Discover Minneapolis


d-a-n.org keyword stats



Most current MSN search phrases:

murrays and Restaurant and MN tributary of the Mississippi River
minneapolis childrens theater tributary of mississippi river located
MN childrens theater champs restaurant minnesota

Can You Hear Me, Superman?

I read somewhere that you can tell a lotWallace, but strictly speaking she was not
about a person by finding out who her heroesEnglish. She was the leader of one of the
are. I suppose that's fairly obvious. TakeCeltic tribes who fought the Romans before
Homer Simpson. It comes as no surprise tothe Saxons came to Britain. In our day (more
find out that his hero is Superman, ("If youor less), Churchill was a great leader and
are up there and can hear me, I just want tohero, but he led the entire British nation,
say thank you for listening, Superman"). Itnot just England. Besides, his mother was
occurs to me that it ought to be possible toAmerican...That really only leaves Alfred the
extend this idea to national heroes. This isGreat and Nelson as English military heroes.
probably a tired old idea, used in seminarsIf you ask English children what they know
up and down the country, but most of theabout Alfred they'll probably tell you that
things I know, I learnt after leaving school,he burnt the cakes when he was left in charge
so as far as I'm concerned this is new andof the kitchen, rather than that he was the
original. Anyone got a problem with that?country's last desperate hope of saving the
Alright, let's try it out. I'll just stick toAnglo-Saxon world from Viking tyranny.The
countries that I feel linked to, either byEnglish are traditionally suspicious of
blood, language or shared history and ideas,strong military leaders. William the
and I'll start with Scotland, since it's myConqueror, for instance, was hated at the
home.The Scots, to coin a phrase, sure knowtime, naturally enough, but that dislike
how to pick 'em. Scottish heroes arestill reverberates in the form of the English
sometimes unfortunate, very often tragic andclass system, now thankfully dying out. Or
always romantic, in the old sense. Arguablytake Edward 1st., who, at the time of William
the greatest Scots hero of all was WilliamWallace, defeated Scots armies time after
Wallace. More than anyone else he stands, intime and built massive castles across Wales,
Scottish hearts, for freedom and liberty. Hebut is not regarded as a hero. Neither is
had that rare and precious ability, shared byHenry 5th., in spite of the spin Shakespeare
a handful of leaders such as Alfred theput on his exploits in France and his
Great, Nelson, Churchill, and in America,triumph, at odds of seven to one, at
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson andAgincourt.It's interesting to contrast the
Lincoln, to lift up a nation, to become itstwo Englishmen who helped to defeat Napoleon
voice and spirit, not through fear andBonaparte - Nelson and the Duke of
oppression, the hallmark of the tyrant, butWellington. Both were brilliant strategists,
by reflecting the will of the people.Wallaceboth got results. Wellington was respected
taught the nation that it could win againstbut not much liked, Nelson was adored by the
its mighty neighbour to the south. AlthoughBritish public. Wellington was a rather
essentially a brilliant guerrilla fighter, hefrosty character, who treated his men with
defeated a major English army at the Battlecontempt, while Nelson genuinly liked his men
of Stirling Bridge. He was eventuallyand was concerned with reforming conditions
betrayed to the English, taken down to Londonin the fleet. I think his affair with Lady
and tortured and executed as a traitor, whichHamilton didn't do him any harm either, as
he certainly was not. Unlike many prominentfar as the public were concerned.Dick
Scots, he had never sworn allegiance to theWhittington is probably one of the best loved
English king, Edward 1st. In suffering aof English heroes. The story goes that as a
martyr's death Wallace became Scotland'spoor boy from the country he tried several
first national hero, and paved the way fortimes to make his fortune in London. When at
his own personal hero, Robert the Bruce.Thelast he gave up and headed off for the
father of Robert de Brus was Anglo-Norman andsticks, he hadn't gone far before he heard
his mother was the Celtic Countess ofthe bells of London - 'Bow Bells' - saying,
Carrick. He was descended from King William"Turn again, Dick Whittington, three times
the Lion. Through Brus came the Royal HouseLord Mayor of London". Back he went and
of Steward who produced the current Britishbecame Lord Mayor as the bells had forecast.
royal family. Robert the Bruce was not alwaysOh yes, and he had a cat. The reality is
a dedicated patriot. He was a landowner onfairly close to the myth, but he was
both sides of the border, equally at home inremembered at the time as a benefactor to the
the English and the Scottish court.poor and to charities.I think the hero that
Eventually he was forced to choose which sidemost completely stands for English virtues,as
he was on. He chose the Scots cause and inperceived by themselves, would have to be
1314, at the Battle of Bannockburn he ledRobin Hood. Nobody knows whether he really
them to victory over an English army twiceexisted. Was he the Earl of Huntingdon or
their size. Bannockburn was the turning pointpossibly Sir Robin of Locksley? Most of the
in Scotland's struggle for independence. Fromstories are set in mid-12th. century, when
this time on there was no question but thatRichard 1st was away at the Crusades. The
the Scots were a separate and independentmodern Robin Hood was popularised by Sir
nation.Formal recognition of Scotland'sWalter Scott in 'Ivanhoe', but in a way it
rights was still required from the Pope. Adoesn't really matter if he existed or not.
representative group of the Scottish nobilityHe stands for freedom from oppression and the
wrote to him in a famous letter known as therights of the poor and vunerable, so it's
'Declaration of Arbroath', part of which wentright and proper that he should be England's
as  follows:most popular hero.In moving across the
