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No doubt you will have found time in your schedules this week
to watch the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, beamed live to you
from the Mean City to the north of the Wall of Hadrian, they call Glasgow.
You will no doubt have your own opinions on the entertainment
value of this spectacle but one item in particular irked Cicero and induced
splenetic rage as he watched.
Why did they have to sing the National Anthem to serenade
Betty when she arrived in the stadium with Chookie?
Totally inappropriate, Cicero spluttered.
It is not that he is anti-royalist, Cicero is after all
strictly apolitical as you will know.
But this was an event held in Glasgow, Scotland. Scotland was
the host nation. It was the history and culture of Scotland that was the centre
piece of the Ceremony. And in case anyone was in any doubt where the games
were, the biggest cheer of the evening was reserved for the Scots as they
entered the stadium under the Cross of St Andrews.
So why was Betty not serenaded with ‘Flower of Scotland’?
If these games had been held in Canada, New Zealand or Australia,
do you think ‘God save the Queen’ would be sung? Of course not. We would have what
passes for their National Anthems. So why did anyone think it right that the
Celts and Picts should be denied their cultural inheritance and be forced to
listen to and to sing an anti Scots song (listen to third verse for proof of
this). This is cultural imperialism.
What will be sung when Scotland win their Gold Medals? ‘Flower
of Scotland’ of course. So it must be the National Anthem of the Celts and
Picts.
At the London Olympics North Korea were mightily offended
and went on strike when the South Korea flag appeared next to their country’s
name. This is a diplomatic offence of the same order and will no doubt garner a
few more yes for the Big Vote.
Surely someone should have spotted this before the faux pas
was committed. Heads should roll.
We should however be grateful that Betty’s Serenade was not
drowned out with the sound-turned-up volley of jeers, boos and cat calls that
usually greet the Serenade when sung North of the Wall of Hadrian. That would
have been embarrassing for all concerned
.
So thank God for the good grace and sense of the people of
Glasgow. We should of course expect not anything less from such a friendly,
hospital and personable tribe.
As they themselves said and sang out loud in front of our
own very eyes,
‘Come in, come in, it’s nice to
see you,
How’s yoursel’ you’re looking
grand,
Tak’ a seat and ha’e a drammie,
Man, you’re welcome here’s my
hand.
Even Betty and Chookie.
Have a great day.
Sis felix. Et sis fortunatus.
