new to everything and comes with a questionable question

[tentative_noob]

hi all,

I've been looking through the forums for a couple of days now trying to get a sense of the general culture of the "kilted" (as referred to by some in these forums)

Ever since moving to Canada I've been fascinated by the pipe parades of kilted people of all colours and creeds marching in unity, since then I've always wanted to wear a kilt.
Thing is, I'm Asian, and having recently moved to the states for a job I'm seen some disturbing reports of racist/white-supremacist groups (especially "white pride" bands) touting kilts at concerts/meetings.

Now I understand that it's a tiny minority and most all of the people here are loving and supportive and open-minded, and react strongly to racism of any kind, but does the kilt now have a negative stigma to it?

I know it's not representational of people here at all, but god i JUST started to earn enough money to afford a kilt and now I'm full of doubt about the decision. really hope you don't take this the wrong way, i'm asking because this feels like a safe enough environment to even cast such a question.

[Chas]

Hello noob,

Welcome to XMarks from the other side of the Atlantic in Norfolk, England.

The thing is, men wear the kilt for themselves. Generally, all men and boys, look better wearing a kilt - they stand straighter, they walk better and they hold their heads up higher. There will always be a few fools in any collection of people, but they do not represent the vast overwhelming majority of good, descent, hard working, law abiding individuals who wear kilts.

So wear your kilt, be yourself and do not believe for a moment that you are making a mistake.

Regards

Chas

[Jock Scot]

Welcome from Inverness-shire.

The short answer to your question is, if you want to wear the kilt then damn well do so!

Yes some of us would prefer that you wear the kilt(the traditional tartan thing at least) with respect to its history and Scots culture, but in truth you don't have to, however from this Scot's point of view it would be nice if you did.

[ScotFree]

Hi and welcome to X-marks. In answer to your question, I don't know of a single individual who would see a guy wearing a kilt and think "white supremacist". So no, I absolutely do not think that there is that stigma attached to kilt wearing. In fact, this is the first time I've personally ever heard of it. I would not concern yourself with that aspect. You can enjoy wearing the kilt without that racist attachment. So not only is it not here, but I don't think that stigma really exists anywhere.

[Grizzly]

Hi Tentative Noob and welcome from Southampton in the UK.

First of all, I think that I can say that we would be shocked and horrified to learn that the Kilt is being touted as a quasi uniform of such a hateful minority. We here on XMTS have one thing in common and that is that we like kilts, the wearing of the Kilt, the acquisition of all the various paraphernalia that goes with it, the belts the sporrans, the hose, the caps, the badges, the flashes, the sgian dubhs etc etc. We are also very proud of our association either through our family name or regional connection. It is abhorrant to me and I am sure all of us on here that the kilt can in any way be associated with racism or white supremacism.

We are a large and very friendly bunch here who support the kilt for the reasons stated above. Rest assured that here you will always be made to feel welcome.

Does the kilt have a negative stigma? I would say not and it because people like us here take our time to answer questions in a polite and positive manner to people who are not so familiar with kilt wearers it is up to us to spread the word and to enlighten people so that any negative minority associations are viewed with the utmost contempt.

[Phil]

Welcome from Scotland.

Thing is, I'm Asian, and having recently moved to the states for a job I'm seen some disturbing reports of racist/white-supremacist groups (especially "white pride" bands) touting kilts at concerts/meetings.

I don't think for one moment that you will encounter any attitude such as you describe here. If you decide to wear a kilt then do it for the right reasons not like the twisted minds you describe. It does sadden me to think that they would adopt the kilt in this way, however. It is not something I have ever encountered in Scotland but maybe others in this Forum will know more about it.
You don't say what part of Asia you come from but if you Google Sikh, Indian, Chinese and tartan you will see that it is a very inclusive form of dress.

[madmacs]

Pics? Details? Pretty much the only info that turns up when I google is this thread...

I'd have not thought that "white supremacists" would wear a "skirt"...

Punk bands maybe...

[Scout]

Welcome from Maine. I echo the comments of everyone else. Wear your kilt with pride.

[MacSpadger]

First of all, welcome to the forums.
Secondly, I'll once again echo Jock, wear your kilt with pride, but please do so with respect to it's origins.

On the thorny topic of white supremists, unfortunately there have been attempts to link the kilt and other Scottish symbolism with that kind of bigotry in the USA. There exists footage from as far back as 1925 that shows the KKK marching down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC with kilted members. This has been shown several times over here, mainly on networks such as the History Channel. It has rightfully caused disgust at seeing a Scottish cultural symbol hijacked by a group of bigots.
Documentary footage of the KKK shown here in Scotland on several occasions has shown a wooden cross being set aflame, by KKK members while a tape of Amazing Grace, on Great Highland Bagpipe, has been played on loudspeakers on the back of a truck. In interview on the same programme, some KKK members wore celtic crosses and also wore balmorals and glengarries with some kind of feathers in them I didn't recognise.

The Scotsman newspaper recently interviewed the American Thomas Leyden, a former white supremacist, who told of a visit to an Aryan Nation's compound in Oregon where kilts, haggis and bagpipes were praised, as was Hitler. Aye, that's right, Hitler who tried to exterminate us.
On the subject of the fiery cross, the gaelic crann-tàra is often translated as this, but it's more obvious translation is burning or burned branch or part of tree. The common idea of a burning cross seems to have become popularised when the works of Walter Scott became best sellers in the US. In his poem The Lady of the Lake it's mentioned for the first time as being burned to summon the clans. Thomas Dixon then nicked the idea for his 1905 book The Clansman, except as well as being set on fire the cross is also "extinguished in sacrificial blood". Dixon states that this is "The fiery cross of old Scotland's hills". D.W. Griffith then incorporated this scene from the book into his 1915 film The Birth of a Nation. The original KKK had long gone at this point, but a new KKK was formed after this film glorified the old bunch. The "fiery cross" was burned by the KKK for the first time on Thanksgiving Day 1915.
Not a lot of real connection with Scotland there, only total fiction and wishful thinking by some sad people............
Why has a USA based racial supremist group taken and perverted elements from a Highland culture that has itself suffered greatly under other dominant cultures that have had ideas of racial superiority? The same answer that crops up so often, it would appear, popular fiction and Hollywood.
That said, it appears to be a tiny minority, thankfully. I don't think you should turn a blind eye, but at the same time I don't think you should let these gypes and nyaffs worry you.

[McFarkus]

from Chicago. While there may be some idiots who wear kilts, there are also a lot of idiots who wear p@nt$.