The Kintyre Forum

Earlier today the History Moderator inadvertently deleted a number of posts while moving them from"Local History and Discussion" to "Speakers Corner".

The deleted posts concerned Sean Connery.

I had stated that I can actually remember when Sean(Tam tae his pals) was'nt so far up his own erse.The proof of this statement lies in the 1959 film,Darby O'Gill and the little people, which I went to see in The Rex when I was but a lad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9Ununqs4jM

The thread then continued with a post concerning Sean's liking for JAPANESE WHISKY.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amnpKeRivMI

We then had a rant from Barney McGrew,the History Mod appeared and the posts disappeared.

So here we are in Speakers Corner where I would like to find the views of other forum members on their like or dislike of Sean.

Nearly forgot ,one more clip.This is the one where he says it is ok to hit a woman.Not as hard as you would hit another man,so that's ok then.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FgMLROTqJ0

Good idea! Speakers Corner is probably the right place for this, as other discussions have wandered off thread when his name was mentioned. A dedicated thread is the right thing.

Bill, if you add the youtube tags to these clips, we'll be able to see them in your post.

Another clip about slapping a woman.



Malky

Well, I said on the aforementioned 'lost' thread that after learning he had promoted Japanese whisky, I had lost the last wee smattering of respect I had for him. But I cannot believe that second interview! I believed he had regretted saying such a stupid thing but clearly not.
And the second clip made me laugh. That's more like our Sean!

Thanks for this Bill - very comprehensive!

While I was fully aware of his view on violence towards women, I had not raised it here because it was not relevant to the discussions that were current. But I think you are right to highlight it now, since some people appear overly sensitive about him, and seem to want to protect his reputation, and to promote his causes.

For the record, all that I have said in public on this forum is (paraphrasing):

He chooses not to live here.
He is not my first choice of ambassador for Scotland.
He advertised Japanese whisky.
He is my favourite Bond.

These are undisputable facts (the second are fourth are my opinions, so you have to take them on trust ). And if anyone infers from that that I want to do him down, then they are wrong. He can do that for himself very well without any help from me .

I know many of the men who post on this forum, and I do not believe that any one of them would hold – or espouse - the view that it is OK to slap a woman. Domestic violence is – sad to say - a brutal fact of life. But for a public figure like Sean Connery to be taking this stance – and remain relatively unchallenged on it – is astonishing, in my opinion.

And as for suspicions that this is part of some anti-SNP rant on my part, then sorry to disappoint: I have several friends in the SNP - some rather senior (male and female) - who are extremely uncomfortable about how closely their party aligns itself to Sean Connery. And I am not surprised.

My concern is that I think it looks bad on Scotland if this is – allegedly – one of our icons – a role model. Can you imagine the outcry if, say, a famous footballer said that? Or a pop-star, or TV presenter? Surely, they would be drummed off whatever celebrity show they were on at the time. And quite right too. Seriously, the double standards are beyond comprehension. No wonder he stays away from these shores.

Well said, Mary. I totally agree - on all of your points. What really angered me was that daft woman at the end adding as an afterthought the fact that he had been married for 31 years and there had been no complaints from the wife. Nothing new there then from the stance of battered wives. He's also well-known for his extra-marital dalliances and she hasn't complained about that either. It certainly doesn't excuse his behaviour. I had been taken to task on an earlier thread for suggesting he was not the right person to be promoting Scotland and for telling folk how to vote. I haven't changed my mind one bit.

Govangirl wrote: I had been taken to task on an earlier thread for suggesting he was not the right person to be promoting Scotland and for telling folk how to vote.

Too true, Govangirl. When women should listen to their own husbands to tell them how to vote

I'll bet that you always ask your hubby how you should vote before you go into the polling station

I'm an SNP supporter and I don't think he is the right person to be promoting Scotland at all. There is no defence for his views on slapping women. I suppose it's handy that he's well known abroad but FFS if they want a well known actor choose someone like Ewan McGregor.

Malky

Still fanning myself from seeing him in Young Adam..

This man has also given his pontificatition on the Donald Trump development, and stated: "The North East of Scotland is pretty neglected apart from the oil fields"

How would he know? I know people from the North East of Scotland who in no way would think that their area is "neglected"

As I have said already, this man is a professional Scotsman, and has made his way furth of Scotland.

For anybody in this position to have the temerity to try to regain credibility in his home country, and assume that we will all listen to him, merely because he is a celebrity, is beyond belief!

Bobbie En Tejas wrote:Still fanning myself from seeing him in Young Adam..

Who, Peter Mullan?

Malky

Just realised we had another thread on Sean: http://www.kintyreforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=6394

I had a look at his new book 'Being a Scot' in Waterstone's today. On the back is a quote from John Huston that says it all about the vainglorious man: 'I wish for Chrissake that Sean Connery would become King of Scotland'. I think it was just put there deliberately to rile the likes of Mary, Emdee and myself! I imagine that the exile himself would prefer to be a President though!

Saying that, I did think of how I used to like him and swooned just like Bobbie and felt I'd like to read the book as I do think it would be interesting to read the story of this self-taught Scotsman. It's just the thought of him changing my money into Bahamian dollars that puts me off.

Anyway, Mary, I'd have to ask my husband first if it's okay to buy it!

Connery's first wife Diane Cileto's book would I'm sure give more of an insight into Connery's pysche.She talks about his abusive treament of her and his womanising,which does'nt get a mention in his,not unsurprisingly.

She also discusses his meanness with money and says he would charge for autographs!

Hes just a bit pish, and yes im more than willing to say that I can do anything he ever did. You pay for the directors!

AYE.