Atlantic, it seems to me that Canada doesn't
'For  as long as there shall but one hundredreally go in for heroes, although I'm sure
they exist. My own list would start with Grey
of us remain alive we will never giveOwl, who pioneered an awareness of Canadian
consent  to  subjectwildlife issues and was the friend of the
Ojibway. When he died in 1938 it was realized
ourselves to the domination of the English.that he was not an Indian. In fact his name
For  it  is  notwas Archie Belaney and he was from Hastings
in England. Then there would be Lucy Maud
glory, it is not riches, neither is itMontgomery, who wrote Anne of Green Gables,
honour,  but  it  is  libertywhich was about her childhood on Prince
Edward Island. Finally I'd probably include
alone that we fight and contend for, whichWhite Fang and Joni Mitchell as my personal
nofavourites.Heroes are not in short supply in
America, in fact the making of America is a
honest man will lose but with his life.'Oneheroic story in itself. I can't say too much
of the most romantic, and at the same timeabout American heroes; not because I don't
tragic figures in Scottish history was Mary,know who they are, but because it's not for
Queen of Scots. Mary had been brought up inme to say what they mean to Americans. The
France and returned to Scotland on succeedingearlier ones were, naturally, concerned with
to the throne in 1560. She was eighteen yearsthe forming of the nation - George
old, very attractive, impulsive andWashington, Thomas Jefferson, Abe Lincoln,
inexperienced in the machinations of Scottishpossibly Paul Revere. I think Davy Crockett
court life. Everything went well at first butcounts - 'King of the Wild Frontier',
when she married her cousin, Henry Stuart,according to the song.Then there are the
Lord Darnley, her life changed and nothingNative American heroes, Sitting Bull,
ever went right for her again. She soonGeronimo and my favourite, Chief Joseph of
became disillusioned with her husband andthe Nez Perce. Chief Joseph, with his band of
took a lover, an Italian called Riccio, who200 warriors and 500 women and children,
was murdered in front of her in her room, byconducted one of the most brilliant retreats
her jealous husband and others. It wasn'tin American history. In over three months
long before her husband was alsothis small, forlorn band fought off 2000 U.S.
assassinated. At this point poor Mary seemssoldiers in four major battles and numerous
to have lost the plot completely and marriedskirmishes. They travelled 1400 miles and got
the Earl of Bothwell, the man who was almostto within forty miles of the Canadian border
certainly involved in the murder of herand sanctuary before being forced to give up.
husband.It must have been clear to her by nowWhen he finally surrendered, Chief Joseph
that the only kind of luck she attracted wasmade this speech:'I am tired of fighting. Our
bad luck. After a few more set-backs shechiefs  are  killed,
decided to head south to enlist help from her
cousin, Elizabeth, Queen of England. ThisLooking Glass is dead, Tu-hul-hil-sote is
proved to be a fatal mistake. Far fromdead.
helping her, Elizabeth had her arrested and
imprisoned in a gloomy castle far to theIt  is  the  young  men  who  say yes or no.
north of London and the English court. She
remained Elizabeth's prisoner for the rest ofHe  who  lead  the  young  men  is  dead.
her life, some nineteen years, and was
finally executed for 'treason' in 1587, whichIt  is  cold  and  we  have  no  blankets.
fate she met with great dignity.Probably the
best known of Scotland's heroes is BonnieThe  little  children  are freezing to death
Prince Charlie who raised the standard in
Scotland for the Jacobite cause. The nameMy  people  -  some  of  them  have run away
'Jacobite' was a French version of 'James',
i.e. the 'Old Pretender' James. Charlesto  the hills and have no blankets, no food.
Edward Stuart was actually more Italian than
Scottish and was only in Scotland for lessNo-one knows where there are - perhaps
than a year. His campaign culminated in thefreezing  to  death.
disastrous battle of Culloden in 1746, the
last battle ever fought on British soil.I want to have time to look for my children
Following the defeat of the Scots army, heand  see  how  many
abandoned his followers and, with the help of
the wonderful Flora MacDonald, fled theof them I can find. Maybe I shall find them
country, dressed as a washerwoman. Hisamong  the  dead.
undignified exit has always reminded me of
the story of Toad of Toad Hall, who also fledHear me, my chiefs, my heart is sick and
the law, dressed as a washerwoman. I wondersad.
if that's where Kenneth Graham got the idea.
After all he was a Scot.The Jacobite army hadFrom  where  the sun now stands I will fight
at one point struck deep into England, and in
fact came to within a hundred miles ofno  more  against  the  white  man.
London, before turning back. The English,
badly scared by the whole business now didChief Joseph 1877Coming nearer to our own
their best to destroy the Highland clantime, there is no doubt John Kennedy is an
system by driving off the Highlanders cattle,American hero, and so, of course, is Martin
burning their homes and banning the singingLuther King, and I see no reason at all why
of gaelic songs, the wearing of the kilt andthe New York firefighters who were on duty on
other gaelic traditions - an eerie precurserthe day of the Twin Towers should not qualify
of the treatment meted out to the northerntoo.
Plains Indians in America after the Battle of
the Little Bighorn.So there you haveJames Donaldson CollinsJames Donaldson
Scotland's heroes, all tragic and all more orCollins is an artist and writer. He lives in
less in conflict with their powerfulthe Highlands of Scotland with his wife,
neighbour across the border. England, on thedaughter and three dogs. His interests are
other hand, doesn't seem to create the sameconservation, history, science fiction, chess
kind of heroes. It's true that Boadicea is aand snooker. He also claims to play guitar
genuine heroine, from the same mold aslike a ringing a bell.



1 A B C 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 81 82 83 84 85