—Some land, Monday
Country and Wasted
I am proud of Scotland. Proud of the fact that we are an experimental human repository for the study of cancer and heart and liver disease. Proud that our largest city harbours a festering internecine hatred nurtured by the segregation of our children in an education system dominated by religion. Proud of our illustrious history of merrily sending young flesh to be maimed and slaughtered in grubby little occupations sought by the British Empire to further its nefarious aims. Proud that triage surgeons have been sent here to train in our ritual orgy of Saturday night stabbings. Proud that we can’t get a tram to run down our capital’s high street, but successfully demolished our great 19th century housing stock to barrack the working class in dormitory sink estates awash with chronic addiction and preventable disease. Proud of our financial institutions, bastions of Presbyterian prudence, who followed the flood of speculators into the insane fever of deregulated profit chasing that led to their de facto nationalisation.
Our great cities cower on the fringes of one of Europe’s last wildernesses. A spectacular and unique landscape of endless moors, a million surging burns, grand, sweeping glens crowned by heroic ridges. Go to the top of one of these mountains and look down into the lowlands. See if you can discern a vision for Scotland. Where are those leaders who might offer a promised land of justice and equality for all your children? All the counters are crowded into a tiny corner of the checkerboard. No one talks of the re-nationalisation of our utilities, a maximum wage or the completion of the great hydroelectric project. A republic is off the agenda. The social chaos caused by the prohibition of drugs is not to be mentioned. Where is the argument for a radical and radically fair Scotland? I can’t see it, and I’m not proud to admit, that in the absence of that vision I am forced to remain committed to the current arrangement. All these years a punk and now I find myself forced into being a fan of the status quo. And they didn’t even WRITE Rockin’ All Over The World. Oh, the pity, the pity.
Enjoyed the gig in Ayr last night. In the absense of any real vision for Scotland’s future all we seem to have is our pride. If we lose that what is there left?
Perhaps we must stop being proud and admit that we are lost and don’t have a clue about who we are or what we can do to make it better. Maybe then we can start to build on the remnants of the past and take a pride in what we can become.
I’d like to say something to you from almost the primitive age, but I hope that you will be relieved even if it’s a little bit by this.
I read it, then I’ve just been going to understand at last, what you want to say, what you want to do…(do you know what I mean?)…ah,…you’re in hell, absolutely it’s hell where I had been taking part in building it. I’ve just found it and I broke before I would be burnt by a flame I oiled myself…!
Anyway…although it’s too late, I think I could be reconciled with a genuine artist Justin Currie.
Thank you for your patience. And I also must say thank you for another thing…I read what you wrote, and I had been thinking about lots of things which may have had no relation to what you wrote. And then at last a little revolution about music has happened in my mind… Eventually, you’ll sometimes see my horrible, broken language as ever…thanks.
Do you think there is any room for that vision, or to breed those visionaries, in the current climate, be it social, economic, or political? in the absence of power, will anyone aspire to it? I see your points, they are well said. Striving for something better needs change, as the Status Quo as you state so eloquently, isn’t working for so many, mostly the poor. Can self-rule be any worse than the current situation? will those visionaries appear once there is a position for them to fill? I, personally, have no answers, but I do think that something has to change.
After reading this fine piece of writing I think Justin should be the ambassador for Scottish tourism, I’d certainly come. I’ve always said that if there was a beauty contest for countries Scotland would win hands down. I’m glad Justin mentioned Status Quo because they have been doing commercials for an Australian supermarket chain and they are dreadful! If anyone is interested just YouTube Status Quo/Coles Supermarket, I apologise in advance. I used to love their music. I can’t wait to press mute button on the remote whenever it comes on. By the way Justin I’m loving you twitter photos, you should put them in a book.
skioula 21/07/2011 xaxaxa na’sai kaaalaa me eftiakses ti diathesi gia alli mia fora!!!gia ta kounoupia pare vatraxo oso leipei o kounoupoktonos s!k to kalokairi einai o kateksoxin minas tou erwta! ase mas na ekfrastoume eleutheroi!
That photo is fantastic. It looks like the surface of the moon. Is it Scotland?
Supurb rebuttal. xxx
Flippin ech…. you want to get that message out don’t you? Te he he….. I understand your sentiment…. better the devil you know…. xxx