"but only because the culture of the Gael is in terminal decline." It is of course true that Gaelic (as well as Scots)language culture has declined but there is of course another factor also. I'd imagine that a pretty hefty proportion of folk in the Lowlands are at least of part Highland extraction. For instance my own paternal ancestors came from the Highlands in the late 18thC early 19thC. The Lowlands are filled with Highland names and those who haven't got Highland names probably have Highland ancestors at least somewhere in the female line. There simply isn't really a them and us.