David Kilpatrick wrote: > Ref Nigel's comments about the arrogance of this toast, I just sort > of concurred in replying that the toast with its response 'Damn few, > and they're a' deid!' was 'arrogant' (Nigel's word).
> But is it? All of my comments should, of course, be read with an implicit "in my opinion", and "in my opinion" that reading of the toast IS arrogant. Your romantic interpretation is lovely, and there are too few times I've experienced it meant in such a way. The vast majority of times I hear it in nothing more than a conceited way: "There's nobody on this Earth like us Scots!" Feeling good about ourselves is fine, but there is an element of xenophobia pervading the Scots mentality which displays itself as arrogance. I believe it's virtually expected of people to demonstrate an anti-English attitude (for example) and to me, the toast "Here's tae us! Wha's like us?" is exclusive and parochial. MY interpretation, "Here's to those who are like us" is inclusive and outward-looking. I'm off shortly to drive down to Edinburgh to see the new year in with my father. Hogmanay was always a bigger deal in his family than Christmas, but this year is the first without his wife and my mother, so it's going to be rather tough. Still, as Derek said, it's a time for family, and that's what we'll be. A happy new year to everyone reading this, and David: here's tae us! Then let us pray that come it may As come it will for a' that That sense and worth o'er a' the earth May bear the gree and a' that For a' that, and a' that It's coming yet, for a' that When man to man the world o'er Shall brithers be for a' that. -- Nigel Gatherer, Crieff, Scotland [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/gatherer/ Posted to Scots-L - The Traditional Scottish Music & Culture List - To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
