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Brian Taylor.

For those who may not know, (our ex-pat posters), Brian Taylor is BBC
Scotland's Political Editor.

This is his current blog spot on the BBC website.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/briantaylor/

Tartan on tour

Brian Taylor 12 Oct 07, 12:58 PM -
Do you wear the kilt? About the closest I get to Our National Dress is
wearing tartan galluses.
For the purely practical purpose of keeping my breeks above the pavement.
I once tried on a kilt, with a view to purchase.
My elder son, who was acting as my fashion consultant, had to be helped from
the shop, he was laughing so hard. Apparently, my resemblance to an early
Spike Milligan sketch was marked.
Actually, come to think of it, I once donned a kilt as a three-year-old page
boy. But, as Groucho said, there's no need to bring the Civil War into this.
However, kilts aside, I take a passing interest in how Scotland projects
herself to the wider world.
The First Minister, Alex Salmond, is in New York right now on just such a
mission, following in the brogue footsteps of his predecessors.
Again today, he was asked about tartan. Was it not a bit "shortbread tin"?
For any sake, what's wrong with shortbread? A little shortie with your tea,
splendid fare. What have people got against it?
OK, OK, I know, it's shorthand for railing against kitsch, against the
kailyard. I get the concept.
But I think you can go too far the other way. If you're known for a
tradition - especially a home-made one like tartan - then work with the
weft.
I say "home-made" advisedly. I am perfectly well aware that Tartan, as
presently marketed, is a relatively modern invention.
I am aware too of the glorious irony of Lowland Scots presenting their
country to the world on the back of a distorted version of the
once-suppressed Highland dress.
Me, I say: relax. Go with the flow. As the FM rightly said, most countries
around the world are desperate to find a simple, straightforward image to
project.
We've got one, ready made. Tartan, bagpipes, haggis, whisky. Perfect. You
can wear it, you can play it, you can eat it and, above all, you can drink
it.
What's the alternative? Present our modern, high-tech image to the world?
Hey, guys, we've got smart scientists and working computers? Join the queue.
Or perhaps tell it as it really is in parts of our cities? Less Princes
Street, more Pilton?
Well, yes, we should ensure that the benefits of economic gain are widely
spread.
But you don't help the people in Pilton or Whitfield or Easterhouse by
neglecting an opportunity to market Scotland internationally, thus
attracting job-creating investment.
Let's think of ourselves like old-style showfolk. They needed a gag to get
people to come to their tent in the first place.
Then they could entice them to part with their cash.
So, it's roll up, roll up, look at the guy in the plaid skirt. While you're
here, you'll have a dram. Single malt? Oh, and by the way, did you know that
we happen to run a world-beating company, with close links to a top-ranked
university? You didn't? Step this way.



Now you may never agree with his political comments but he is always very
entertaining in his blog. He is off on hols now but he really is a good
read.

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