Who Owns the Kilt - My Personal Refelction

[English Bloke]

I like how you think Singlemalt. I don't think you're bobbing about in the Atlantic. I think you are a Canadian of Scottish root and standing firmly on your own turf. No problem with that.

I'm too am of Scottish decent, but not Scottish. I wear the Kilt because I enjoy wearing the Kilt. There is an aspect of my doing this that keeps me mindful of my ethnic roots but this isn't my main motivation. I'm not trying to appropriate anyone's culture and heritage, I'm quite happy with my own.

Consequently I don't feel that I or anybody else requires special credentials to wear the Kilt. I don't regard it as iconic, to me it's another option in my wardrobe. Saying that, I do seem to have more kilt options than any other, (I have three pairs of jeans, three suits and twenty one Kilts, plus sporrans, jackets, hose, shoes, belts etc)

I think the wearing of the Kilt outside of Scotland is a good thing for a country on the cusp of maybe standing alone. It draws attention and recognition to them internationally before they even start and I am puzzled by the dog in a manger approach from some quarters, not that I let it worry me. Any publicity is good publicity in my opinion. I do get a bit miffed when people suggest I might need to re-consider what I do, especially if those comments come from the Scots themselves. I have put quite a few English pounds into the Scottish economy which can't really be a bad thing surely?... I am, you'll be pleased to hear, learning to temper my responses to the occasional insulting comment I pick up along the way (both in life and online).

I also think Kilting has made me a rounder Bloke (not in terms of needing larger Kilts you understand). I've always liked my own personal freedoms and I'm an advocate of "live and let live". I try not to judge or pigeon hole others by what they choose to wear and this extends beyond just Kilts to other forms of unusual, ethnic or religious dress. I enjoy Kilting and I have introduced others to the enjoyment of Kilts and so it goes on.

I post occasional write-ups about what I do while I'm out and about which I hope are received by similar minded people. If said folk are inclined to agree with my reasoning, they will read them and perhaps comment favourably. If they don't, they won't. Either way I'm quite happy.

I've had more positive than negative reaction to my Kilts but I'm inclined to say I couldn't give a rat's ying-yang what anybody thinks of me, especially if they are impolite about it. I shall just carry on carrying on. I'd be so bold as to suggest you do the same and not let it get to you...

[Jock Scot]

Interestingly, I think I have done the same journey as you Singlemalt, only from the other direction!

Whatever we may think, we are all the wiser by being members of a website like this, where at the very least, we are made aware that differing views, often strong ones, exist. That in my view can only be a good thing.

[Tartan Hiker]

Interestingly, I think I have done the same journey as you Singlemalt, only from the other direction!

Whatever we may think, we are all the wiser by being members of a website like this, where at the very least, we are made aware that differing views, often strong ones, exist. That in my view can only be a good thing.

Hear, hear!