He’s not even in the top 35 apparently.
Television network STV and the Daily Record are sponsoring a competition to nominate the Greatest Scot as a companion to a documentary series. The result will be known on Monday, November 30, St. Andrews Day.
There are 35 nominees for Greatest Scot. The name John Knox is absent. He did get a mention when the Daily Record provided some biographic detail about Queen Mary. (Mary also missed out.)
I wouldn’t expect Knox would win. But it seems inexplicable that he doesn’t even rate a mention. He was instrumental in reforms which took place in the church, goverment and education. The Presbyterian Church/Church of Scotland and its adherents were notably present around the world.
Here are the nominees (many fascinating characters in their own right):
Arts and Entertainment
Robert Burns; Robert Louis Stevenson; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Charles Rennie Mackintosh; Lord John Reith; Billy Connolly; J K Rowling
Inventors and Entrepreneurs
John Law; Andrew Carnegie; Alexander Graham Bell; John Logie Baird; Sir William Burrell; Ann Gloag
Leaders and Thinkers
Sir William Wallace; Robert the Bruce; David Hume; Adam Smith; John Muir
People’s Choice
Alex Harvey; David Tennant; Sir William Alexander Smith; Annie Lennox; Sir Sean Connery
Scientists and Engineers
Joseph Lister; Sir James Young Simpson; James Clerk Maxwell; Sir William Arrol; Sir Alexander Fleming; Sir James Whyte Black
Sport
Eric Henry Liddell; Jim Clark; Jock Stein; Sir Alex Ferguson; Liz McColgan; Sir Chris Hoy
The Daily Record website noted the following as notable names not to make the list: Mary Slessor; Elsie Inglis; Kenny Dalglish; Denis Law; Jim Baxter; Sir Harry Lauder; Lulu (Marie McDonald Lawrie); Kirkpatrick Macmillan; Mary, Queen of Scots; Dr William McEwan; Sir Walter Scott; Jackie Stewart; and James Watt.
That’s another thirteen, and still no mention of Knox’s claim.
Now I can understand if someone wants to vote David Tennant as Scotland’s greatest contribution to the world, but how can Knox be relegated lower than an also ran, a literal doesn’t matter?
It has to be more than oversight, it has to be intentional.
People have the right not to like their history, but ignore it to their detriment.
HT: Challies
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