Alba, Caledonia, Scotland.
Whatever you want to call it, Scotland is one of the most contrived and unique places on Earth, with people of all nationalities and religions making their home here and seeing Scots as their fellow countrymen. However, as a Scot myself, what does it mean to be Scottish in the 21st Century?
Traditionally, there have been many ways of interpreting Scottish national identity. One of these ways has been through the success of our national sports teams. In the past, Scottish football and rugby teams have terrified the best teams in the world, and the football team regularly qualified for major tournaments. As you may or may not know, this has not been the case in recent years.
So, if we can't look to our sports teams, then our other measure of national identity has been to compare ourselves with our English cousins. In the past, this comparison has often left Scots reeling, as the English had superior economic growth, a healthier population, and a greater social cohesion and did not suffer from the crippling effects of sectarianism as Scotland had.
However, the past eleven years in Scotland have revitalised our national identity and fervour, beginning with the re-opening of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood in 1999. In 2007, the victory of the Scottish National Party in the Scottish Parliamentary Elections shocked the British political system, as the SNP had always been a party of opposition and had never had the chance to potentially undertake it's 'threat' of an independence referendum. Now, in 2011, and after the landmark majority secured by the SNP at Holyrood, Scots are beginning to compare themselves far more favourably with England. I'm not necessarily saying that Scotland's new found confidence is solely down to the SNP being in government, but they certainly have made Scots more confident in their nation.
Traditionally the Scots were gallant losers, always trying their best but failing. Now, as Ian Jack wrote in his article for the Guardian on the 9th September 2011, there is a growing confidence in Scotland, and a growing feeling of pity for the English. Scotland has free prescription charges for everyone, free University education for all, free care for the elderly, and so on. Scottish society and values should, on the whole, be praised. The UK Government is slashing budgets and welfare, whilst unemployment is rising much faster in England than in Scotland. Overall, despite general opposition to independence, there is overwhelming support for increased devolution powers, and even 'devolution max', which basically would make the UK a federal system and Scotland would essentially be independent from the UK Government, apart from Defence and Foreign Policy matters.
What I'm basically saying is that, yes Scotland still has one of the unhealthiest populations in Europe and is still attempting to stem the nation's major problem with alcohol, but Scottish society is moving forward and progressing, whereas it seems that English society is regressing into something that we (Scots) would never allow ourselves to accept. As Strathclyde Police have managed to significantly deal with the West of Scotland's gang problem, England suffers rioting and looting the likes of which it has not seen in decades since the heights of Thatcher. As Scotland maintains free University education for those educated in Scotland, English Universities raise their prices to eye-watering levels that will leave most in debt for the rest of their lives.
For the first time in many generations, I am proud not only to be Scottish in the way that Scots have been for centuries, but I am proud to see my nation looking forward and trying to make something of itself, and instil a new found confidence and enthusiasm in its people.
In the words of The Corries: “Those days are passed now, And in the past they must remain, But we can still rise now, And be the nation again” .
