Part of the irony of Burns is that if he were alive today the demand would be "Keep that drunken letch away from my wife!!!".

As a Scot I can understand the appraisal of his works but not the cult of Burns the person.

And I would add that I do think he was better than Shakespear, much of whose work cow-towed to the Establishment of the day while Presbetyrian Burns flew in the face of it, being a republican socialist in most of his views and love before it was ever fashionable to be so.

Unfortunately (and it could only happen is West Central Scotland) Burn's links with Freemasonry create sectarian problems for some people. I've even seen a website today put forward the theory that Catholics should not be allowed to appreciate Burns because he was of a different faith!!!! As I say, only in West Central Scotland.....

Happy Burns Day