The challenges arise

When the search began to develop soul-deep questions, I knew I needed to follow the trail as far as it would go. Random clicks led from just a name to a person who could be checked on Wikipedia, biographically and geographically verifiable. Scottish kings, back to the mists of early Ireland, Viking figures who went on to settle Iceland after a short spell on Greenland until the climate reverted to inhospitable. Legendary names - Robert the Bruce, MacBeth, Duncan, Thorstein the Red, whose mother was Aud the Deep-Minded, and St Muredach of Ireland - all conjure images of brutality, high deeds and unconquerable spirit, mighty warriors, strong women, all forging their territory, loving, marauding, raping and pillaging. The current atmosphere of politically correct historic revisionism would certainly have much to criticize of these folk and they way they lived their lives. Indeed, are these times even addressed anymore in academic circles? What would a professor say of these scots, picts and 'celts'? That they were a prime example of the unevolved human, uncivilized and right wing, not caring for the downtrodden and seeking only their own power? Or perhaps evil, devilish, insensitive?

I'd rather think of them as those given responsibility of leadership who either provided it or didn't. Success and failure are not discriminatory. That the kings were prepared for their roles is certain, as these lines were not determined by primogenature, but chosen by the 'nobles' among whom were found the successors. An odd way to choose, perhaps, but built on a system of meritocracy and qualification. Would the cream rise to the top? One would think so when one realizes the welfare and safety of the various populations depended on strong leadership and wisdom. It is these qualities which first raised the challenges, as I fell into a deep hole at this point which caused a gradual re-ordering of my assumptions.

The ancient kings of Eire led the way, and we weren't supposed to have any Irish blood.