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The End of Fantasy Island Britain
The End of Fantasy Island Britain Gerry Hassan The Scotsman, December 11th 2009 Many things have changed in the last year: how we think of our politicians, the economy, bankers, the state, and yet a large part of our political classes, corporate opinion and the media seem intent on sailing on for the rocks as if nothing major has happened and ‘normal service’ will shortly be resumed upon HMS Great Britain! Alistair Darling’s Pre-Budget Review could not acknowledge this, but what we are witnessing is profound and long lasting and will shape our lives for decades. This is the slow
Still Living in the Shadow of the Empire State
Still Living in the Shadow of the Empire State Gerry Hassan December 11th 2009 Britain might be tottering on the edge, subdued by multiple crises: the economic disaster, the crisis of our political classes and system, and the ongoing catastrophes of British foreign policy and the wars, invasions and occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq. Yet seldom do the mainstream political commentariat join all the dots, do their history and put all of this in a longer perspective. Hats off then to ‘The Economist’ Bagehot column last week, ‘The Tiger under the Table’ (1), which thankfully was not about Tiger
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Some Thoughts on Scotland’s Children and How We Listen to Each Other
Some Thoughts on Scotland’s Children and How We Listen to Each Other Gerry Hassan December 10th 2009 Last week I went to Bathgate Academy at the invitation of the Deputy Head Teacher Robbie McFedries to speak to their Sixth Year. Impressively each year they run what they call an Ethics Conference bringing together all their Sixth Year for a whole day of talks, discussions and activities. This year they had decided to address Scottish identity and asked me to look at the relationship between our past, present and future. It was an impressive day and the school hall was filled
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The Power of Story and Hope Continued
The Power of Story and Hope Continued Gerry Hassan December 9th 2009 A beautiful piece by Libby Brooks in ‘The Guardian’ today on the wonderful work of the Galgael Trust in Govan who build astounding boats – Gaelic longboats or birlinns – and use this to aid young men and women refinding traditional skills, hope and exploring the waterways of the river Clyde (1). Her article also has a very positive mention of my Glasgow 2020 project, coming up for two and half years after it concluded its activities. She states talking about the work and conclusions of Glasgow
In Celebration of Gil Scott-Heron
In Celebration of Gil Scott-Heron Gerry Hassan December 8th 2009 Gil Scott-Heron matters to me. Musically. Politically. Personally. For the stands he took interweaving politics, personal action and what it means to be a man trying to be honest and keep on the straight and narrow. A path which he himself tragically has found difficult to keep to at points …. Then of course there is the glorious Scottish connection of Gil’s father, Giles playing for Celtic in the 1950s. He became known as ‘the Black Arrow’ and was apparently a bit of a dandy boy! A couple
Changin Scotland: March 19-21st 2010
Changin Scotland No. 15: March 19th-21st 2010 Into our eighth year speakers confirmed include Peter Oborne, author of 'The Triumph of the Political Classes' and Anthony Barnett, founder of Charter 88 and co-director of the Convention on Modern Liberty. Oborne and Barnett will be surveying the state of British democracy and what we can do about it! Plus the usual loads and loads more, live music and fun. Plus celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Ceilidh Place!
Scotland’s Debates: Why We Need to Change the Culture of Denial
Scotland’s Debates: Why We Need to Change the Culture of Denial Gerry Hassan The Scotsman, December 2nd 2009 Two alternative ways of understanding Scotland have come to the fore of late. One sees independence versus a reformed union representing Scotland and the politics of constitutional change. The other seen in the BBC Scotland TV series ‘A History of Scotland’ is about understanding our past, where we came from, what made us and who we are now to aid us better shape our future. Both are not without difficulties. The constitutional debate on both sides, independence versus the union, remains
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The Making of the Modern SNP: From Protest to Power
The Making of the Modern SNP: From Protest to Power Gerry Hassan in Gerry Hassan (ed.), The Modern SNP: From Protest to Power, Edinburgh University Press The Scottish National Party celebrates its 75th anniversary this year in good heart and shape. Established in 1934 as the amalgamation of two parties - the National Party of Scotland and the Scottish Party - it now finds itself in the unprecedented position of being Scotland’s Government after winning the 2007 Scottish Parliament elections, the first set of national elections the party has won in its history. The SNP has, in the
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Scotland’s Real Debate: The Wider Campaign for Genuine Self-Government
Scotland’s Real Debate: The Wider Campaign for Genuine Self-Government Gerry Hassan The Guardian Comment, November 30th 2009 Today sees the publication of the Scottish Government’s independence White Paper. Last week Jim Murphy, Scottish Secretary of State, launched the UK Government’s White Paper on the Calman Commission proposing more powers to the Scottish Parliament. These are two competing visions of Scotland. Alex Salmond has declared in the run up to his paper’s publication that ‘only independence gives Scotland the freedom to achieve its full potential as an equal member of the international community’. Jim Murphy launching his White Paper in the
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Tangerine Dreaming
Tangerine Dreaming Gerry Hassan November 28th 2009 A word of commendation about the publication today of ‘the official history of Dundee United FC’ – ‘Dundee United: the Official Centenary History’ – written by Peter Rundo and Mike Watson (1). Rundo is United’s official match programme editor and Watson, is a former MP and MSP, who has written two previous books on United, ‘From Rags to Riches’ and ‘The Tannadice Encyclopaedia’. This is a beautifully cared for, put together and loved book, which the authors have painstaking spent time on in research and choosing the illustrations. And it is superbly
