David Straiton.
7a, Quarry Avenue,
Farndon.
Chester.
CH3. 6NT


Assimilation.
As the title of my blog suggests I call into question the commitment to “PRIDE” of the Scottish people? The continuing disastrous results of the political opinion polls reveal that there remains
a large majority who unfortunately cling to the mistaken belief that union with the “Anglo-Saxons”
is the best way forward for the country, this in itself exhibits either a lack of Pride or an “Inferiority
Complex”. In the following narrative I intend to validate my theory by exposing the total domination
by a Foreign Power which the Scots accept with hardly a murmur of dissent.

For centuries the Anglo –Saxons have tendered the ambition to assimilate the Scots into the English
culture, historically they resorted to force of arms until, in1707 they attained this aim peacefully with
the aid of what Robert Burns described as “A Parcel O` Rogues”. This was undoubtedly the darkest
year in Scottish history which witnessed an event that had nothing to do with Democratic Values
and everything to do with the manifestation of a terrible act of Betrayal coupled with Corruption.
There is no doubt that when the signatures were applied to the Union of Parliaments, Scotland
from thereon had accepted subjugation from a more powerful (?) neighbour.
I intend now to set out my own analysis, emphasizing the pitiful reaction displayed by the Majority of Scots to the result of that fateful day in 1707.
The Scottish people may have their own Parliament; however this institution operates with very
limited powers. The real decision-making originates from south of the border, examples of which
are as follows.
The Head of State is Queen Elizabeth the Second of England.
The Officially recognized Christian Institution is the Church of England, a body that sends
representatives to the second chamber of Government in London.
The Monetary Policy of the Nation is supervised by the Bank of England.
The Scots cling to the notion of a separate National Anthem, at the same time the English retain
The “British” equivalent.
The R.N.L.I. Flag consists of a prominent St.George`s Cross. As does the Royal Navy Ensign.
Even the most senior law enforcement is the London Metropolitan Police.
These are just a few of the many aspects of daily life which the Scots have accepted with hardly a
whimper of protest.
At the time of writing this tragic chronicle of a Nation with doubtful dignity, the Cabinet of the U.K.
Government is meeting in Glasgow. This gathering of sundry individuals consist of a substantial
number of members of Parliament representing Scottish Constituencies. In spite of the recent well
documented record of the performance of this “Parcel O`Rogues”in having brought Scotland to the brink of ruin, also the fact that their party “Illegally Conspired” to rob the country of the revenue
from North Sea Oil &Gas, there will be no sign of demonstrations peaceful or otherwise; a reflection of a population who appear to accept the inevitability of being treated unfairly with
a philosophy of helpless abandon.
The fact that the Scots have intrinsic doubts about their sense of identity is no new phenomenon. History records that in 1776 the great Scottish Icon Flora Macdonald together with her husband
raised a regiment of 1,500 Highlanders who fought at the Battle of Cross Creek on behalf of
George the Third of England in opposing the “Rebels” who were fighting for American Independence from the English Crown. Enough said on this subject!
Even in the theatre of modern sport, sportsmen and women demonstrate this ambivalence to national identity, a recent example of this syndrome is the case of Andy Murray the tennis player. He was
famously quoted as making derogatory remarks about playing at Wimbledon; which were widely
construed in the English media as inflammatory toward the English people. He then went on to represent Great Britain in the Davis Cup, “symbolically” wrapping himself in the English Union
flag. The recent euphoria displayed by the Scottish people at the results of the Olympic Games
where athletes from the Country attained some success is another “sad” indication of a Nation
which is completely lacking in self-confidence and a dearth of self-expression.
I find it difficult to constrain my impulse to totally condemn the Scottish people for their apparent
lack of Pride and Patriotism. However I feel that I am in a more superior position than the vast
majority of Scots to deliver a commentary on the merits of my case. As I state on my blog I have
almost 50 years experience living and working within the English culture, unlike most Scots whose
brief encounter with the English people may be limited to a couple of weeks holidaying south of the
border. To return to the sporting scenario, in one of my attached letters I set out the almost contemptuous attitude which prevails in the English Media towards Scotland and its people.
Consider the sporting scenario, on countless occasions over the years I have seen and heard references to the” English Olympic Team”. The abhorrence I express at the sight of athletes from
Scotland wrapping themselves in the Union flag is predicated on the same theme as I quote for
the sporting scene; again the frequent media references to the “English Union Flag” To reinforce
my accusation of bias in the English media, I feel that the current historical events which are taking
place in Scotland lend emphasis to my case. There is a distinct possibility that people living in the
most remote parts of Outer Mongolia are being fed more news on Scotland’s Year of Homecoming
compared with the “total lack” of coverage down here. There was one dramatic exception recently
to this trend, this being the collapse of the major Scottish banks. The media response was generally
one of unrestrained glee, their contention was that an Independent Scotland would have been driven to seek help from the I.M.F; they rather conveniently ignored the fact that Scotland would have benefited from the “Hundreds of Billions of pounds” accrued from the North Sea resources over this last 30 years. In addition a factor in the hypothesis that a Scottish Government would probably have had a more draconian regime monitoring the behaviour of Financial Sector.
In another brief mention of the scourge of the media, On the B.B.C.news today (May 2nd) they discussed a report on the current epidemic of swine-flu. The structure of the statement was based on the fact that a number of new cases have been revealed today; these were named in various towns and regions of England, finally the last case was apparently in Scotland. This is a common occurrence, the inference that Scotland is only worthy of mention as a “Region” of the U.K.

