Quote Originally Posted by warrior View Post
I see alot of threads either asking for or gathering comments from native Scots on various topics such how they still wear the kilt or their opinion on the kilt outside it's natural home. I would like to ask a different question.
I like many approach the kilt as a means to recognise and honor our heritage and the generations that came before. I like most are actually honoring generations long removed from the "old country", in my case eight. It is my hope that we can state that in almost all cases the generations of the diaspora have done very well for themselves and I would hope we could report back to our cousins still residing in Alba the great and honorable influence we the diaspora have given to world at large but it may very well just be self serving conceit.

So I would like to ask my cousins (eight times removed) have we done as we should have or am I just full of it?

Feel free to answer as you please. According to the missus I should abandon the kilt and instead acquire myself some hip boots and a shovel. ;)
I fear you are opening a real can of worms here Warrior.

As a native Scot living in the USA I believe I can see both sides of this discussion, but believe it is predicated on whether you think blood lines (nature) are more important than environmental influences (nurture) or otherwise. I have never been able to come down definitively on either side of that debate, and believe that both have influences on how human beings are. I do know (from observation) and I apologise if it seems patently obvious that the Native Scots experience of environment and surrounding culture is very different to that of the Scottish-American. I cannot speak for other diaspora countries, having only visited Canada briefly on three occasions and having never been to Australia, New Zealand or South Africa.

I think that many members of the diaspora feel connected to their ancestral homeland, and want to honour their heritage (nature), however, they view that heritage through the prism of their experience (nurture). Therein lies the cause of confusion, misunderstanding and upset because the experience of the Native Scot (nurture) is often very different and even at odds with that of his diaspora cousin. Neither groups understanding of the Kilt or Scottishness is a question of morality or right and wrong .

As to pride by native Scots in the achievements of the diaspora, I suppose that is a question that can only be answered by individuals. For myself, the answer is that like any other group of human beings the diaspora contains a broad range of figures, many of whom were/are good people of integrity but equally many are people with whom I share little in common. I must be honest for those genuinely interested in Scotland and her culture I have a lot of time and respect. I accept that there are also those who try and combine both identities (even multiple ethnic heritage identities) kilted in ways that jar against the sensibilities with which I was brought up, but nevertheless are good honest people. Lastly there are the Brigadoon fantasist types who refuse to consider Scotland's real History and culture and make a mockery of them which does really irk me. However, there are some in Scotland (re: tartan tat shops) who are happy to deal in that coin too, because tartan, kilts, and phoney myths provide an easy way to make a few quid.