Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 2 on 5/6/2002.

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Branding irony

Roddy Talks...

One of Scotland’s paradoxical problems, post-political devolution in the UK, has been to reconcile its future with its past. While conscious of being an ‘old country’ with a strong sense of identity, our Scottish parliament is understandably anxious to be seen as ‘young’ and progressive, embracing the same multi-culture as everyone else in the Western World. In terms of imagery, and especially how Scotland is perceived outside Scotland, this inevitably causes real difficulties.

As I write this, I am preparing to embark upon a trip to New York and Washington for Tartan Week, which because of its success has all but grown into Tartan Fortnight. Tartan Day, of course, was the inspiration of my good friends Alan L. Bain, President of the American Scottish Foundation in Manhattan, Duncan Macdonald, and Jo-Ann Phipps of the ASF in Washington, who realised the North American climate in late November was not so favourable for outside events and parades to celebrate St Andrews Day.

So while dinners and ceilidhs held on 30th November continue to honour Scotland’s patron saint St Andrew, Tartan Day – on the 6th April, anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 when the nobles of Scotland asserted their independence in a letter to the Pope in Rome – was chosen as an additional opportunity for those of Scottish descent around the world to celebrate their origins. What makes it even more poignant is that many of the sentiments expressed in the Arbroath declaration are the same .....

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By Roddy Martine

Section : Roddy Martine's World

Page number : 7