Don’t Mention Culloden
There will be no Tartan Army wandering about Germany behaving well and doing their best to show that they are not English. The Scots are not a bit like those jingoistic England fans. Well, not when they are abroad and the English are watching.
Scotland will be tuning in to Big Brother when Theo Walcott trots onto the pitch in Berlin and lashes home the winning goal in the final.
The Scots will be trying to forget the English but the English will be remembering the Scots. As the Telegraph reports, the BBC has selected Judas Maccabeus, Handels oratorio, for its World Cup theme.
Handel is seen as suitable because the composer was born in Germany and became a British citizen.
But keen followers of classical music will quickly realise that this stirring piece includes a tribute to the Duke of Cumberland – See the Conquering Hero Comes. They and historians will note that he inflicted defeat on the Jacobite army of Bonnie Prince Charlie at Culloden.
Rob Gibson, a Scottish National Party member of the Scottish Parliament, notes the works significance. Says he: How can they possibly encourage people [in Scotland] to support England when we are exposed to symbols of oppression like this?
We could interject and say that many Scots make a point in major sporting events of not supporting England, going as far as cheering on the Germans in penalty shoot outs against the auld enemy.
But we must let Gibson continue. At a time when multi-culturalism is being celebrated, I cant understand how they can be so insensitive. Its an Anglo-centric view… of the world and of music.
Hamish Husband, of the Tartan Army, is appalled. He tells the paper: Normally it takes a few minutes after England kick off for a commentator to start talking about 1966 before I start going off England. This time theyve done it five weeks early.
Happily, Hamish, Rob and many other Scots can ignore Handel and stick with Paul Oakenfolds Big Brother theme tune, and their dreams of a German penalty.
Posted: 11th, May 2006 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
