Wearing your kilt to other cultural events

[RowdyRed]

In the upcoming months, Texas has quite a few festivals featuring other cultures. Example: WestFest (Czech polka festival), Oktoberfest (German), Greek Food Festival...you get the idea.

Question:
Would it be disrespectful to wear your kilt to these events? (Before you answer, consider how you would feel if a troupe of lederhosen-clad revelers showed up at a Highland event).

[Mr. MacDougall]

As long as the kilted behaved with respect, I don't think it would be disrespectful. I wouldn't mind if guys in Lederhosen showed up at the local highland games, as long as they were respectful.

[RowdyRed]

Okay, but what is 'respectful'?

Should the kilted NOT do the "Chicken Dance" if the spirit so moves them?

[Ayin McFye]

Okay, but what is 'respectful'?

Should the kilted NOT do the "Chicken Dance" if the spirit so moves them?

I think if everyone else is doing the chicken dance you should be ok. Your ancestors might roll over in their graves, but as long as your having fun.

[Knocko]

I don't see what the problem would be either. I was recently in town, stopped at a gas station, and a Indian woman asked if there was an event. I said that there wasn't. She asked if I was Scottish and I replied that I was...and she commended me on sticking to my roots. She commented on how liberating it was to wear 'cultural garb' no matter where you go, so that one may educate someone else on the clothing of their country.

I don't have a problem with other cultures clothing and I wouldn't mind if they showed up to a highland event in their country's traditional clothing. I expect the same in return.

[ardchoille]

I don't think it would be disrespectful to show up in a kilt any more than it would be disrespectful to show up in jeans. A kilt is the garment of my ancestors and I wear it with pride everywhere I go.

[Thebes]

In Taos, NM, I did get a rather nasty look from a hispanic woman when I wore my UK near the Fiesta, which is a big cultural event with the old hispanic families here. That was just one person though and the only time I felt I might be offending someone, certainly no one else seemed upset.

[Bryan]

Should the kilted NOT do the "Chicken Dance" if the spirit so moves them?

As my mother is actually from Germany, I would like to formally apologize for all the Germanic peoples for inflicting the Chicken Dance on the rest of the world.

[Frank McGrath]

Okay, but what is 'respectful'?

Should the kilted NOT do the "Chicken Dance" if the spirit so moves them?

I have done the Chicken Dance in my kilt. If you ever get to see the band, "Brave Combo", they do the worlds greatest version of the Chicken Dance. No, I don't get out too often, but when I do............

[James MacMillan]

I am from the old school. I have a problem with the entire term "disrespectful."

To my mind, with my background, and my education, I can not understand Respect in a negative direction. To me, you either respect someone, or you don't. Not having respect for someone is not the same as the current usage of "Disrespect" is being used.

Secondly, one must earn respect. Respect is not a given! Respect is not free to all. An individual gains respect by the way he/she acts. If a person acts badly, they do not have my respect.

Having said the above, in my life, I attempt to treat all people I meet respectfully. I expect the same in return. Would you consider showing up to an event dressed in a sporty kilt with flip-flops and a dirty t-shirt? -Or would you show up, dressed correctly for the event? Choosing your kilt to match the level of dress of the other attendees. Are they in shorts, and flip-flops? -then a sporty kilt is OK. Do they have the evening attire of their culture? - then wear the proper kilt and the PC.

If I am in their country, I try to understand their language; I try to understand their culture. If a stranger enters my group, I try to give the benifit of the doubt. If he/she is ignorant of my customs, I try to educate them.

If you feel uncomfortable wearing your kilt in all situations, maybe you need to look within yourself, and ask the question: "Why do I wear the kilt?"