The site is getting on average about 1 000 views per day. Sometimes it goes as high as 6 000. It occurs to me that the platform is now worth using a bit more widely and inclusively. So, keeping in mind the new positive, polite, respectful, constructive spirit, I thought we could have, on something to do with Scotland:
- Articles written by any of you about something you feel needs more attention and would like to get feedback on, even from just a modest 1000 readers. Not too many articles from one person. Not too long (max 1 500 words). Spelling and grammar checked by you or your mum. I’m not doing it.
- Self-taken photographs you want to share to make us feel something. One or two at most, with locations and times and with or without a wee comment. Up to you. No more than 100 words?
- A poem, a verse, a quote or a short story. Again not too long. Nothing that would make me greet though. Remember I’m still a bit saft.
I’m not going to be an editor and lose what’s left of my soul. But I will ignore anything offensive or libellous. Send me them in Word doc attachments to thoughtcontrolscotland@gmail.com.
If I get none, I’ll get the gist.
I’ll do one myself in minute as a starter.
John
Talking-up Scotland 
During the last few years I have become increasingly aware of the fact that I was taught very little relevant Scottish history at school. I knew nothing about the barriers to trade suffered by Scotland as a result of actions by the English crown during the 17th century, almost nothing about the Alien Act, and the Darien project was taught to me as having been a monumental act of folly. I have since extensively researched the period of Scotland’s history from the Union of the Crowns in 1603 until the Treaty of Union in 1707, becoming enraged at the story of treachery and maliciousness which unfolded before me. Every Scot should make the time to learn about what is undoubtedly one of the most important sequences of events in our evolution as a nation, leading to the dark moment when Scotland was betrayed by the “parcel of rogues”. The knowledge of that period is needed in order to understand why Scotland found itself in the position of being bankrupt, with little option but to sign the Treaty of Union. With that knowledge it is easy to counter the unionists who argue that Darien is an example of why we are not capable of running Scotland by ourselves.
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Thanks Andrew. Fancy writing a longer piece as a free-standing article?
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Perhaps like yourself I spent 6 years at Secondary school and learned nothing, not one single topic,of Scottish history. I knew more about Rotten Boroughs,Pitt the Younger, The great Reform Act and the Napoleonic Wars than anything about Scotland. Indeed, I was more acquainted with Anglo-Irish matters.
Scotland seemed to me to either have no history or it was not worthy of examination.
My language was deemed inferior.
My history erased.
My culture ignored or turned into a biscuit tin parody of itself.
All standard colonial practices.
Look across theGreat British Empire and witness peoples who have been denied their sense of self, subjugated to Mother England.
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Yes, I could draw maps of the partitions of Poland though.
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I agree with you , huge parts of our Scottish history has never been prioritised in Scottish schools hence we know little of the reality of what really had gone on at various points . I agree with John , since you have done some research I think it would be a service to us if you put a piece in when you see fit .
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THIRLAGE
Thirlage tae codeine
Pruives nae prophylactic ‘gin
National anguish
– Struan McAteer
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One of those wee Japanese poems?
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I’ll post it with a suitable image if I can find one.
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