Scotland Forever

Clan Smith on Parade
When I was growing up in Canada, if anyone asked us where we were from we always took the long view and said, “Scotland!” It’s not that we were not Canadian, but we always thought that our Scots heritage was our primary identity; except for some European immigrants like the Martinellos and the Johannsens. Every one of significance in our circle had Scottish names, and in our patter could be discerned the melody of Braid Scots.

Chattan Tartan
Those that weren’t Scots, at least were British. Along with some treasured echoes of our Scot’s heritage we also treasured the heritage of the Brits and we knew that all the Kings and Queens of England, regardless of there sometimes peculiar origins, were crowned on the Stone of Scone which was kept for safety at Edinburgh Castle. The Stone of Scone, the “clach-na-cinneamhain”, of ancient origin has been used for centuries as a Coronation seat when the Kings and Queens of England were Crowned. We accordingly regarded them as at least Scots by adoption, they having been crowned in the right way.

Chattan Pipers
We held a dual citizenship, Scotland and England, but Canadian only by accident of birth, except during hockey season when our Canadian loyalties almost, but not quite, surged to the forefront. We were all of us Ex-Pats and understood that our essential identity found its source in the Highlands. Many Americans have only a vague sense of their historical background, not so the Scots of Canada. I know that my Clan, the Smith emigrated from Aberdeen, and were part of Clan Chattan, and that several other clans were part of my heritage, the Bells who were Border Rievers, rustlers, from the border land between Scotland and England; and Clans Keith, Kerr, Farquarson and McVicar, many of whom were gathered together under the banner of Clan Chattan..

Clan MacNaughton Tartan and Crest

My wife Diana is a McNatt from Clan MacNaughton, also a member of Clan Stewart, and of dubious honour according to some, she is also a Campbell. “The Campbells are comin, Oho! Oho!/The Campbells are comin, Oho! Oho!/The Campbells are comin to bonnie Lochleven,/The Campbells are comin, Oho! Oho!” The arrival of the Campbells usually meant trouble for somebody!

Deep in our souls we hear resounding the beloved wail of bagpipes, the “pìob mór”, and treasure old tunes like The Skye Boat Song and Scotland the Brave. Of particular interest to me is an old Border Riever tune, “Goin’ after the cows!”, not our cows but the cows temporarily in possession of some hapless Brit on the other side of the border. They would soon be our cows. Every time I hear the skirl of pipes my blood is stirred and I start to reach for my two-handed sword, the claymore, the “claidheamh da laimh”.

The other side of that is the well known Robby Burns ballad:

O my Luve's like a red, red rose

That’s newly sprung in June;

O my Luve's like the melodie

That’s sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,

So deep in luve am I:

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

Till a’ the seas gang dry:

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi’ the sun:

I will luve thee still, my dear,

While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only Luve

And fare thee weel, a while!

And I will come again, my Luve,

Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.

For a beautiful rendition of that try:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wV8uVegO4w

After all is said and done we Scots are both lovers and warriors.

Clan Chattan in the Forest
We also have our own peculiar humour. “Piper MacKay had a dog named 'Mace' that thought he was part horse as he had the peculiar habit of eating grass. He was just as good as a lawnmower! One day Piper MacKay lost his wrench in the tall grass around where he was working and try as he might he couldn’t find it. As it was getting dark, he gave up for the night. Next day he went especially early and took Mace with him. Mace ate all the grass around the area and his wrench was now in clear sight. Going over to pick it up, Piper MacKay called the dog over to him and said..."A grazing Mace, how sweet the hound, that saved a wrench for me.” Oh, by the way, I did spell humour correctly!

There is another element of our Scots background that should not be omitted. We can be both earnest and fierce about our faith. One of my favourite Scots preachers was Robert Murray M’Cheyne who said, “Seek the anointing of the Holy Spirit.—The more anointing of the Holy Spirit you have, the more will you be a happy, holy, and successful minister. You remember that the two olive trees that stood close by the golden candlestick, and emptied the golden oil out of themselves. These represent successful ministers, anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. The Lord make you like one of them. Remember John the Baptist, “He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, and many of the children of Israel shall He turn to the Lord their God.” The Lord fill you in like manner, and then you will be a converting minister. Remember that the apostles; before the day of Pentecost they were dry, sapless trees—they had little fruit; but when the Spirit came on them like a mighty rushing wind, then three thousand were pricked to the heart.[1]

Ah, It’s a grand thing to be a Scot, even if you have to eat Scotch Eggs and Haggis.
[1] Robert Murray M’Cheyne: At the Ordination of the Rev. P. L. Miller, Wallacetown, Dundee, 1840