Scottish Racism

I am venturing northwards and I have a job offer. As I journey north, the people of the lowlands send me warnings and messages to be wary of strangers. I stop at the side of the road and need help so I wander into a village to repair my car. I discover an inn, at Tain and the locals are mysterious, they keep to themselves and don’t say much at all. I told them to help me but they are timid. They gave me looks and speak with words I am not really aware of like “like” in every sentence. The English warned to keep my distance, but I thought I would say to the highlanders that I myself have a Scottish surname, Fraser, and they soon warm up that these people are the nicest and warmest people. They spoil you rotten with lavish gifts and food and a warm fire. Nothing like the crazed and violent highlanders that the English told me about. I am sort of confused as to why they would say something like that, the English gossip and publish cartoons of Bonnie Prince Charlie as a rogue and they did the same thing to Napoleon.

These people once they welcome you are so heartwarming and lovely. They have their rich history and art, folk music and poetry. I’m starting to wonder that these people that told me these awful things about the highlanders have a massive prejudice that goes back centuries. Maybe I am suffering from Stockholm Syndrome? The entire experience of living in the highlands was heartwarming and beautiful. The people of England are perpetuating a stereotype that they use to justify their actions. These people are not wild and uncouth, they suffer under tyranny and oppression from the English.

I am truly gobsmacked that I have believed these things. Things like violence and distrust for life, from savagery and violence to outsiders. The people have warmth in the heart. They have the warmth of the heart and are hospitable, they are not out to rip you off, they are unfairly treated by the English, I was mesmerised by their soft heart for months. I wandered back to England a different place in my life, missing the Highlands and felt abused every day by the grind and grime of London.

A great holiday is in Scotland once the people welcome you in. I miss the cold air and bonnie glow of the glens, The mystery of what I believe now is what I didn’t believe before.

I have listened and found out about Scottish racism. A perpetuating myth that is carried around wherever the Scots, from New Zealand to Canada. They are like the Armenians, a displaced people who show up in the corners of the world. Once they welcome you in, you see the light. I’m more afraid of the highlands, falling off a mountain than I am running into a hairy highlander.

The fact that this is not new, that the English would perpetuate stereotypes about others like people from France and Africa. They say be wary of people from other countries and don’t talk to strangers. I can’t believe they get away with this. They perpetuate stereotypes about the Scots as brain bashing heathens, that are extremely violent and thugs, depicted as savages. This is racism and deploying myths about people based on pseudoscience and theories. Oh how many times will people fall for it, the racism and prejudice that lingers in the world of the English. These people have no right or any ounce of dignity whatsoever and are aloof.

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