The Scots: Stereotype and Reality
As risky as it is to characterize any place in terms of generalized
traits, it is worth my while to try and give you some inklings into the
Scots character. From Galloway in the south west to Caithness in the
far north, Scots will cheer on the same national Soccer Team. And yet,
as in most countries, Scots have more local loyalties. They are
loyalties to family, village, local pub, local soccer team. They are
loyalties to their surrounding area, to religion, to fellow-workers and
to friends. And there are certainly some folks in Scotland who prefer
not to think of themselves as Scots at all. Indeed the Orkneys and
Shetlands have more links with Scandinavia than with the Scottish
mainland.
But first some words on the Scots in general.
By world standards - even by the standards of Europe and North America
- Scots are a very well-educated people. And although the location of
Scotland, tucked away in a distant corner of Europe, might have once
kept Scots out of touch with the rest of the world, they have had,
since the 18th century, a distinctly global outlook. Generations of
Scottish emigration means that few Scots are without relatives in
countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa, or
America.
The Scots view of themselves is often quite
difficult for visitors to understand. That view tends to be a mixture
of outrageous pride and incredible cynicism. It's a complex mixture.
The complete Scottish patriot is a far rarer person than would be found
in other countries such as America. And yet, any Scot who completely
writes off Scotland will be intensely disliked. Typical Scots can never
praise Scotland without a hint of irony in their voice - and can never
criticize it without betraying a deep love of their country. Thousands
of Scots went to see the movie Braveheart, and although it moved them
to tears - it also moved them to laughter. No one, you see, is more
aware of the fake side of Scotland, than the Scots themselves. And they
have a love/hate relationship with the packaged image of their country.
Scots have a deadpan style of humor; a reluctance to express enthusiasm
for anything in direct terms - thus, " It's no bad, " becomes the
equivalent of " It's fantastic. " But to describe Scots behavior as
unemotional would be far to simplistic. There are, however good
historical reasons why Scots might remain reluctant to show obvious
passion. One is that, since Scottish history began, Scotland's people
have been promised much and given little. Through centuries of war and
English domination, the Scots have become wary of expecting much. The
second reason relates to religion. In 1560 the strict teaching of
Calvanist Protestantism replaced the free and easy ways of the old
Scottish Catholic Church. This new religion bread in Scots and abiding
feeling, which lasts to this day, that punishment goes automatically
hand in hand with most kinds of enjoyment.
On many
occasions, of course - at New Year, at weddings, ceilidhs, at parties,
at major soccer games - Scots will dance, sing, kiss, embrace, cheer
and let themselves go. Scots also have a tendency towards what can only
be described as sentimentality. When a few Scots are gathered together,
looking back on a history of lost causes and what-might-have-beens, it
can very quickly bring on a general communal malaise. Add a few beers,
the right music, or poetry, or song, and the combination can be
melancholic in its effect. Not that all Scots would describe themselves
as traditional-music fans. But sit in a Scottish pub at the end of the
evening when a singer strikes up the opening of Scotland's only real
national anthem, " Flower of Scotland, " and you will see the tears
well up in the eyes of grown men. In that situation, Scots patriotism,
whilst normally subtle and ironic, will be shown at its true depth.
What of the more negative images of Scotland ? First, there is
absolutely no truth in the idea that Scots are miserly. Anyone who
visits the Real Scotland
will soon discover an incredibly generous and kindly people. Second,
there is no truth in the idea that Scots are 'dour' ( surly ).
Scots are very witty and love humor. It may be though, that visitors
simply have to adjust their antennas to the subtle nature of Scottish
verbal humor.
Finally, the visitor has to set aside the
clich´s that pervade the image of the Scots. They are not a quaint,
rural people, honest and friendly, dressed in tartan and kilt, fond of
the bagpipes and their haggis, simple yet shrewd, clever with their
hands and tight with their money, living slow, antiquated lives in a
wet country covered with heather, highland cows, and great castles.
These are all misconceptions which all contain a wee grain of truth.
Scots are actually modern Europeans who cherish and act on all the best
of their old traditions. They love their country, whilst at the same
time seeing all its flaws. They are a well educated, humorous, and
friendly people who love to meet 'genuinely interested' overseas
visitors who will take the time for a 'wee blether.' ( conversation )
Just don't call them 'Scotch' or 'English.'
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Many of the major links within this site are sourced from data provided by the Gazetteer for Scotland at http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/ and used with their permission.