to think this is unacceptable and wonder why Scotland is fair game for racist attacks like this

[ScotsWhaHae]

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2015/mar/09/steve-bells-if-

It's not even funny.

Incest? Wtf?

I'm disappointed in the guardian. It raises the question though, substitute the Scottish references for some other nation, would that be acceptable?

We got told repeatedly about the anti English sentiment north of the border last year, during the referendum. Shit like this isn't appearing in Scottish editions of the news papers.

Along with the casual racism lets add sexism into the mix. We have a female first minister. Repeatedly in main stream media I hear people talk about Alex salmond and the snp. He's not the leader of the party or the first minister. Is the press that out if touch with Scottish politics or are they just ignoring Nicola on account of her begin female?

And let's not get started on 'the wee lassie with a tin helmet' comment. But that won't be in any of the English editions will it?

I know lots of English Scottish Nationalists Bair.

Yes it's definitely possible. And one of the most extreme Scottish Nationalists I know is an American.

Jim Murphy's new softly, softly voice and behaviour is fooling no one I hope

#JeSuisNicola

It's a reference to the Beecham quote, with a sideswipe at the insularity and faint ridiculousness of the SNP. I don't think it's particularly funny but it's nothing nastier than the satire that gets slung at all the other political parties every day. Get over yourself, OP

If it was just Scottish country dancing, yes. Because that is a Scottish thing, which is associated (rightly or wrongly) with Scotland being a bit traditional and ridiculous and silly - much like English morris dancing.

The incest is really nasty. Ok it's from a quote but that quote wasn't about a nation or a people, it was about things Beecham didn't want to try. There is nothing about incest that is associated with Scotland, ridiculousness, insularity or Nicola Sturgeon.

Child abuse is also a very sensitive topic at the moment and it will make far more people think of that than of Thomas Beecham. It's associating Sturgeon with a horrible crime that she has nothing to do with. I'd be bloody fuming if I was her.

And have no time for the trend of everyone being offended by everything, and I think there is every place for valid satire even if it does offend. But this is offence for the sake of it, just pure nastiness.

I'm so pissed off Jim Murphy was elected leader, either of the others would have been so much better.

Go on manatee, humour me. Show me a cartoon from a paper circulated in Scotland implying that English people see incest as a cause they want their elected representative championing. Or something in that ilk.

I'm well versed in satire. This is not it.

But us sweaty socks all have chips on our shoulders don't we? You're right, we need to get over the tide of racist, stereotyped abuse flung our way. It's just banter after all.

Tell me, is there another group of people you would tell to get over it when faced with discriminatory abuse?

Or is it just Scottish people?

"I've got free education and hospital parking, and prescriptions, and care for the elderly. And instead of saying 'How come the Scottish Goverment puts aside money for these things and Westminster doesn't' we have people calling us scroungers for having a few policies that look after everyone.

If they don't mock the Scottish Government they might have to start acting like them."

Totally agree, Bair.

It's astonishing how many people don't understand budgets.

Lovely patronising post Nomama. Well done you.

I recognised the quote (being extremely well read, but let's face it, it's rather shoe-horned in.

Also, it's not funny. Not even nearly. It like most of his famous quotations wasn't even funny when Beecham said it.

Very poor show from the Guardian.

Well, manatee, I joined the SNP after the No vote last year. I can assure you that there is nothing insular or faintly ridiculous about wanting to create a fairer, more democratic society. I believe that we will only achieve that in Scotland if we are independent.

This cartoon, which fails miserably as a piece of satire, is just the latest insult - there is a never-ending torrent of abuse aimed at the SNP from the Westminster establishment, other political parties and the press . I could become very offended but I prefer to see it as a sign that they are all worried, very worried. They told us last year that they wanted us as an equal member of the UK family, but they didn't mean it really...

First they ignore you, then laugh at you then hate you. Then they fight you, and you win.

The Scottish vote doesn't affect the Tories. Labour were complacent and returning seats year in year out. Nobody bothered. Then came the referendum.

They let us have our fun for a year. Movements grew from the ground up, people came together campaigning for which ever side they believed in. Then the big boys rode into town to put us back in our place the week before the vote. Teary eyed 'we love you, don't go' speeches, slebs holding love ins in London, not even arsed to make the trip up the motorway.

And a no vote prevailed.

Fine, we accept that result. But Scotland was ignited with a passion for politics and that flame hasn't gone out. But silly us, back in the box, don't democratically vote in a way that might actually affect the results.

To the poster who asked why Scottish people rejected independence when they had the chance, well 45% didn't. Unfortunately obviously 55% did and that was that.

And to think they were so desperate for Scotland to stay last year. Perhaps they are rethinking that one now.

It's par for the Steve Bell course. I'm not saying that makes it ok, only that he has not singled out Scotland or the SNP for particularly harsh treatment-he metes this kind of cruel humour out to all politicians and parties. His cartoons about Thatcher went way beyond this.

It's just a drawing. There are far worse things meted out to people for their religion, skin colour, sexual orientation than some rather unfunny political cartoon.

Ubik that is of course true but doesn't negate the validity of this discussion.

I'm bemused at all posters queuing up to tell you (the target of the "joke") its not racist OP. Scottish folk should be judges of that. Ethnicity is covered by almost all definitions of racism, except of course the UKIP type which means its only racist if there's a lynching a white hoods involved. Its a crap cartoon both in terms of content and execution and I too initially thought it was Susan Boyle when I saw it.
I bet ol Jezza Clarkson found it hilarious, those pompous middle Englander types love this kind of stuff, like those Punch cartoons that used to depict the Irish as monkeys another poster referred to- they weren't racist either

No perhaps not but I feel that claims about discrimination etc are overstated - and they dilute the discrimination that certain people in the whole of the uK face every day.

Can I ask - as an English person living in scotland - what 'ethnicity' I am?

" You should try everything once except incest and Morris dancing " Probably Sir Thomas Beecham.

That was the allusion. The joke being that the SNP are so keen to be part of a UK government they have no bottom line. May or may not be true. Funny if you find it so. Racist , no. I am Scottish btw.

Whatever happened to Je suis Charlie?

"JeSuisNicola"

Actually laughed so loud there...

I thought it was SuBo at first!

as an English person..... what 'ethnicity' I am?
English, what else would you be? where you're living now is irrelevant

I wouldn't worry ubik, I'm sure there's enough discrimination to go round.