Summary
WOODROW Wilson, the 28th president of the United States, said of the Scots: "Every line of strength in American history is a line coloured with Scottish blood." Perhaps that is an exaggeration, but few would deny the impact of Scots and Scottish ideas on the birth and development of the US. As a result, on 20 March, 1998, the US Senate unanimously resolved to make every 6 April a day to mark this contribution, and to call it Tartan Day. The preamble reads: "This resolution honours the major role that Scottish Americans played in the founding of this Nation, such as the fact that almost half of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Scottish descent, the Governors in 9 of the original 13 States were of Scottish ancestry, and Scottish Americans successfully helped shape this country in its formative years and guide this Nation through its most troubled times."
The interesting thing about Tartan Day is what it says about the psyches of both the US and Scotland. The Americans have been glad to take Tartan Day, and their Scottish heritage, to heart. Back in the home country, opinion has been divided, with some thinking the whole affair is too brash, too old fashioned or too pro-American. This year, there has even been a public row between Jack McConnell, the First Minister, and Sir Sean Connery that has hardly been positive. Doubtless, Sir Sean feels he has often been slighted in the past by the Labour establishment, and there have been suggestions that Mr McConnell's itinerary was rather hastily put in place. Nevertheless, Tartan Day is the one day when Scots should sink their differences, real and imagined, and stand up for the nation.See the full content of this document
Extract
Leader: Sort Out This Mess Over How Best to Sell Scotland
Aside from promoting Scotland in the world's biggest economy, Tartan Day is a good experiment in making Scotland face up to the challenge of selling the country and its wares around the world. Alas, while the First Minister might be backing Tartan Day, the Executive has been sending out mixed signals regardi...
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