The Curse of History

     Historians have been trying to stress the social and economic side of history, but the movies and TV prefer bloody battles, and presumably the public does too. Scottish history is rich in battles, and Hollywood films by stressing them have exacerbated Scottish nationalism.
     Miles Seeley, whose ancestors hailed from the Highlands, writes:
     "At Culloden, a few of my ancestors, like Alexander, were late getting to the battle because they stopped to fight with another clan on the way. When they arrived, the English had won the day, but the MacDonells charged anyway and had severe casualties. According to clan legend, they later sheltered Bonnie Prince Charlie and were driven out of their lands as a result. The English, led by Col. Morgan (coincidentally my first wife's kin), labeled them horsethieves and they had a sorry time working their way west ahead of English troops. How much is truth and how much legend, I don't know."
     My footnote: Stanford chaplain Rab Minto, a good friend of mine, was a dour and scholarly Presbyterian from Scotland, but his eyes lit up at the mention of Bonnie Prince Charles. I asked him if he realized what would have become of his church had Bonnie Prince Charles won. He did not care. He clearly would have loved to be with the fighting prince. Anything for a good fight. Is humanity incapable of learning?

Ronald Hilton - 09/18/99