TASMINA Ahmed-Sheikh was brave enough to criticise the furious critics of the blockbuster movie Braveheart (The real reasons why the Tories detest Braveheart, May 27). The continuing hysterical venomous attacks of the last quarter of a century, not just in the Torygraph, continue from endless angry comments from Britnat journalists, historians, political hacks, and social media.
It was not just the costumes, make-up, and composite history of Scotland alluding to Picts and Jacobites that still infuriates them, or the choice of Ozzie actor, but the fact that it was made at all and they dared mention the unspeakable words, “The Wallace!”
Some “historians” claimed Oor Wullie Wallace did not exist and that he was a robber and a murderer. Whom did he rob and whom did he murder and why? Was it innocent philanderers, tourists, and passers-by who happened to be holidaying and dispensing charity in Scotland, or was it mass imperial perjurers, robbers, rapists, and arsonists?
READ MORE: This is the REAL reason the Tories can't stand Braveheart
Soaras Wallace of the Clann Wallace re-enactment society and stuntmaister telt me himself that two Hollywood companies consulted him. They asked him to recommend a Scottish actor. Soaras prompted for an actor of international box office appeal. Being a biker, he thought the Mad Max-style would do the trick.
Not one of these critics mentioned the endless films whitewashing England’s imperial history. Or the dashing portrayal by another Australian actor, Errol Flynn, of Elizabeth I of England’s many imperialist cutthroat pirates, mass murderers, robbers and slavers to boot.
As a kid I remember how we all loved Errol Flynn’s inaccurate portrayals, from General Custer invading Indian territory, capturing Crazy Hoarse, or prancing aboot Hollywood sets in tights, robbing rich landowners and fat merchants and giving to the peasants etc. Oh how we re-enacted these scenes efter Seturday efternins, watching the weekly “chapters” in Maryhill cinemas, later in Ruchill Park and infuriating “Nosy Norrie, the Nazi Parkie”, who was merely doing his duty in a smart uniform and flattened peak cap, whilst we fought for the honour of Maryhill against Possil posses.
Wallace did exist and Robin Hood did not. Braveheart author Randall Wallace produced a magazine in conjunction with STV and The Big Issue. Like the Legend of Arthur, English nationalists reinvented and claimed Robbin’ Robin. The magazine compared and sourced him to the accurate legends of Wallace, who was an archer, according to his crest, and wore Selkirk Green, whilst outlawed in the forest. His wife was (Maid) Marion Braidfute and he did kill the wicked Sheriff of Lanark. His Friar Tuck was his mentor and educator, Bishop Wishart, who fought the English King Edward for King Robert. His right-hand man was John Little, or Liddell, a Border name. Other characters are too numerous to relate here.
Nottingham has a statue to a hero that did not exist. Glasgow Cooncil refused to have a statue to Wallace at Cathedral Square, where he and Bishop Wishart chased the English to Bothwell Castle and gave them another doing, after defending the Bishop’s Cathedral Castle in the Battle of the Bell of the Braes. MSP Tommy Sheridan, at the time, proposed naming Glasgow Airport to the Knight of Elderslie, second son of an obscure knight. The Holyrood Labour government refused, declaring that airports cannot be named after individuals, despite Nottingham Airport being renamed after a Robin Hood that did not exist.
Finally, I remember reading of someone in Fife being fined for punching an English polis after watching the film. The sheriff reminded him that it was 700 years ago. “I know,” he said, “I’ve only just fun’ oot aboot it”.
Donald Anderson
Glasgow
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel