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IT is at times difficult to sort out what is mythology with that that has passed into legend, and of course that that was rubbish when first formulated, and has remained rubbish even though it has been tested on the proving ground of debate. No this is not the introduction to Stephen Fry’s latest book on the classical world of gods, goddesses and intrigue but more the introduction to how some people view Scotland’s chances as an independent nation. For some obscure reason or indeed extreme Stockholm syndrome (perhaps to be renamed Jockholm syndrome), they still try and persevere with the too wee, too poor, too stupid argument.
IN your article “Time for TV to tackle Scottish history myths” (January 31), historian Dr Alan Kennedy correctly points that Scotland was never colonised by England and in fact was an enthusiastic participant in the whole colonial enterprise. However, I completely disagree with him is where he states “ This Union is a voluntary one and parliament voted through the treaty.” as though it was a democratic decision. It was anything but. The Union was detested by most citizens and there is a wealth of evidence to show this, most notably from Daniel Defoe, author, journalist and English Government agent who was in Edinburgh at the time. He wrote that there was hardly a man in the city who wished for the Union and how mobs roamed the streets to demonstrate against it. The Treaty was eventually signed secretly in a cellar, to avoid the anger of the citizens, and smuggled out of the city.