17-18 Third Place Winner

That's a fine idea, isn't it? You can make powerful, passionate speeches or movies about it. You can use it to instill in an audience a fire of vigilance and determination not to lose their freedom. But if that's all you do, then you've really accomplished nothing. Because it's only an idea... only wispy words. The audience will go home feeling good about having listened and become part of something great. And they'll quickly forget your words, because what's being legislated is really pretty reasonable, you know? It's not like we're arbitrarily incarcerating people or anything, for Heaven's sake. It's not like we're burning homes or killing women and children. America isn't like 'Braveheart,' you know. And I know that's what many a viewer thought and did after watching Braveheart. The problem is that to most people, Wallace' world is so far away as to have no bearing on our world. They could hardly be farther from the truth. The history of the Scottish highlands is a prime example of the need for eternal vigilance.

In 1286, King Alexander III of Scotland died. His only heir, an infant granddaughter died en route back to Scotland, and the nation was left leaderless. For the Highlanders, this was of no real consequence - the country's monarchy had never had much impact on them. They were in the enviable position of near complete independence from authoritarian rule. Their lands were too remote and too desolate to be of interest to their King, whose attention was taken up by the neighboring nation of England. They paid little heed to their southern neighbors and in return they were left in peace. But that changed when Alexander died. In the ensuing scramble for the crown, King Edward I of England declared himself ruler, and backed up his decree with an army of occupation.

By oppression's woes and pains!
By your sons in servile chains!
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall be free!
~ Robert Burns, 'Scots Wha Hae'

William Wallace organized the cause of the Scots against this invading army. Under his leadership, an army of Scottish volunteers made history and soundly defeated the English at Stirling Bridge. He was captured by the English, and died under torture in London. The Scots, many veterans of the Battle of Stirling Bridge and strengthened by Wallace' martyrdom, responded by utterly destroying the entire English Northern Army in 1314 at the field of Bannockburn. Their willingness to fight to defend their lands had paid off. England would continue trying to gain foothold in Scotland, but they would never again be able to move troops into the country. The spirit of the Scots can be seen in their appeal to the Pope for support - the Declaration of Arbroath written in 1320. The Declaration set forth the Scots' reasons for fighting, and affirmed that "It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honors that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself."(1)

For four centuries the Highlanders again enjoyed their hard-earned freedom. But over that time their vigilance faded, and was replaced by complacency as Scotland grew into a center of wealth, education, and civilization in Europe. Their clan chiefs grew apart from their clans. The chiefs became enamored with lands and titles, and in the coming struggle they would abandon their clans almost to the man.

England returned in 1707. Scottish nobles signed the Act of Union and Scotland became united with England, despite the loud protests of the Scots. But the Scots had lost the fire that had driven them to victory centuries later. They had accepted it as their chiefs grew aloof from them, and they would pay when those chiefs evicted them from the land in order to raise great herds of sheep. The only resistance they offered were not aimed at regaining their independence, but at placing a Scottish king on the now-combined throne. The Scots paid a horrible price for their failure to remove the English. Their culture was destroyed.

Where was our good Highland mettle?
Our men once so fearless in battle?
They stand cowered, and huddled like cattle
And wait to be shipped o'er the ocean.
~ Jim MacLean, 'Hush, Hush'

The Scots suffered terribly from the English conquerors' wrath. (2) Under the command of General Cumberland - known as 'the Butcher' - great swaths of destruction were burned into the landscape. Homes were burned. Possessions were looted and pillaged. Men were killed, women raped and then killed. Mercy was shown to none - not children, not aged cripples. And laws followed in Cumberland's tracks. As should be no surprise to those who understand the past, the Scots were prohibited from possessing any weapons. They were prohibited from any occupation in the cities saving begging (and that could be done only after being granted a Beggar's License). Hitler would have been proud. The Scots were conscripted, killed, and exiled. Their very culture was deemed illegal - possession or use of the bagpipes was prohibited, as was the wearing of tartan or the kilt. Even the use of the Gaelic language was prohibited. To mimic Wallace' executioner, "Behold the awful price of tyranny!"

The Scots never recovered. The glens are still empty. The Scots have been scattered across the globe - and those who remain in Scotland have been homogenized into English culture, and are willing subjects of the Crown today. The rugged self-reliance of the highlanders is gone, never to return. The Scots let down their guard, and their very essence was destroyed as a result. William Wallace struggle should be remembered not for his victory, but for the loss that followed because his countrymen's descendants failed to uphold his ideals.

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

(1) Declaration of Arbroath, translation into English. http://www.constitution.org/scot/arbroath.htm

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