Tartn Week Blog from BBC

**Tartan Hiker** · 8th April 08, 08:33 AM

While browsing the BBC News site I ran across a blog by Glenn Campbell on his recent visit to New York for Tartan Week. His entire blog is interesting (linky: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7325892.stm ), and I lifted the following from the first entry. An interesting peek into how Scots (at least some Scots) see the American interest in their heritage and national dress.

{Tuesday. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, on flight to Washington}

"My kilt is packed (and with luck my luggage has made the transfer from the Edinburgh flight).

Many people are uneasy about Tartan kitsch at Scotland Week

Glenn Campbell in US

Not that I'm promising to wear it, but when taking off to Tartan Day, I guess it's best to be prepared.

I'm not normally shy about putting on our national dress. I wouldn't think of wearing anything else to a Scottish wedding.

But a plaid parade? That's different.

We don't really do that sort of thing at home. Yes, there are rugby internationals and the Edinburgh Tattoo - but we don't make a habit of marching the streets in kilts to celebrate being Scottish.

That's not part of our culture. It's an American invention. Not that I'm complaining, they're entitled to celebrate links with the old country any way they like.

I'm just not sure how comfortable I feel about joining in. Nobody's going to make me. If I turn up on this page clad in tartan, it will be my choice.

But this wee dilemma seems to sum up Scotland's relationship with Tartan Day in the US and the week of events that have sprung up around it.

The questions are: what image of Scotland do we want to project to the world and how should we cope with the way others see us?

In the main, we like that it exists. We like that Americans have pride in their Scottish heritage. We like the business opportunities it generates.

We just feel a bit uneasy about the Caledonian kitsch that comes with it.

Former First Minister Jack McConnell tried to overcome this by wearing a modern tartan-free kilt a few years ago.

He was pilloried for looking like a bloke in a blouse and skirt.

Appearances do matter. The questions are: what image of Scotland do we want to project to the world and how should we cope with the way others see us? "