Gentlemen - prepare to kilt up monday!

[McClef]

I am still celebrating the repeal!

[Jock Scot]

........ I have always been of the mindset that if you forget your history, you're doomed to repeat (or lose) it, and that was my point.

On that point we agree!

Make no mistake the Scots have a fair idea about their history, precise dates might try them though. Its just that like many things in life our history is not upermost in our thoughts on a daily basis.

[Graham A. Robieson]

Greetings,

What can I say about this subject...I like wearing my kilt cause it compliments my personal tartan, I see the kilt as a complimentry stage for displaying and complimenting tartan (not just mine but all tartans) in todays world kilt and tartan are married into a clothing blend (like Whisky LOL) it is a great icon like Irn-Bru, tartan and the kilt was banned as stated in the act of proscription...that no man or boy within that part of Great Britain called Scotland, were permitted to wear such items, it does not state banning it solely in the Highlands, and is true about the attitude at the time, that it wasn't a big deal for many, unlike later through the clearances etc, but now it is celebrated the world over, I understand that many people see the kilt as an item to be worn for special occasions, but each to their own, though this feeling that we have to justify ourselves whenever we put on a kilt, to explain our reasons, is just what this arguement is all about when you boil it down, LOL.

To those whom it may concern, you don't need to use the act of proscription as an excuse (or as a permission slip) to wear your kilts we don't need an occasion to wear anything, not that I'm suggesting going around in the buff etc LOL.


All the best,


Graham

Another note: The banning of bagpipes came later through a court, as a judge declared that the bagpipes were an instrument of war, a rallying point to stir rebellion etc, and would be banned which carried the penalty of death for those who would play them.

[Nighthawk]

On that point we agree!

Make no mistake the Scots have a fair idea about their history, precise dates might try them though. Its just that like many things in life our history is not upermost in our thoughts on a daily basis.

Gotcha! It sounded from your original posts that you take a bit of a "heads in the sand" kind of attitude. Precise dates would try me, as well. On the other hand, the stories of the lives of important people are what I know well. I can't tell you how many Revolutionary War historians I have angered by expressing sympathy for Benedict Arnold, who if you don't know was the Continental commander who "sold out" to the British, and gave up West Point, New York to them. Personally I think Arnold was betrayed by Congress first, and was only helping those who he percieved as being loyal to him... But again, minor footnote in our history. Thing is, there was an important lesson to be learned from the General Arnold situation (that abusive relationships end in betrayal) and we still don't get it... We have swept under the rug the role that the good and heroic Congress played in that whole situation, and as a result have lost an important piece of the tapestry that makes us who we are.

Greetings,

All the best,


Graham

Another note: The banning of bagpipes came later through a court, as a judge declared that the bagpipes were an instrument of war, a rallying point to stir rebellion etc, and would be banned which carried the penalty of death for those who would play them.

As I recall, the Great Highland pipes are still on the books as a weapon of war, with the United Nations!

[Irish Jack O'Brian]

Aye, I'll be kilting up Monday, not so much in celebration, but rather to demonstrate what I've learned on this forum: the pompous self-absorption of the Highlander and the goofiness of the kilt.

Jimmy the Scotch Clown - that's me.



I'm not wearing my red nose in this picture, but I guarantee it will be funny.

[Jock Scot]

Aye, I'll be kilting up Monday, not so much in celebration, but rather to demonstrate what I've learned on this forum: the pompous self-absorption of the Highlander and the goofiness of the kilt.

Jimmy the Scotch Clown - that's me.



I'm not wearing my red nose in this picture, but I guarantee it will be funny.

Charlie MacChan, I presume?

[Irish Jack O'Brian]

Charlie MacChan, I presume?

Well, the girls and I are thinking about taking the act on the road, so I'm up for suggestions for a name.

Right now all we've got is Bonnie Prince Jocko and the Brides of Inverness, Angus and the Glaswegians, and The Texas Highlanders (that last one is Shireen's choice, but I think it's already taken. I'll definitely add Charlie McChan . . . maybe Charlie McChan and the Number One Sons?

[Jock Scot]

Er, sons!!!!????? SONS!!!!!????? Are my poor old eyes deceiving me??? Or do they build them differently across the pond????????

[Irish Jack O'Brian]

Er, sons!!!!????? SONS!!!!!????? Are my poor old eyes deceiving me??? Or do they build them differently across the pond????????

Well, "Sons" was just to make a joke. They are all purebred Texas women, I assure you. And Scots ancestry to boot! Gladys Cheney, Edith Anderson, and Shireen McDougal.

Maybe . . . Texas Bob and the Lassies . . .

You see the difficulty . . . Does the rabble have a name we could use?

[piperdbh]

Hey Jock,
I think one of the reasons that some of us on the west bank of the Pond make such a fuss about our roots and ancestry and Scottish history is that in the US, for a family to have been in the same geographical area for more than three generations is an unusual occurrence, and some of us are looking for some sort of extension of where we came from and from whom we are descended. The ones of us who are interested usually find out all we can about our ancestors and their areas of origin, and if those areas have exciting histories, so much the better.
Now then, those who are interested in all this stuff are by far the minority of the population, as far as I know. I would say that most Americans could not give the names of their great-grandparents, and many, especially younger folks, do not know what occupations their grandparents held. Please don't assume that all of us are history-crazy and can rattle off names and dates of people and happenings in your country. I would guess that, as you've told us several times about your neighbor Scots, the vast majority of Americans don't care or don't know about history, either their own or the country's. Most are more concerned with their job (either keeping it or finding one), paying their bills, raising their children and so forth. It just so happens that the folks who frequent Fora such as this are that minority who are interested, so it may come across as if the whole nation knows more about your country than you do. 'Tain't so, amigo.