A classic example of what I mean by “Assimilation” is the incumbent Prime Minister, and we all
unfortunately know who that is! Since assuming this exalted position G.Brown has indulged in extolling all things “British”, anyone with a modicum of common sense can see that this is a
pitifully transparent attempt to woo the “Middle England” voters ahead of the next election. He has
flagrantly placed his personal political aggrandisement as a priority in advance of his loyalty to his own country.
The term “Middle England” is valid when used in the proper context; the application demonstrates the lack of Democracy in the electoral system. There was an incident in Parliament recently which
emphasized Brown’s acceptance of Assimilation. As Chancellor he had completed his statement on the “British” budget to Parliament, when an opposition Tory M.P.asked him a question in which he made reference to the voters of Middle England (completely out of context). In his reply, instead of pointing out the obvious error, made by the opposition member, Mr. Brown proceeded to compound the farce of the situation by quoting; the voters of “Middle Britain” in his answer. I leave the readers to make their own judgement on this ludicrous scenario!
In my letters to Alex Salmond I have been nothing but complimentary to not only his intellectual
ability, which is exemplified in the way he treats the opposition in the Scottish Parliament with
almost a contemptuous manner, particularly Labour and the Lib.Dems. I also laud him for his
fortitude in tolerating on a daily basis the attitude of people like the dreadful Iain Gray who demonstrates the reason why we are not an independent country. There is one event I would love
to witness; a T.V.confrontation featuring Mr.Salmond and G.Brown. Unfortunately this is unlikely to happen, at this time, Brown will probably feel that his humiliation status is low enough; without the additional factor of facing a vastly superior intellect on national television.

There are two areas of policy I find I am in conflict with Mr.Salmond. The first being the subject of
the Monarchy. My understanding is that his proposal would be that an independent Scotland would
remain as part of the Commonwealth, to which I would not object, and retain the English crown as head of state. When in the nineties Diana and Charles were involved in their rancorous divorce, a
major poll was conducted throughout the U.K.on the future of the Monarchy; the result divulged
the fact that Scotland was the only “Nation” to vote in favour of the total eradication of the “undemocratic” royal system. My own opinion is that the major proportion of the Scottish people is
instinctively Republican in philosophy, with the exception of those who still cling to the misguided
values of a religious link to the idea that the country should be ruled by a “Protestant Monarch”.
The second in my minor criticisms is the concept of the forthcoming referendum on Independence.
Mr.Salmond`s submitted plan is to have several options included on the questionnaire form, which
would involve a proposal for a watered down version on Full Independence, with acceptance of
full Fiscal Powers as a compromise. In my humble opinion there should be no middle way on the
subject. It should consist as a simple Yes or No format; asking the question “Do you want our
great Country to fulfil its rightful place in society as a free and Independent Nation?”.
I recently experienced a glaring example of Assimilation. I had occasion to pay a visit to my home
town of Inverkeithing, staying for a couple of night at the Queens Hotel. In the morning I sat down
for my breakfast, to my annoyance the manager asked me if I wanted a full “British Breakfast?” I
managed to constrain my anger and politely accepted a traditional sumptuous Scottish Meal. It is
worth pointing out that “never” in my many years of living in England have I heard mention of a
“British Breakfast”

Although I could elaborate on the subject of my analysis, I feel that I have furnished enough evidence to justify my case. I would like to conclude by emphasizing that the Scottish
people will never have a better opportunity to prove that they are in reality “Proud to be Scottish!
The present political situation at Westminster is in total disarray with the scandal of M.Ps.
expenses. In mentioning this topic it is truly gratifying to hear the media down here almost
grudgingly make reference to the “superior” system in Scotland. Today (May 13th) at Prime
Minister’s Question Time David Cameron put forward the proposal that Parliament is overcrowded,
and this should be reviewed by the Boundaries Commission. I intend to write a letter to Mr.Cameron explaining how in the near future, if the Scottish people come to their senses, the
number of M.Ps.at Westminster will be reduced by 59! This issue highlights a wonderful opportunity for Mr.Salmond to propagandize to the Scottish Electorate the savings that will be accrued by not
having the expense of paying for representation in London when the country is independent.
,

Before proceeding with my following “Critique” of the present failings of the philosophy of the
Scottish people, I feel that I must confess a matter, which tends to play on my conscience. As is the
case with most thinking people, there are some decisions I have made in the past which I look
back on with great regret. A primary one is that I did not make a more serious attempt at remaining
in my “Home Country” to help in the fight for Independence. In defence, to partially salve my
conscience, I relate the following. In the 1980s when Margaret Thatcher came to power, a new
phenomenon struck England in the shape of high unemployment. This did not elicit much
sympathy from Norman Tebbit; who urged people to “get on your bike” to solve their obvious
problems. I actually wrote a response to the media at the time, pointing out that for “generations”
Scottish people have been forced to use their bike or any other mode of transport to unwillingly leave their country to escape the deprivation of “High Unemployment”.


Declaration of Arbroath.

For as long as but a hundred of us remain standing alive, never will we on any conditions
be brought under English rule.
The Scottish education system should be adapted around the principle of ensuring that “Every”
pupil will make a serious study of the subject, with emphasis on the fact that in this modern age
this has nothing at all to do with “Anglophobia”, what it represents is simply “Proud to be Scottish”!


On the back cover of Tom Steel’s book Scotland’s Story there is the following quotation,
“One of the smallest but most influential countries in the world”. If by chance a visitor from
another planet perceived the situation whereby a nation with so much talent accepted living
in a state of virtual subjugation, 54they would probably conclude that the people need a referral
for psychiatric help!

I conclude by reiterating the fact that my expertise in writing with literary eloquence leaves
something to be desired, however at the end of the day it is the subject matter that counts.