Burns Night Statement 2009
International Republican Socialist Network
Sunday, January 25th, will be the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns. Burns is not only the national poet of Scotland, but to people around the world, Burns is the proto-type poet of the common man. It has been noted that in many working class homes, where few books were had, an edition of Burn's poetry often has stood on a shelf with the Bible. The poet Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "The people who care nothing for literature and poetry care for Burns."
He was a staunch supporter of Scottish independence and among the most important figures of his day in helping a distinct Scottish national culture, and the Scottish national language (with Scots Gaelic) Lallans, to survive down to the present day. Beyond this, he was a Jacobin supporter and an 'advanced democrat. In theological matters the Unitarians claim him as a forerunner, who not only rejected the Trinity and questioned the existence of a deity, but who questioned the possibility of an afterlife or rather whether one might, "moulder with the clods of the valley" or reap some reward for, "having acted an honest part among his fellow creatures;" commenting further that, "the close of life, to a reasoning eye is dark as chaos." Though not yet a socialist, Burns was a worker by birth and disposition, and equalitarian and champion of liberty, a Scottish nationalist and preserver of Lallans and for all these reasons, the comrades of the International Republican Socialist Network find the tradition of the 'Burns Night' commemorating his birth to be a perfect opportunity to focus attention on the contemporary concerns of the Scottish working class and the ongoing struggle for national liberation and a Scottish workers' republic.
This year, the 250th anniversary of Burns' birth has also be seized upon as the inspiration for 2009 being named the 'Year of Homecoming' with a formal welcome extended to the over 100 million Scots in the diaspora. The comrades of the IRSN have therefore decided to begin discussion to determine the feasibility of the IRSN conducting a trip to Scotland for a small group of interested activists later this year. Though discussion is only in preliminary stages at present, the trip would most likely be timed to coincide with the commemoration of the great republican socialist John MacLean at the close of November. The tour is being envisioned as an opportunity to visit some of the more important historical sights in Scotland, with special focus on the history of the Scottish working class, with opportunities to meet with activists in the various republican socialist formations active in Scotland today. Interest individuals should make themselves known to Peter Urban of the IRSN at [email protected].
For its Burns Night event this year, the IRSN is also focusing on the recent republican socialist convention held in Edinburgh in December and hosted by the Scottish Socialist Party and the introduction of the Irish Socialist Network to many activists in Scotland, as well as the assessment provide by long-time Welsh socialist republican activist Mike Davies.
The comrades of the IRSN are proud to lend their support to building awareness of, and support for, the republican socialist struggle in Scotland and pledge themselves to continuing its efforts to build greater republican socialist unity around the globe and to support and help build republican socialist organizations in Scotland and other nations where struggles for national liberation and socialism are intertwined and inseparable.
Peter Urban
Comrade, International Republican Socialist Network
Sunday, January 25th, will be the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns. Burns is not only the national poet of Scotland, but to people around the world, Burns is the proto-type poet of the common man. It has been noted that in many working class homes, where few books were had, an edition of Burn's poetry often has stood on a shelf with the Bible. The poet Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "The people who care nothing for literature and poetry care for Burns."
He was a staunch supporter of Scottish independence and among the most important figures of his day in helping a distinct Scottish national culture, and the Scottish national language (with Scots Gaelic) Lallans, to survive down to the present day. Beyond this, he was a Jacobin supporter and an 'advanced democrat. In theological matters the Unitarians claim him as a forerunner, who not only rejected the Trinity and questioned the existence of a deity, but who questioned the possibility of an afterlife or rather whether one might, "moulder with the clods of the valley" or reap some reward for, "having acted an honest part among his fellow creatures;" commenting further that, "the close of life, to a reasoning eye is dark as chaos." Though not yet a socialist, Burns was a worker by birth and disposition, and equalitarian and champion of liberty, a Scottish nationalist and preserver of Lallans and for all these reasons, the comrades of the International Republican Socialist Network find the tradition of the 'Burns Night' commemorating his birth to be a perfect opportunity to focus attention on the contemporary concerns of the Scottish working class and the ongoing struggle for national liberation and a Scottish workers' republic.
This year, the 250th anniversary of Burns' birth has also be seized upon as the inspiration for 2009 being named the 'Year of Homecoming' with a formal welcome extended to the over 100 million Scots in the diaspora. The comrades of the IRSN have therefore decided to begin discussion to determine the feasibility of the IRSN conducting a trip to Scotland for a small group of interested activists later this year. Though discussion is only in preliminary stages at present, the trip would most likely be timed to coincide with the commemoration of the great republican socialist John MacLean at the close of November. The tour is being envisioned as an opportunity to visit some of the more important historical sights in Scotland, with special focus on the history of the Scottish working class, with opportunities to meet with activists in the various republican socialist formations active in Scotland today. Interest individuals should make themselves known to Peter Urban of the IRSN at [email protected].
For its Burns Night event this year, the IRSN is also focusing on the recent republican socialist convention held in Edinburgh in December and hosted by the Scottish Socialist Party and the introduction of the Irish Socialist Network to many activists in Scotland, as well as the assessment provide by long-time Welsh socialist republican activist Mike Davies.
The comrades of the IRSN are proud to lend their support to building awareness of, and support for, the republican socialist struggle in Scotland and pledge themselves to continuing its efforts to build greater republican socialist unity around the globe and to support and help build republican socialist organizations in Scotland and other nations where struggles for national liberation and socialism are intertwined and inseparable.
Peter Urban
Comrade, International Republican Socialist Network