Scotch-Irish-L Archives

Archiver > Scotch-Irish > 1997-12 > 0881189621


From: "Robert DAVISON" <>
Subject: Closed minds reinforce decay
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 97 23:49:31 UT


Having had the day away from the PC I am now catching up on the news
and have been following this theme with a variety of emotions. I'm sad to
read that Ian wishes to unsubscribe because I have followed his knowledgeable
and informative comments with interest. As a relative newcomer to the list
I have learned an amazing amount about Scottish history in a short time.
O.K. , I could have read it in a good history book, but I find it to be one of
the pleasures of this list to have the personal touch interspersed with the
topic. My sadness is compounded when I review the full text of his message
and the 'in your face' intolerance towards other list members. The dear old
Queen Mother is reputed to have said that she gets so much pleasure out of
meeting people because 'everyone knows something you don't.' I think that
it's downright arrogant to belittle someone for not knowing what you think
they should know. So I got a bit angry then.

I was even angrier when I read Johns comments about the 'English should be the
target in N.Ireland' but put that on hold only to find that Edward and Gareth
had put the record straight. It was not until I moved over here that I came
across the word 'whataboutery.' I doubt you'll find it in a dictionary (even
an
Ulster-Scots one!) but it is one of those onomatopoeic words that neatly
encompasses the difficulties of people co-existing here and, if you like, on
this list. Examples from here would be: 'What about Bloody Sunday' to
which the retort would probably be 'What about Bloody Friday (multiple
car bombs in Belfast city centre). It then moves through the whole of Irish
history ad nauseum. Through the efforts of Edward and Ian I could now
perceive that, pro rata, the Scots were far worse treated by the English than
the Irish were. There is just so much truth in the saying that the pen is
mightier than the sword, because there are people over here that have turned
the whole business of language into a weapon. So, and I'm coming to the
point (sighs of relief all around) I believe it is important to watch our
language
and try not to give knee-jerk reactions to what we may perceive is coming at
us either in an E-mail or other medium. Ian's comments about people
getting Atlas's and checking their facts just reinforced for me a perception
that
I had gained over the last few weeks that he was a bit 'thran' by nature.
And
if that was and is the case, then I believe he should have recognised and
acknowledged that part of his character and just unsubscribed. To me, the
diversity, expertise, neighbourliness, good sense, occasional quirkiness and
general 'feel good factor' is what makes me stay on this list. When I cease
to
enjoy it all I shall just fade into Cyberspace.

Yours aye

Rob C Davison
N.Ireland

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