RENEWED FAITH

Last week I helped to facilitate a team-building day for an organisation working in the field of support for people with drug and alcohol problems. The people who attended the day were most of the admin team and the general manager. Although the day did not go entirely to plan, it still was hard work, intense and inspiring. This is a group of people, some of whom have worked for the organisation for more than twenty years, who claim, and whose behaviour affirms, that they love their work.

During the introductions at the start of the day several mentioned that they were happy at work and that they liked their colleagues. There was a fall-out soon after lunch but, after that, they again showed themselves to be a group of people who like each other and who like and are commiteed to what they do. One of the group is very new, he has been with them since the beginning of the month, and he was as welcome and as well-respected as anyone else.

The most inspiring thng for me was the openness of the group, their commitment to the organisation and the fact that they are obviously not driven by the urge to make money. I am sure that any one of them could earn more in another sector

CONFIDENCE

Last month I wrote about confidence in relation to the Scottish football team. My final comment was that I thought the supporters' confidence was a fragile thing and I feared that one defeat could destroy it. There have been two defeats since then. One with a weakened team to Georgia and yesterday's defeat by one goal to Italy, the current world champions. Leaving the National Stadium last night after the game and in the bar afterwards I listened carefully to what was being said around me. With only one or two exceptions the comments were very positive. Unfortunately, one of the negative comments I heard in a bar led me into an argument.

The chap behind me described Scotland's defeat and the results in England's group as "the worst day in history"!!! I couldn't let that one go. I pointed out that perhaps the death of Archduke Franz Ferdinand which started the First World War, Hitler's army's invasion of Poland, the battle of Culloden were much worse with which the man agreed. The second point was more important. So many Scots appear to think that hating the English because they are English is okay. People who would never think of criticising someone for being black or Asian or Roman Catholic or gay seem to think it is fine to knock the English for their nationality. Sometimes I ignore it but last night I could not let it go. Let's be proud to be Scottish but only because we are Scottish. Not because we are not English.

And rightly criticise the English based media for their obsession with England to the exclusion of the other nations which make up the United Kingdom. But do not knock them simply for being English. That's racism and we should have no room for it in our country or our lives.