“The
man o' independent mind – he looks and laughs at aa that”.
The
genius of Scotland's immortal bard has appealed to many folks for
many different reasons. He had an exceptional ability to deeply
understand humanity and to express his observations through his
advanced skills in verbal and written communication. He was able to
reach people from a wide range of social, political, religious and
philosophical backgrounds.
Hardly
surprising then that people with contrasting views and ethics seek to
embrace him as one of their own. What is it about this 18th Century bard that still makes his life and works so relevant in this present day?
Those
who do not fully comprehend all the complexities of Burns believe
that he was a mere happy-go-lucky chancer with an extreme passion for
whiskey and women. The same people miss the extent of his
sincerity in his love for the women.
He
poignantly addresses the personal pain of his broken heart in The
Winter It Is Past, The Lament, and Bonnie Doon. In The Mauchline
Belles he highlights his devoted wife, Jean Armour, as “the jewel
of them aa”.
The
numerous letters exchanged between himself and Mrs Dunlop demonstrate
his friendship and respect for women beyond the physical and Ae Fond
Kiss, one of his most beautiful and heartfelt love songs was penned
as a result of a platonic relationship with 'Clarinda'.
Burns
was a patriot: a Scottish and a British patriot: but not at any cost,
and just as important, he was an internationalist who advocated for
the Rights of Man, and the Rights of Woman, the world o'er.
“ The
let us pray that come it may, as come it will for aa that
That man tae man the warld o'er shall brithers be for aa that.”
That man tae man the warld o'er shall brithers be for aa that.”
He
had supported the ideals of the French and American Revolutions of
his lifetime where he challenged the regimes of those nations that
restricted the democratic rights, sovereignty and liberty of the
people.
His
'Ode for General Washington's Birthday', 'Tree of Liberty', 'A Man's
A Man' and his 'Rights of Woman' are among his finest works that
demonstrate his cosmopolitan outlook and his support for universal
liberty.
His
cosmopolitan and universal outlook however was not in contradiction
to his belief in democracy and sovereignty.
“Be
Britons still to Britain true, among oorsels united.
For never but by British hands must British wrangs be righted.”
For never but by British hands must British wrangs be righted.”
Nor
did his British patriotism interfere with his concern for the rights
of the People.
“But
while we sing God Save The King, we'll ne'er forget the people.”
Burns
was a Presbyterian who challenged the hypocrisy of the elite of the
kirk: the virtue signalling of the "Rigidly Righteous and the Unco
Guid": If burns was around today no doubt he would easilly find other
virtue signalling elites to take a swipe at, with lines like:
“ O
wud some power the Giftie gie us tae see oorsels as ithers see us.”
And
such lines as:
“ Ye see yon birkie ca'd a lord wha struts an stares and aa that
Tho hunners worship at his word, he's but a cuif for aa that.
The man o independent mind, he looks and laughs at aa that”.
- still have much relevance today.
“ Ye see yon birkie ca'd a lord wha struts an stares and aa that
Tho hunners worship at his word, he's but a cuif for aa that.
The man o independent mind, he looks and laughs at aa that”.
- still have much relevance today.
Those
who do not understand Burns think he was inconsistent in his values:
merely in pursuit of personal monetary gain. Nothing could be further
from the truth. He was faithful and loyal to his kirk and state: but
not at any cost.
He
was a democrat who supported the rule of law and the authority of the
democratically elected government while openly challenging aspects of
the system. He did not blindly bow in devotion to the establishment:
he queried and challenged the status quo. He had a keen interest in
the politics of his time but was not a member of a political party.
“While
we sing God Save the King, we'll ne'er forget the people.”
[This
line is worth repeating. It is from his song, 'Does Haughty Gaul
Invasion Threat,' written when he was a part-time soldier with the
Dumfries Volunteers]
In
2020 it still seems difficult for some people to understand that he
was an independent free-thinker who was genuinely open-minded and
that his support for any cause came with conditions..
His
'A Parcel of Rogues in a Nation' was indeed an assault on the
Scottish elite, of the early 18th
Century, who he reckoned capitulated to tyrants and were bought and
sold for English gold. In the early 21st Century he could easily
direct the same sentiments at political elites who are being bought
and sold for the gold of the global tyrants.
In
January 2020 people from a wide range of backgrounds will gather
across the world to celebrate the bard: the man and his works. They
will include loyalists, republicans, monarchists, Jacobites,
Williamites, nationalists, internationalists, unionists, liberals,
democrats, conservatives, communists, socialists, capitalists,
Presbyterians, humanitarians, Freemasons, farmers, civil servants,
entrepreneurs, soldiers and peace makers.
They will each focus on what Rabbie Burns means to them. And that is all good because Burns did have the uncanny ability to connect with all those types of people on some level.
They will each focus on what Rabbie Burns means to them. And that is all good because Burns did have the uncanny ability to connect with all those types of people on some level.
It
is difficult for many to get their heads around this and at the same
time understand that he was a man of clarity who steadfastly stood
for his principles.
Burns
was also NOT many things. He was a not a sycophant who could be
bought and sold for anyone's gold. He was “naebody's lord” but
he would be “slave tae naebody”.
He was a “man o independent mind who looks and laughs at aa that”.
He was a “man o independent mind who looks and laughs at aa that”.
No comments:
Post a Comment