"In the Year of our Lord 1314, patriots of Scotland - starving and outnumbered - charged the fields of Bannockburn. They fought like warrior poets; they fought like Scotsmen, and won their freedom." (Braveheart)
That was back when Scotland made war on its oppressors. Outnumbered, out-seasoned and supposedly out-classed, they drove the foe, with his superior forces from the field of battle.
Today, the Scottish Lords make war on little girls with Down syndrome who don't like being sexually abused. They make war on valiant mothers that don't like their innocent little girls with Down's syndrome being abused. Is this the legacy of William Wallace? Even more shameful has been the response of those in authority that had the power to help a little Down Syndrome girl and her mother, but chose their own course of shamelessness.
Chief among these is the Scottish Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini, who had her chance to prosecute the abusers of little Down Syndrome girls when she was a humble prosecuter. Instead, her legacy is one of lust and power. Like the treacherous Scots that betrayed Wallace. Maybe its time to reawaken the Scots to their own history:
"According to local Ayrshire legend, two English soldiers challenged Wallace in the Lanark marketplace regarding his catching of fish. According to various historians, including John Strawhorn, author of The History of Irvine, the legend has Wallace fishing on the River Irvine. He had been staying with his uncle in Riccarton. A group of English soldiers approached, whereupon the leader of the band came forward and demanded the entire catch. Even after Wallace offered half of his fish, the English refused such diplomacy and threatened him with death if he refused. Wallace allegedly floored the approaching soldier with his fishing rod and took up the assailant's sword. He set upon the entire team of English soldiers... The argument had escalated into a brawl and two English soldiers were killed. Blind Harry places this incident along the River Irvine with five soldiers being killed. The authorities issued a warrant for his arrest shortly thereafter.
According to a plaque outside St. Paul's Cathedral in Dundee, however, William Wallace began his war for independence by killing the son of the English governor of Dundee, who had made a habit of bullying Wallace and his family. This story perhaps has more weight because it is speculated that Wallace may have attended what is now the High School of Dundee, and spent some of his time growing up in the nearby village of Kilspindie. In 1291, or 1292, William Wallace killed the son of an English noble, named Selby, with a dirk. (source)
Either way you look at it, Wallace was a hero because he stood on principal against a superior foe. He didn't worry about numbers, or money, or position. He worried about the simple concepts of right and wrong.
"Wallace enters history when he killed William Heselrig, the English Sheriff of Lanark, in May 1297. According to later legend this was to avenge the death of Marion Braidfute of Lamington — the young maiden Wallace courted and married in Blind Harry's tale. Soon, he achieved victory in skirmishes at Loudoun Hill (near Darvel, Ayrshire) and Ayr; he also fought alongside Sir William Douglas the Hardy at Scone, routing the English justiciar, William Ormesby from cities such as Aberdeen, Perth, Glasgow, Scone and Dundee.
Supporters of the growing revolt suffered a major blow when Scottish nobles agreed to personal terms with the English at Irvine in July. In August, Wallace left Selkirk Forest with his followers to join Andrew Moray, who had begun another uprising, at Stirling, where they prepared to meet the English in battle." (Ibid)
Unlike Elish Angelioni, and the various other politicians that make up Scotland's current regime, legend has it that Wallace risked his life, fortune and future for the violated "honor" of a young woman. Honor that had been violated by a potential pedophile Judge (Sheriff) in the movie. Much like Holly Greig's honor was violated by a pedophile (Sheriff) Judge.
"On September 11, 1297, Wallace won the Battle of Stirling Bridge. Although vastly outnumbered, the Scottish forces led by Wallace and Andrew Moray routed the English army. John de Warenne, 7th Earl of Surrey's professional army of 3,000 cavalry and 50,000 infantry met disaster as they crossed over to the north side of the river. The narrowness of the bridge prevented many soldiers from crossing together (possibly as few as three men abreast), so while the English soldiers crossed, the Scots held back until half of them had passed and then killed the English as quickly as they could cross. The infantry were sent on first, followed by heavy cavalry. But the Scots' sheltron formations forced the infantry back into the advancing cavalry and in the general confusion the bridge collapsed, sending armoured knights to drown in the river below." (source)
There was a time, in Scottish history, when the politicians and nobility also placed honor before everything else. The result was an incredible victory for the Scottish people. But, lured by the wealth and power of the English monarchy, the same nobility would later betray Scotland, and Scotland's hero, to their enemies:
"A year later, Wallace lost the Battle of Falkirk. On 1 April 1298, the English invaded Scotland at Roxburgh. They plundered Lothian and regained some castles, but had failed to bring Wallace to combat. The Scots adopted a scorched earth policy in their own country, and English quartermasters' failure to prepare for the expedition left morale and food low, but Edward's search for Wallace would not end at Falkirk.
"Wallace arranged his spearmen in four "schiltrons" — circular, hedgehog formations surrounded by a defensive wall of wooden stakes. The English however employed Welsh longbowmen which swung strategic superiority in their favour. The English proceeded to attack with cavalry, and breaking up the Scottish archers. Under the command of the Scottish nobles, the Scottish knights withdrew, and Edward's men began to attack the schiltrons. It remains unclear whether the infantry firing bolts, arrows and stones at the spearmen proved the deciding factor, although it is very likely that it was the arrows of Edward's bowmen. Gaps in the schiltrons soon appeared, and the English exploited these to crush the remaining resistance. The Scots lost many men, including John de Graham. Wallace escaped, though his military reputation suffered badly." (Ibid.)
Once again, the Scottish politicians had sold out to the highest bidder. Just like Elish Angelioni sold out our current William Wallace, one Robert Green to a local pedophile ring. Like William Wallace, Robert Green has risked everything for the honor of a young and innocent maiden, whose very soul was violated by a much conniving and evil Sheriff.
Like William Wallace, Robert Green has been betrayed by the Scottish Nobility and politicians into the hands of the "maiden's heartless enemies". And like William Wallace, Robert Green has languished in a prison cell for showing courage and unnatural bravery in the face of a numberless opponent.
Scotland needs a new hero. I and thousands of others like me, nominate Robert Green. Scotland's new "Braveheart".
Stuart Usher will be live with Paul on the Paul Drockton Radio Show Tonight: Click Here
