Can You Hear Me, Superman?

I read somewhere that you can tell a lot about aconflict with their powerful neighbour across the
person by finding out who her heroes are. Iborder. England, on the other hand, doesn't seem
suppose that's fairly obvious. Take Homerto create the same kind of heroes. It's true that
Simpson. It comes as no surprise to find out thatBoadicea is a genuine heroine, from the same
his hero is Superman, ("If you are up there andmold as Wallace, but strictly speaking she was not
can hear me, I just want to say thank you forEnglish. She was the leader of one of the Celtic
listening, Superman"). It occurs to me that it oughttribes who fought the Romans before the Saxons
to be possible to extend this idea to nationalcame to Britain. In our day (more or less),
heroes. This is probably a tired old idea, used inChurchill was a great leader and hero, but he led
seminars up and down the country, but most ofthe entire British nation, not just England. Besides,
the things I know, I learnt after leaving school, sohis mother was American...That really only leaves
as far as I'm concerned this is new and original.Alfred the Great and Nelson as English military
Anyone got a problem with that? Alright, let's tryheroes. If you ask English children what they
it out. I'll just stick to countries that I feel linkedknow about Alfred they'll probably tell you that he
to, either by blood, language or shared history andburnt the cakes when he was left in charge of
ideas, and I'll start with Scotland, since it's mythe kitchen, rather than that he was the country's
home.The Scots, to coin a phrase, sure knowlast desperate hope of saving the Anglo-Saxon
how to pick 'em. Scottish heroes are sometimesworld from Viking tyranny.The English are
unfortunate, very often tragic and alwaystraditionally suspicious of strong military leaders.
romantic, in the old sense. Arguably the greatestWilliam the Conqueror, for instance, was hated at
Scots hero of all was William Wallace. More thanthe time, naturally enough, but that dislike still
anyone else he stands, in Scottish hearts, forreverberates in the form of the English class
freedom and liberty. He had that rare andsystem, now thankfully dying out. Or take Edward
precious ability, shared by a handful of leaders1st., who, at the time of William Wallace, defeated
such as Alfred the Great, Nelson, Churchill, and inScots armies time after time and built massive
America, George Washington, Thomas Jeffersoncastles across Wales, but is not regarded as a
and Lincoln, to lift up a nation, to become its voicehero. Neither is Henry 5th., in spite of the spin
and spirit, not through fear and oppression, theShakespeare put on his exploits in France and his
hallmark of the tyrant, but by reflecting the will oftriumph, at odds of seven to one, at Agincourt.It's
the people.Wallace taught the nation that it couldinteresting to contrast the two Englishmen who
win against its mighty neighbour to the south.helped to defeat Napoleon Bonaparte - Nelson and
Although essentially a brilliant guerrilla fighter, hethe Duke of Wellington. Both were brilliant
defeated a major English army at the Battle ofstrategists, both got results. Wellington was
Stirling Bridge. He was eventually betrayed to therespected but not much liked, Nelson was adored
English, taken down to London and tortured andby the British public. Wellington was a rather
executed as a traitor, which he certainly was not.frosty character, who treated his men with
Unlike many prominent Scots, he had nevercontempt, while Nelson genuinly liked his men and
sworn allegiance to the English king, Edward 1st. Inwas concerned with reforming conditions in the
suffering a martyr's death Wallace becamefleet. I think his affair with Lady Hamilton didn't do
Scotland's first national hero, and paved the wayhim any harm either, as far as the public were
for his own personal hero, Robert the Bruce.Theconcerned.Dick Whittington is probably one of the
father of Robert de Brus was Anglo-Norman andbest loved of English heroes. The story goes that
his mother was the Celtic Countess of Carrick. Heas a poor boy from the country he tried several
was descended from King William the Lion.times to make his fortune in London. When at last
Through Brus came the Royal House of Stewardhe gave up and headed off for the sticks, he
who produced the current British royal family.hadn't gone far before he heard the bells of
Robert the Bruce was not always a dedicatedLondon - 'Bow Bells' - saying, "Turn again, Dick
patriot. He was a landowner on both sides of theWhittington, three times Lord Mayor of London".
border, equally at home in the English and theBack he went and became Lord Mayor as the
Scottish court. Eventually he was forced tobells had forecast. Oh yes, and he had a cat. The
choose which side he was on. He chose the Scotsreality is fairly close to the myth, but he was
cause and in 1314, at the Battle of Bannockburnremembered at the time as a benefactor to the
he led them to victory over an English armypoor and to charities.I think the hero that most
twice their size. Bannockburn was the turningcompletely stands for English virtues,as perceived
point in Scotland's struggle for independence. Fromby themselves, would have to be Robin Hood.
this time on there was no question but that theNobody knows whether he really existed. Was he
Scots were a separate and independentthe Earl of Huntingdon or possibly Sir Robin of
nation.Formal recognition of Scotland's rights wasLocksley? Most of the stories are set in mid-12th.
still required from the Pope. A representativecentury, when Richard 1st was away at the
group of the Scottish nobility wrote to him in aCrusades. The modern Robin Hood was
famous letter known as the 'Declaration ofpopularised by Sir Walter Scott in 'Ivanhoe', but in
Arbroath', part of which went as follows:a way it doesn't really matter if he existed or not.
