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Scottish Politics ...then and as we'd like them now ,its a long read .

(10 Posts)
paddyann54 Sat 29-Apr-23 11:16:45

51 years ago, trade unionist Jimmy Reid stood up in the Bute Hall of Glasgow University, having been elected by the students as their new rector.
The speech he delivered - without notes - is as profound now as it was then.
Hailed by the New York Times as the finest speech since the 'Gettysburg Address' - no bad for a boy who left school at 15, and did most of his learning in Govan's Elder Park Library.
If you've never read it, read it. If you've read it before, read it again...
Full text here: www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_167194_smxx.pdf...

volver3 Sat 29-Apr-23 11:23:29

I'm going to read that, thanks paddyann.

Grandmabatty Sat 29-Apr-23 12:56:41

A true autodidact. I wish modern politicians had an ounce of his intelligence.

Oopsadaisy1 Sat 29-Apr-23 13:06:09

I think that modern Politicians are intelligent, but they use that intelligence to further themselves and their buddies who get richer whilst those who are worse off get no better.

Who was it that said ‘ I should work less because I am rich, the poor should work harder because they are poor’ ?

They lack humanity as the speech says and nothing has changed in the 50 yrs since.

volver3 Sat 29-Apr-23 13:10:05

I'm afraid every time I think about Jimmy Reid, I think about "There will be no bevying"

Riverwalk Sat 29-Apr-23 13:23:21

volver3

I'm afraid every time I think about Jimmy Reid, I think about "There will be no bevying"

Why I'm afraid - was it not an inspirational speech?

volver3 Sat 29-Apr-23 13:26:32

Oh it was, but I think he did so much more and I didn't want to undermine the message in paddyann's document.

ronib Tue 02-May-23 16:03:35

I used to be interested in alienation as a concept and came across Karl Marx, Durkheim and Max Weber and there are others am sure.
Jimmy Reid’s address seemed to be covering some aspects of the NewCons statement of principles. For example, there’s a moral dimension which is covered by the teachings of the Bible and an idea, if not an actual practice of having a religious faith underpinning the way an economy is ordered.
I used to rail against the notion of the rat race and the imperative to grow the biggest rats. Now of course, I don’t care .
It seemed a bit strange to have both a communist and a far right group apparently thinking along similar lines. I am interested in the way theories will develop from the NewCons and existing left wing groups and wonder if they will converge.

varian Tue 02-May-23 19:14:59

The students of Glasgow University have elected an amazingly wide range of Rectors.

In 1962 I voted for Albert Lutuli, then president of the African National Congress and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who was sadly never able to come to Glasgow.

During the Rectorial election there was a riot in University Avenue after the supporters of the Tory candidate, Lord (sorry, forgotten his name) were found to have been involved in skullduggery.

32 students were arrested and for some time after we attended fund-raising events of the "32 club" to pay for their defense lawyers.

Charles Kennedy, one-time leader of the Liberal Democrats and a graduate of the university, was elected for two consecutive terms and served as Rector for six years.

Caramme Tue 02-May-23 20:20:03

volver3

I'm afraid every time I think about Jimmy Reid, I think about "There will be no bevying"

…….And there will be no hooliganism, there will be no vandalism, there will be no bevvying, because the world is watching us, and it is our responsibility to conduct ourselves with responsibility, and with dignity, and with maturity.
It is out of context, I know, but it seems to me that we would do well to take note of this. Bevvying sometimes has a lot to answer for.