Robert Burns and The American House of Representatives
July 4, 2009 by The Laird
Filed under Robert Burns
Scots Poet Robert Burns may have been dead for a couple of hundred years but that did not stop him earlier this year from making an impressive impact on the House of Representatives. In fact the impact caused them to pass a Resolution to confirm the link between the work of Robert Burns and the USA.
The resolution was submitted by Mike McIntyre (already well known for his Scottish ancestry) from South Carolina the US state with more people of Scottish descent living there than live in the entire country of Scotland.
The Resolution also recognised that Robert Burns had truly inspired the Founding Fathers of America writing inspirational poems such as “Ode for General Washingtons Birthday” and “Ballard on the American War”.
“Scots Wha Hae”
One of Robert Burns most famous songs Scots Wha Hae has long been recognised as the unofficial Battle Cry for Scotland’s own independence from foreign rule was actually inspired by the American struggle for independence from the same ruling country.
At the back of Robert Burns mind was his strong belief that the United States victory in achieving independence would trigger off a monster size wave of independences being achieved right across Europe.
President Abraham Lincoln
Shortly before his election attended a Burns Supper giving the burns Immortal Memory speech. This very personal speech is given at every Burns Night Supper each year to remind everyone why they are meeting to remember the Scottish Bard. It was reported that Lincoln was so moved enough by Robert Burns life and his poetry he tried with mixed success to give the address in an America version of the Scots Tongue (not and easy task for anyone to do even us born and living in Scotland would have to practice this).
You will be able to read the whole resolution and even download a PDF copy for your own information on http://ScottishJerk.com/Robert_Burns_Congress.pdf
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