Saltire of Scotland

A contribution from Alan who has complied this with his wife.  Thanks Alan.

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Another Attempt To Weaken My Identity

How often these days do we hear of grossly overpaid bureaucrats deciding some action didn't fit their pre-planned agenda?

The usual reason is "We had a complaint."  One complaint is enough for children to be removed from their homes if the Common Purpose indoctrinated civil servants feel their targets may be slightly short of the mark.  Never do we hear about any investigation into a complainant because, of course, such details aren't of 'public interest'.

In Aberdeen an angry fire fighter has blown the whistle on the latest action of his superiors at the Grampian Fire and Rescue Service.  He branded their behaviour as 'offensive' and it is.  His highly paid bosses had received two complaints about the saltire being projected on the grill of the new fire engines.  It's understood the complaints centred round the Saltire's link to the SNP and the complainants' fears that the flag could be viewed as a sign of support for Scottish independence.

The firemen were told to remove the Saltire logo immediately.

The new engines, which cost just over £200,00 each were given the Saltire logo in advance of Scotland's eight fire brigades being merged into one unitary authority next spring.

I too am angry and not because of a logo on a fire engine, although I think they look rather dignified with the national flag tastefully introduced on the vehicle's radiator grill.  My anger is with these petty, introverted individuals whose lives appear dedicated to defiling our national flag and thereby weakening the Scottish identity.

The SNP has never claimed the Saltire as their own, but as they are the only UK political party which does not make representation in any other countries bar Scotland, the only flag they can use is the Saltire.

My identity is of great value to me and I'm proud to be a Scot. The GFRS's actions have undermined the Scottish identity and thereby diluted mine.  But such people will never remove my pride in my nation as there always comes a time when enough's enough. The Scottish government should investigate this incident and find out who gave the order for the engines to be decorated with the Saltire logo in the first place.

The fire service is supposedly amalgamating to save money. Taxpayers money was used to adorn the vehicle and again to have the embellishment removed.  Surely the public deserve a proper explanation for such unnecessary expense. The names of the complainers wouldn't go amiss either, but they will be protected.

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When Is A National Flag Too Big?

(A health warning to my reader JRB - this post may be bad for you.)

Alyn Smith, an SNP member of the European Parliament, has complained to Seb Coe, the wunderkind chairman of the London 2012 organising committee, about the ban on the Saltire being flown over Scotland's national stadium during the Olympic games.

Under Olympic rules, Scottish athletes represent Great Britain, meaning only the Union flag should be officially flown at venues.

The rule hit the headlines during the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics Games in 2002 when skier, Alain Baxter from Aviemore, was ordered to cover up a blue and white Saltire he had dyed into his hair before competing.

Terms and conditions on tickets for the 2012 Games state there should be no flags of countries that are not participating.

The rule means that the Saltire can't fly over Hampden a spokesman for the organising committee confirmed. "Common sense would be applied for fans, as long as there was no 'political statement' linked to the flag or emblem" they said.

Another response from the committee is 'that people have always been allowed to bring in flags and wave them provided they are not too big or on poles'.

I see two problems with the organising committee's responses.  Firstly, what is its definition of 'common sense'?  It's certainly very different to mine.

Secondly, I've searched in vain to find the definition of 'too big'.  I have a couple of Saltires which I use for a variety of purposes. Both are 5ft by 3ft - a handy size for anything from a table covering to flying from a flagpole.  But would one be too big for the Olympic flag-checking mafia?  Who knows.

If anyone attending a Game's event wants to take along their emblem to show national pride, forget a flag and consider a windsock. If money is no object how about a Saltire mohair throw to keep your shoulders warm?

I would suggest that anyone taking either of these items also remembers to carry the invoice with them just in case the flag-checking mafia don't know the difference between a saltire, a windsock and a throw. It's all down to common sense isn't it?

source

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Calling All Photographers

It doesn't matter if you're a professional, amateur or Photoshop photographer Blipfoto.com want your photos.  The only condition is that the image(s) must contain the Scottish flag.

Contributers don't have to be Scottish or have any connection to Scotland.

Your prize?  Your contribution could be included in a film which will be set to music and screened simultaneously across Scotland and elsewhere in the world on Burns Night, the 25 January.

Go for it!

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Please Right A Wrong

Through this misty photo of Edinburgh Castle you can just see a flag flying. One flag? Aye, only one flag and that of the Union.

Please sign this petition to the Scottish Parliament which calls upon it to urge the Scottish Government, who own Edinburgh Castle, to instruct Historic Scotland (who manage the site) to erect a 90ft flagpole in Crown Square at the Castle from where a Saltire, Scotland's national flag, will be flown on a permanent basis.

People have been asking for this for years, but now it has been put forward in a petition it cannot be ignored. The Parliament must make a decision and make it publicly available.

Help right a wrong.

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Which Town Flies this Saltire?

The above picture was taken by a Courier photographer. It flies on the roof of a Town Hall. The town is the wealthiest in the Kingdom of Fife.

One Courier reader said : "It's a disgrace in Homecoming year and at any other time." What is sad about this is that the employees who work in the building haven't protested at the condition of the flag or, if they have, management has ignored them.

Which town is it? St Andrews, the home of golf and an area which attracts tens of thousands every year to worship at the shrine called the Old Course.

The excuses from Fife Council can be read here.

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