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Thursday, 26th November 2009

Bush celebrates Tartan stamp on US

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Published Date: 06 April 2008
By Murdo MacLeod
US PRESIDENT George Bush last night praised Scots for making an "indelible mark" on American culture, thanking the nation for giving the US bagpipes and golf.
Speaking from Zagred in Croatia, Bush praised Americans of Scottish descent for their hard work, faith and values as hundreds of Scots paraded through New York City in the annual Tartan Day parade.

Bush said: "On National Tartan Day, we celebrate the spirit and character of Scottish Americans and recognise their many contributions to our culture and our way of life.

"Scotland and the US have long shared ties of family and friendship, and many of our country's most cherished customs and ideals first grew to maturity on Scotland's soil.

"From the sounds of bagpipes to the great sport of golf, the Scots have also left an indelible mark on American culture."





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  • Last Updated: 05 April 2008 11:11 PM
  • Source: Scotland On Sunday
  • Location: Scotland
  • Related Topics: Tartan Week
 
1

Ben More,

Edinburgh 06/04/2008 00:31:01
Bagpipes and Golf???

How about Penicillin, refrigerators, telegraphs and telephones, the steam engine, television, pneumatic tyres and whisky...to name a few things more valuable than bagpipes and golf in my opinion. Pipes, while capable of marshaling attention and rousing the spirit when played well (which is rare), are generally annoying and golf is a game--not a sport--for the elderly.
2

Virginian,

USA 06/04/2008 02:27:47
There would have been no USA without the Presbyterian Scotch-Irish and Scots.

Our very form of government in which representatives are elected by members of a general assembly echoes the Presbyterian congregation voting to elect their ruling and teaching elders and deacons.

This system is unlike the governing bodies of other churches composed of a clerical hierarchy who can order and oppress the "laity" such as is found in the Anglican, Episcopal, Methodist and Roman Catholic churches.

Even though many of the colonial leaders such as George Washington were Protestant Anglicans, they were "Presbyterianized" by their vestries often controlling the Anglican priests appointed to their churches.

At the beginning of the American Revolutionary War, all of Washington's bodyguards were Presbyterians. He later had to include other than Virginia Presbyterians in his bodyguard when envy of other commanders required an equal representation.

Golf and bagpipes are just colorful symbols for the Scottish influence that is still much in evidence in all that is best of the United States.

Americans of Scottish ancestry haven't forgotten our ancestral roots in Scotland.

Our sentiment will always be one of "Scotland Forever!"

Best wishes to us all in celebration of Tartan Week.
3

Cincinnatus,

Edinburgh 06/04/2008 02:52:22
# 2, Scotland has always been and always will be much more than the Presbytery. Thankfully, it created enough miserablism for a large chunk of the population to choose difficult sea voyages and uncertain futures, rather than stay in thrall to the local minister and his brutalised ways!

To give you a real flavour of modern Scotland, both Presbytery and Catholic churches between them can muster no more than 10% of the population as congregation and the rest are utterly indifferent.

You remember roots the same way a Neanderthal might remember the point of divergence with early hominids:-)
4

donald,

glasgow 06/04/2008 03:50:14
During the American War of Independence the redcoats had orders to burn Scotch Presbyterian churches and schools as hotbeds of revolution. Washington did turn to his Scotch-Irish when he was at his lowest saying the Scotch-Irish fought the British the hardest. It was the Scotch-Irish that kick started the war by defeating the redcoats at Kings Mountain in Tennessee.
5

Stefan,

NYC 06/04/2008 05:41:30
Can't believe I missed the tartan day parade. Were all four marching? Let's neither over do it or diminish golf, scotch and scotch. These are really important to my appreciation of weekends. You could almost say that Scotland saved weekends. Was A.Bell a Scot? Also, thanks for the Man-skirt.
6

Virginian,

USA 06/04/2008 06:57:20
#3 Cinncinatus, Edinburgh
Quote: "Scotland has always been and always will be much more than the Presbytery...it created enough miserablism (sic) for a large chunk of the population to chose difficult sea voyages...rather than to stay in thrall to the local minister and his brutalised ways."

Answer: Misery in Scotland was created by the Roman Catholic clergy beginning with Cardinal Beaton who burned at the stake Patrick Hamilton for preaching the Bible.

Name one Presbyterian minister who ever burned a Roman Catholic at the stake. You seem befuddled and confused.

It was John Knox, by the grace of God, who finally lifted Scotland out of its benighted state of ignorance. It was Knox who fostered the first schools to teach men, women and children to read the Bible. That is when and how Scotland attained greatness that was carried to America.

