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SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE.

It is often difficult for foreigners to understand the situation in Britain regarding the four nations that make up our island. The Scots are a Celtic nation with their own language. They originate in Ireland, and entered Scotland via the short sea-journey between the two countries. Scottish Gaelic is a dialect of their original Irish Gaelic. They were subdued and overrun by the English in the late eighteenth century. The Welsh are also a Celtic nation which was conquered by the Germanic English in the 13th century.

They also speak a Celtic language, and although it is linguistically very close to Scottish and Irish and Manx Gaelic, the languages are not mutually intelligible. Welsh can be understood by the people of Brittany. Brittany is a coastal part of France, where large numbers of Britons fled to escape the invading Roman army. Brittany gets its name from the Britons who settled there - and the language is called Breton. The English language is not connected in any way to Celtic In Britain these days, there is a rising consciousness among Celts of their common ancestry and heritage. They have always resented British rule, although the widespread rising living standards over the years have mitigated the feelings of bitterness. In Scotland the Gaelic languages were suppressed, and is now only spoken in the remoter areas on Scotland's West Coast. Efforts are being made to revitalise the language, and Radio Stations and TV stations are starting up which only broadcast in the Scottish Language. Lately feelings have swung more towards a desire for independence amongst Scots.

Many meetings are taking place between Celts from all of the Celtic nations. Many Celts of course [ like me ] were born in England and speak English. I have never been taught my own language. All of my five children by my first marriage, have decided to return to Wales to live - and they are learning Welsh ( Brythonic ) - and bringing their children up as Welshmen and women. It is true that there is a world-wide movement towards nationalism and cultural separatism, which can be seen all over the world, including the Dariens in Burma, and lots of peoples from the Malaysian areas, and lots of Turkic people from the Northern areas of the old Soviet Union. I suppose if Korea was still being ruled by Japan, even if there was no outright abuse of Koreans by Japanese - Korea would still want to be free - in spite of the world-wide trend towards globalisation?