Wha's Like Us?

So it seems John McTernan has made front page news by causing a "row" from an email he wrote all of 5 years ago.

His comment that Scotland could be just like Sweden if we weren't so narrow, Presbyterian and racist has put some peoples' backs up.

Well, I enjoy a bit of schadenfreude as much as the next blinkered political party supporter but hasn't the Labour man got a point?


John is doubtless a clever and astute man and he has grasped the notion that other countries of our size seem to have a more enjoyable and a more open way of life. The visitors from various countries over the past few years have been a breath of fresh air to Scotland and despite the glib comments and suspicion they receive from Scots (and Brits at large) they continue to have a great time while many of us who have not yet fully faced up to the 21st century remain looking like a dog chewing a wasp. And for some poor souls that's on a good day.


To typify how far we have yet to go to get past the narrow-mindedness and racism (I don't know what Presbyterian means so I won't go there), a friend of mine knows someone who works for the Scottish equivalent of the CRE and they apparently regularly use the term "Paki". Quite incredible really.


The real question is, if John McTernan wants to tap into the potential optimism and Euro-style thinking that's out there, why isn't he championing independence and why hasn't he joined the SNP yet?