philosophy. Nationalism, the belief in the superiority of one’s own nationContinue reading “Against Nationalism”
The Politics of Parchment
The Scottish and American reactions to school shootings have been worlds apart. The Dunblane Massacre shocked, shamed and scared Scotland: on 13th March 1996, Thomas Hamilton shot dead 16 pupils and one teacher and injured 15 others before killing himself. The almost immediate reaction by the Government in Westminster was a UK-wide tightening of gunContinue reading “The Politics of Parchment”
The Populist's Playbook 