The Nordic love to feel
The readers of Danish newspaper Politiken have responded warmly to recent suggestions that Scotland should develop closer ties with its Scandinavian neighbours rather than the troubled European Union. When the paper's website ran a feature and poll on the subject, by a margin of 4 to 1 the Danes offered Scotland a welcoming hand of friendship, despite our own Unionist parties issue constantly warning that we're an economic basket case who would only be a burden on any nation stuck with us.
A crudely Google-translated version of the feature appears below:
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Vote and write: Should Scotland be incorporated in the North?
Is there room in the North to the kilt-clad bagpipe players?
The Scottish government party is ready to break ties with Britain and instead strengthen the relationship with the Nordic countries.
"It makes sense to take our relationship to other nations under review and there are many areas where Scotland has more in common with especially Danes and Norwegians than England", says Angus Robertson, who is foreign policy spokesman for the Scottish National Party.
Sentiment among the relaxed Scandinavians, our models of welfare and environment and energy policy are areas where Scots see commonalities across the North Sea.
And because the Scottish government party SNP has promised the people a referendum on breaking away from Britain by 2014, a strengthened cooperation between Scotland and Scandinavia quickly become an issue.
Scandinavian Vikings invaded Scotland in 794th year. Is it by being on time for the Scots again gets the Nordic love to feel? And what can we Scandinavians get out of a closer cooperation with the Scots? Participate in the great political debate below.
Poll: Should the Scandinavian countries invite Scotland in?
Aye, we have much in common with the Scots. Weather, for example.
60%
Nae, you can not just pick and choose whether you want to be Scandinavian.
14%
I do not know. Must the Scots not just break away from Britain first?
26%
Good link. I see there are 100+ reader comments. And they seem to be mostly all positve.
Yeah, I've been running some of them through Google Translate too. They seem to be mostly happy at the thought of getting their hands on some good whisky…
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By Soren Rix, Fredericia 12th 14:00 December
They will be welcome! Scottish humor fighterånd, red hair and a penchant for whysky while it rains fits in perfectly with us!
By Annette, Randers 14:03 12th December
without interfering with the good Englishmen – whiskey, gin, roots, wool and good music.
A Scotsman quoted in Politiken as saying that you feel affinity with the Scandinavian countries; vice versa so I think it is very easy to feel "at home" in Scotland – so maybe there is something to it. Let the doubt be of some use
By Smith, kolding 14:03 12th December
We welcome them, they have what it takes.
By Nicolai Tvøroyri 14:17 12th December
It's sweet. Let them finally join us;)
By Soren Nielsen, Ølstykke 14:18 12th December
Clear! They drink at least as much as us.
By Jakob Thybo, Støvring 14:18 12th December
It is so mega badass of Scotland.
By John P., Vejle 14:25 12th December
I voted YES WE CAN for the Scots – and then they are therefore also quite festive. Lets face it, Norden has a hole that is in need of new fresh and positive forces.
By Mikala, Næstved 14:43 12th December
Scotland's great! But if the argument for being a part of Scandinavia, is that they remind us, then we might as well take the whole hog and invite Ireland, Germany and Holland into the warmth too. They drink beer, is relaxed and all have a musical culture that is unique.
By Axel Jensen, 8361 14:57 Hasselager 12th December
Let's just get with the Scots. Then we can call the excellent malt whiskys Scandinavian – and maybe get some tax rebate on the golden drops.
By John, Copenhagen 12th 15:08 December
I have lived in Scotland for several years and I have come to that they are some of the sweetest and kindest people on this earth. They are also very conscious of their Nordic roots from the Viking Age. For us, they will be a great cultural value. To them we may be quite a culture shock
By Lars VJ, Bagsvaerd 15:56 12th December
Absolutely! Whatever brings us closer to the Scots and their wonderful whiskey is a plus!
By Børge Eibye, Stubbekøbing 15:10 12th December
Scots must be so welcome. Has been in Scotland many times and is a lot for the country, nature, culture, history and especially the fine beer and whiskey produkter.Skotterne is nogelk is nice and helpful people who live in a very beautiful country. I hope they will join most of Denmark, while Norway's nature more equal Scotland.
By Carsten L. Faxe 15:16 12th December
Welcome to the Scots! I find it hard to think of a race that would fit better into the Scandinavian way of thinking and humor. Just as you feel that you fit in when visiting Skotland.Deres bagpipes loud enough good bit, but what does it mean when the Scots in return provides us with all the good whiskey:) And who would not like to learn to speak English with Scottish accent : D
By Martin Kristensen, Odense 15:20 12th December
Yes, if we also get Billy Connolly over here, so there may be an educated stand-up on the Danish scene (instead of the very obese and pathetic feature in today's IE), so we all clap our little hands. Yu 'Scots ar' vaery waelcome
By Christine, Aarhus 15:37 12th December
Jada! They will be welcome ^ ^
Yes, that's a really good idea. We have as much culturally in common with the Scots as the Finns.
By Natascha, St Andrews 15:53 ??12th December
I read a year at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. At the half year I have been here until now, I've encountered several common features between Scotland and Scandinavia. Much of their culture fall well into place with the Scandinavian; their food, humor, weather, landscape and even their Scottish folk dancing, Ceilidh, it's almost like the Danish and Norwegian folk dance, just faster. So let us dance together:)
By Kristian, Cph 14:54 12th December
Well then. We have, besides crazy good malt, strengthened super league considerably with Celtic and Rangers. Norway can have some more sheep and Sweden all bagpipe-related stuff.
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Let's not tell them about Celtic and Rangers, okay?
Some of the nastier comments on the BBC article seemed to be imagining Scotland was going to propose an actual union with Norway or something. The idea of independent contries having social links and economic agreements didn't seem to be on their radar.
And by the way, what nice people! Are they all like that, or did you just not translate the others?
The vast majority were like that. (Others translated really badly or were about Danish issues that I didn't understand.) I think only one out of over 100 was nasty.
I am Scottish but feel very proud of the Scandinavian past, I think this is a good idea.