The Town House, Hamilton, February 16th: Second Discussion

February 16th 2010
The Town House, Hamilton

After a short break following the first group it was then on to the second discussion. A different group, larger, with a significant group of more retired people, active in their community and in a host of ways. Another animated, engaged and fascinating set of conversations and explorations emerged.

1.  Introduction

Gerry Hassan introduced the A Scottish Wave of Change project and the aims of the evening’s discussion – linking Olympic and Paralympic principles and values to Scotland’s past present and future and opening up ideas of how our future might be.

2. Warm up exercise

Barbara Chambers invited the group to share their family values as they introduced themselves. Principles/values that came up:

•    Determination
•    Achievement
•    What’s for you won’t go by you
•    Respect
•    Mix of all above
•    Do the best you can
•    Amazing what you can do in a short time – capability
•    Here to help
•    Treat others as you’d like to be treated
•    Against the odds – admiration
•    Respect
•    Optimism

3.  Past present future exercise

The group was invited to consider aspects of Scotland’s past present and future

Past

Education system
Scots connection
Mining industry, crafts
Undersold – poor relations, achieved but sold ourselves to the world
Displaced, reinvention
Clearances: greed
Poverty – education is the way out
People: collectivism (Castlemilk, Easterhouse form groups, support) better housing/health
Lost community to some degree
Overcome adversity
Proud race
National identity (separate from mine – English – envy kilt tradition!)
Oppression
Identity – plus and minus: drunken yobs, Blackpool
National dress, pipers, tartan
More Scottish abroad – ceilidhs

Present

Tourism large part of economy – could exploit more
Shut down industry – poor prospects for young men: increasing suicide rates; young boys at school need to go south to work
Shouldn’t break up Scotland
Asians here longer – no one is 100% Scots
‘No jobs’ signs – shops closing up
MPs expenses, credit crunch, bankers bonuses, soldiers killed Afghanistan Iraq – disaster – public got to stand up; utter disgrace; lack of respect
Manners gone
No respect for past
Unable to embrace what’s happening now
Link respect for past with challenges now
Unemployment: Asians, now Poles: influx into workforce
Women at work – do difficult things; women now doing men’s jobs; men have to be flexible but they can limit their choices; social interaction; detriment of children; fathering? Should be a parent at home.  Should be choice.
Never expected to earn same as a man.  Women paid less. Inequality, pension.
Notion of ‘job for life’ gone – massive change in last 5 years
Glasgow School of Art iconic
Tradition of Scots professionals going elsewhere – usually because of lack of opportunity – not leaving for positive reasons
People don’t want to travel to work
If joined up UK why not a joined up education system?
Have to leave Highlands/rural Scotland for work
Have to move to use qualifications
Men have lost their role
Want family to do better – get a step up.  Mother pushed.  Determination. 
Older men with literacy problems – no jobs now and very proud… difficult

Future

Ageing population
Poorest country in Europe
No oil so give us independence
Wind farms waves
Big crisis – major change
Must preserve landscape
Should keep allotments
Scotland will adapt and overcome
Asian/white war
Restablish Scotland

3.  Olympic principles discussion

The seven Olympic and Paralympic principles were shared and the group invited to discuss these and come to some consensus of how relevant these are to Scotland today and whether these or other values/principles might guide our future.

Equality: most important

Courage/determination: part of Scots  (supporters of lost causes)

Excellence don’t have to be best, but good to do your best: it’s the striving that matters

Friendship/respect work together

What ONE thing could make life better:

For you

•    I am very content
•    The weather!
•    People understanding me
•    Good health
•    Financial stability
•    Opportunities
•    Don’t need anything
•    Having less things to worry about

For your local community

•    Looking out for each other
•    More involvement with local government; genuine consultation
•    More job opportunities
•    Councils with honesty
•    Clean it up!
•    Funding
•    A good MP
•    More locality
•    More input from the community

For Scotland

•    Being more neighbourly
•    Better government
•    No fights
•    Councils with honesty
•    More MPs (Scottish) at Westminster
•    Jobs for the young
•    Better transport
•    Better government

Values

Shared Olympic and Paralympic values and asked which are relevant to Scotland today – or come up with own:

•    Equality is better in Scotland
•    All (x2)
•    All of them but equality most important
•    Tenacity – never give us
•    None more important than the other
•    Determination
•    Flexibility
•    Respect, equality

Tell us your thoughts

Participants invited to use prompts to share their thoughts and stories.  Prompts were: The Olympic and Paralympic values and Scotland today; Your hopes for Scotland’s future; Your experience of life in Scotland:

•    Relevant; prosperity; happy family life
•    As an English person I prefer the slower pace of life, the friendliness and the genuineness of people