on air diary...
KEEP THE BURNS PARTY UNPOLITICAL
posted by Lee McKenzie on 22/01/2009
AN amazing man for his time, a wonderful and honest writer, this weekend Scotland is celebrating 250 years since the birth of Robert Burns. I am lucky enough to have grown up in the shadow of Burns Cottage and the Burns Monument but it is only in the last ten years when I started to travel the world that I realised the Poet’s fame away from these shores. In fact famous visitors to the Cottage include John Keats, Clark Gable and Muhammed Ali.
As a member of the World Burns Federation and having been taught Burns’ poems since I was four years old, I have gone on to speak at Burns Suppers throughout the UK. So it is a pleasure to see the celebrations this weekend, with local towns and villages being turned into what they would have looked like 250 years ago in Robert’s time.
From impoverished roots, Robert was lucky enough to have a decent education but in the eyes of the upper classes he was just a simple farmer working the land. But his poems were well received and then celebrated which gave him the fame that he always craved.
"Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect" was considered to be one of the greatest poetical collections ever written. Its appeal was obvious not only to the educated, but importantly, to the common man just like Burns himself.
My only worry is that in amongst this wonderful festival, “Scotland’s Homecoming 2009 - A Scottish Government Initiative” should not be a political ploy. It is our right which seems to be have been hijacked by a political party. The SNP may have helped initiate it, and for that we are grateful, but what Scotland is holding this week and year, is a celebration kick started by the world famous bard. One thing is for sure, if Robert Burns were alive today, he would not want his name to be used for political advancement unless it was for something he whole heartedly agreed and whilst there is no doubt that his ego would have loved the merriment, he may have rebuked the political aspect. So let’s leave out the politics and concentrate on the celebrations.
The life story of Robert Burns is as fascinating as any of his work and if anyone wants more information you can visit www.worldburnsclub.com and for more information on what is happening throughout Scotland take a look at www.homecomingscotland.com
Lee