'For as long as there shall but one hundredHe stands for freedom from oppression and the
of us remain alive we will never give consent torights of the poor and vunerable, so it's right and
subjectproper that he should be England's most popular
ourselves to the domination of the English. For ithero.In moving across the Atlantic, it seems to
is notme that Canada doesn't really go in for heroes,
glory, it is not riches, neither is it honour, but it isalthough I'm sure they exist. My own list would
libertystart with Grey Owl, who pioneered an
alone that we fight and contend for, which noawareness of Canadian wildlife issues and was the
honest man will lose but with his life.'One of thefriend of the Ojibway. When he died in 1938 it
most romantic, and at the same time tragicwas realized that he was not an Indian. In fact his
figures in Scottish history was Mary, Queen ofname was Archie Belaney and he was from
Scots. Mary had been brought up in France andHastings in England. Then there would be Lucy
returned to Scotland on succeeding to the throneMaud Montgomery, who wrote Anne of Green
in 1560. She was eighteen years old, veryGables, which was about her childhood on Prince
attractive, impulsive and inexperienced in theEdward Island. Finally I'd probably include White
machinations of Scottish court life. EverythingFang and Joni Mitchell as my personal
went well at first but when she married herfavourites.Heroes are not in short supply in
cousin, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, her lifeAmerica, in fact the making of America is a
changed and nothing ever went right for herheroic story in itself. I can't say too much about
again. She soon became disillusioned with herAmerican heroes; not because I don't know who
husband and took a lover, an Italian called Riccio,they are, but because it's not for me to say
who was murdered in front of her in her room,what they mean to Americans. The earlier ones
by her jealous husband and others. It wasn't longwere, naturally, concerned with the forming of the
before her husband was also assassinated. At thisnation - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson,
point poor Mary seems to have lost the plotAbe Lincoln, possibly Paul Revere. I think Davy
completely and married the Earl of Bothwell, theCrockett counts - 'King of the Wild Frontier',
man who was almost certainly involved in theaccording to the song.Then there are the Native
murder of her husband.It must have been clear toAmerican heroes, Sitting Bull, Geronimo and my
her by now that the only kind of luck shefavourite, Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce. Chief
attracted was bad luck. After a few moreJoseph, with his band of 200 warriors and 500
set-backs she decided to head south to enlist helpwomen and children, conducted one of the most
from her cousin, Elizabeth, Queen of England. Thisbrilliant retreats in American history. In over three
proved to be a fatal mistake. Far from helpingmonths this small, forlorn band fought off 2000
her, Elizabeth had her arrested and imprisoned in aU.S. soldiers in four major battles and numerous
gloomy castle far to the north of London and theskirmishes. They travelled 1400 miles and got to
English court. She remained Elizabeth's prisoner forwithin forty miles of the Canadian border and
the rest of her life, some nineteen years, andsanctuary before being forced to give up. When
was finally executed for 'treason' in 1587, whichhe finally surrendered, Chief Joseph made this
fate she met with great dignity.Probably the bestspeech:'I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed,
known of Scotland's heroes is Bonnie PrinceLooking Glass is dead, Tu-hul-hil-sote is dead.
Charlie who raised the standard in Scotland forIt is the young men who say yes or no.
the Jacobite cause. The name 'Jacobite' was aHe who lead the young men is dead.
French version of 'James', i.e. the 'Old Pretender'It is cold and we have no blankets.
James. Charles Edward Stuart was actually moreThe little children are freezing to death
Italian than Scottish and was only in Scotland forMy people - some of them have run away
less than a year. His campaign culminated in theto the hills and have no blankets, no food.
disastrous battle of Culloden in 1746, the lastNo-one knows where there are - perhaps
battle ever fought on British soil. Following thefreezing to death.
defeat of the Scots army, he abandoned hisI want to have time to look for my children and
followers and, with the help of the wonderful Florasee how many
MacDonald, fled the country, dressed as aof them I can find. Maybe I shall find them
washerwoman. His undignified exit has alwaysamong the dead.
reminded me of the story of Toad of Toad Hall,Hear me, my chiefs, my heart is sick and sad.
who also fled the law, dressed as aFrom where the sun now stands I will fight
washerwoman. I wonder if that's where Kennethno more against the white man.
Graham got the idea. After all he was a Scot.TheChief Joseph 1877Coming nearer to our own
Jacobite army had at one point struck deep intotime, there is no doubt John Kennedy is an
England, and in fact came to within a hundredAmerican hero, and so, of course, is Martin Luther
miles of London, before turning back. The English,King, and I see no reason at all why the New
badly scared by the whole business now did theirYork firefighters who were on duty on the day
best to destroy the Highland clan system byof the Twin Towers should not qualify too.
driving off the Highlanders cattle, burning theirJames Donaldson CollinsJames Donaldson Collins is
homes and banning the singing of gaelic songs, thean artist and writer. He lives in the Highlands of
wearing of the kilt and other gaelic traditions - anScotland with his wife, daughter and three dogs.
eerie precurser of the treatment meted out toHis interests are conservation, history, science
the northern Plains Indians in America after thefiction, chess and snooker. He also claims to play
Battle of the Little Bighorn.So there you haveguitar like a ringing a bell.
Scotland's heroes, all tragic and all more or less in