Be proud Scotland

PROUD OF MY COUNTRY

"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."

I know, I know, quotes shorn of their context have little value, and Johnson didn't actually mean what that brief sentence conveys when employed as a generalisation.  Nonetheless I'm sticking with it as a useful introductory peg on which to hang this post.

I don't trust patriots.  I don't trust anyone who says they are proud of their country without providing any specific reason for doing so.  I don't trust anyone who regurgitates the mantra, 'my country, right or wrong'.  That's an abdication of responsibility, a mindless refusal to exercise the critical faculties.  How can anyone be 'proud' of taking part in illegal wars, or implementing policies that kill disabled people?  Unthinking loyalty should have no place in a civilised society.

But sometimes your country, collectively, does do something you can feel pride in being a part of.  And one such moment occurred this morning.

Everyone will have had some aspect of the general election results that they are unhappy about.  Whether it's the SNP failure to get an absolute majority, Labour bemoaning the loss of so many seats, or the frustration of the Greens in not getting to the double figures some polls predicted.  But there was one element of the results that (almost) the whole country can get behind and feel proud of.

Despite all their loud mouthed predictions to the contrary, ukip didn't come close to winning a single seat at Holyrood.  The Scots have not fallen prey to the politics of fear, hatred and bigotry promoted by those far right numpties, the toxicity that has so badly infected the politics and social fabric of England.  We have to continue to guard against it, but for now this brand of extremism is a non starter in the nation.  And why shouldn't we all be proud of that?

But Wales - what have you done?  Neil the fraudster Hamilton?  Really??  Be ashamed, Wales, feel very ashamed.