Betrayed Again 700 Years Later

[keltic_bhoy]

In the year when the English found a whole month to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Lord Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar, and also managed to fill our TVs with one hundred and one documentaries, the Lib/Lab Scottish Executive can't manage to designate one day to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the death of the Greatest Ever Scot, William Wallace. It was 700 years ago on the 23rd of this month when Wallace was publicly executed in London and I think after fighting for the freedom of Scotland he deserves at the very least to have a public holiday in his honour. Nelson may have thought "England expects" all those years ago, well, today Scotland expects better treatment of its national hero by this government.

http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/new...name_page.html

http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/new...name_page.html

http://www.snp.org/snpnews/2005/snp_...-07.1864576555

[anSiarach]

First of all Nelson was a British, not English, hero. I think its a good idea to have a national holiday for Wallaces death but its not a topic i feel particularly passionate about. I always cringe at the description of him as our national hero - most knew bugger all about him until that aussie made his travesty of a 'historical' film. There are also other, lesser known, heros from Scotlands history who are at least as deserving of recognition and acclaim. Somhairle, who founded the Lordship of the Isles, for example was responsible for the clearing of the vikings from the lands (consisting of about a third of Scotland) that they had annexed and the state he created was responsible for maintaining law and promoting a cultural renaissance in what became, with the steady anglicisation of the south and east, the heartland of scottish language and culture.

[JKennedy]

I think you both make some very good points. It is significant that Nelson did said 'England Expects' and not 'Britain Expects'. I think it had to do with the fact that at the time Englishman made up most of the Navy and Scots Highlanders and Irish and Germans were used more for the Army. Neither service was a picnic, that's for sure. I am not sure about Lowland Scots at the time but I imagine they were proabably used for the Navy as well as the Army. I think for anyone to live back then they had to be a hero in some way.

At the same time it is true that there are many heroes in all parts of Scotland. I would have to say that Wallace was right up their though even if the film made no attempt to be historic. Very few historians attempt to be historic, though they certainly did a better job than Mr. Gibson. Australians have made excellent movies that were very historical. It is a pity that that the Australians that made the films about the Boer War, the Australian Light Horse in the Great War, and Galipoli did not make a movie on William Wallace with a sequel on Robert the Bruce. But why not have Scots make historical films about Scotland, and all of Scotland and all of its regions and not just the mainstream?

I think when studying history we should focus to much on who is a hero and who isn't and just try to understand who the people were and what they did and why they did it. Also, I think we should not focus to much on individual heros but try to understand more about the common people. I think that is one reason why people love Wallace, because he was closer to them. At the same time many people love Bruce, because though he was of Norman decent, in the end he chose to be loyal to the people of the land. I think we can learn something from all of these people.

What thread is this? Oh yes, history. I guess I'm on track then. Cheers.

[Faanarmy1]

I am of a south of Harian's wall known origin that was once indo-European Pict (You will remember those that died at Scone at the hands of the Danish army in the 9th century massacre will you?).

I would say that celebrating a day to remember William Wallace is crucial to the survival of British culture in the 21st century!

I live in an area that should be called Albion,by historical right, but which is called England by urban citizens. I don't want my "Britishness" to be forgotten just because I was born in an "English" geographical area. I am not "English" and my family never have been ( we are half Albion Celtic and half Norman French as descended from Earl Crawford of Lanarkshire of Scotland of the 11th century!).

Yes we need to remember William Wallace for "Britishness" at least even before we begin to consider other reasons!

Andrew David Siddle.

[Polwarth]

Your 'real' name isn't Peter Dow, is it?

[Celyn]

Nah, I'm pretty certain this person was a member here once before. Different name, perhaps, but not P.D.

[Polwarth]

Gonnae gie's ah clue, C?