Nationalism: specifically, Scottish nationalism

Today, I have one tiny thing I need to say: I am sick and tired of people condemning Scottish nationalism like Scots are a bunch of terrorists needing to be stomped out, but having no problem with any other form of nationalism.

In America, no one bats an eye at the sight of an American flag in front of a house, nor criticises someone for wanting to protect and defend our way of life, nor objects when one proclaims openly how much they love their country–and that’s coming from a country whose own culture is made up a number of different other countries, being a country comprised of immigrants from all over the world.

In the UK, British nationalism seems praised. Not as highly as in America, but still to be proud of being British doesn’t seem like something for which anyone is shamed. And I’d even argue that the English are proud of being English, and I judge that by all the articles I read in the Telegraph about how awful the Scots are and how they’re constantly whining and stealing English money, so at the very least, the English are proud of not being Scottish.

So why is Scottish nationalism demonised? The Scots have a lot to be proud of, so why aren’t they afforded the right to nationalism?

I’m disgusted with the amount of articles and comments and tweets I read about these “damn nats”. It seems as though every time I see that, it’s because someone has done something bad or stupid, and just needs a criticism for the accuser. Grow up.

Can we stop using nat as a derogatory word? It’s completely hypocritical to allow nationalism in all other countries, but to tell the Scots they aren’t entitled to it, especially considering how much they’ve already contributed to the world. If there was ever a group of people entitled to being proud of their way of life, their beliefs and values, and their contributions to the world, it’s the Scots 100 times over.