If less than 10% of Scotland are Presbyterian today then it is no wonder at the state of destitution that exists in the land.

Perhaps that is why you are so morose...thinking about Neanderthals and such.

However, in the US the Presbyterian congregations are alive and well, and the Shorter Cathecism is still taught as in the days when Scotland was great.
7

MacErse,

Hong Kong 06/04/2008 07:32:18
bugg.er never mentioned McEwans Export, Tennants Lager or even Buckie....
8

T M,

LA, USA 06/04/2008 09:20:49
Interesting that we are allowed to comment on this story, but not the one about the Muslim guy with two wives speeding around the Scottish roads....
9

McX,

06/04/2008 10:40:35

#2 Virginian, don't forget we were all Catholic at one time.

#5 Stefan, there you go Tartan Day yesterday in all its spleandour.

http://flickr.com/photos/lifejournal/2391609806/sizes/l/
10

Ghost Of Scotland Past,

06/04/2008 14:31:53
10And before that we were all heathen, to which we are all slowly but surely returning, ie our natural state!
11

antifa,

06/04/2008 15:41:46
"George Bush last night praised Scots for making an "indelible mark" on American culture, thanking the nation for giving the US bagpipes and golf."

Talk about damning with faint praise! I think he's of Anglo-Irish stock.
12

The Pict.,

06/04/2008 18:25:34
# 6....Virginian..... You obviously know nothing about John Knox. All Belivers of the jewish bible were and are guilty of torture, murder etc etc. They committed those acts in the name of the same jewish god Yaweh. Next time you are in Edinburgh be sure to visit the cage that the church put women in to torture them into confessing that they were witches. They were then taken to be drowned. That credit goes to John Knox. the cage is just off the high street down from the Tron Kirk.

# 3 Cincinnatus...........You got it right.
13

Bryan H.,

Modesto 06/04/2008 18:30:45
8 T M,LA, USA 06/04/2008 09:20:49
Interesting that we are allowed to comment on this story, but not the one about the Muslim guy with two wives speeding around the Scottish roads....

What story is that??
14

57Nomad,

california 06/04/2008 19:38:53
#1 Ben Moore

Ben, he was giving a friendly talk not a history lesson. Americans admire inventors. The advances that you listed are celebrated in the US and we certainly don't mind giving credit where it belongs. The character Scotty on Star Trek was an homage to Scottish ingenuity.
15

Taz,

The Land of the Free. 06/04/2008 21:17:02
The tartan marchers are being recruited as marshals for NYC’s annual Gay Pride parade.
16

WL,

livingston 06/04/2008 22:46:09
Hope that there will soon be military pipe bands in the USA again.
17

slmnyc,

New York 07/04/2008 16:05:37
Given the presence of Barney in the White House, how could Bush have omitted Scotties, not to mention Westies, Cairns and all the other wonderful dog breeds that originated in Scotland? Talk about a gift to the world ... and to the parade watchers on Saturday who cheered and applauded when the "dog army," as one spectator referred to them, made their appearance on Saturday.
18

Virginian,

USA 07/04/2008 16:15:21
#12 The Pict
Quote: "...visit the cage that the church put women in to torture them into confessing that they were witches... then taken to be drowned. That credit goes to John Knox."

Answer: The only "church" that ever had a cage to torture women was the Roman Catholic Church.

Why don't you give credit where credit is due?

It appears that you cannot stand the thought that it was the Presbyterian Scots and Scotch-Irish who played the major role in founding the USA and not atheists, Roman Catholics or just Christians in general.

The 13 original colonies during the American Revolution had a population of less than 1% of Roman Catholics...all in Maryland for all practical purposes.

Why don't you just accept the fact that the USA was founded in great part by Presbyterians?

Constantly displaying a sour grapes attitude reveals prejudice and bigotry.


19

slmnyc,

New York 07/04/2008 16:34:06
It occurs to me that since the first distiller in Bourbon County, Kentucky, one Daniel Shawhan, was Scotch-Irish, Scotland can also claim to that other great brown adult beverage.
20

Carolyn 1,

Massachusetts, US 07/04/2008 21:33:35
16 WL, livingston

There are a lot of Scots and people of Scot descent where I live, perhaps because the area is a lot like Scotland. We have our own tartan for the town- (Woods Hole, Massachusetts), which is pretty nice.

As for the Bagpipes, they are common for entertainment, parades and funerals, but not military.
Someone complained and filed a request to not allow bagpipes before 8:00 in the morning or after 9:00 at night!!
I love it the sound. Hearing the pipes instantly puts me in a good mood.


 

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