Two Telling comments? The Answer Perhaps?

[ThistleDown]

What a lot of tourists!!

And what a big fee to the hire companies for the kilts this lot doesn't own -- according to some on here.

In my age group (that would be Jock's, too) I know very few Highland or Lowland Scots males who don't own a kilt or two.

[California Highlander]

After reading this thread and the 'Wearing a Kilt in Scotland' thread, I've come to a decision. I had been counting my pennies trying to come up with enough money to make the EXPENSIVE trip to Scotland next year for my clan's 5-year gathering which will coincide with clan Gunn's 3-year gathering at the Halkirk Games in Caithness. I don't think I will bother now. I will spend that money right here in the good old USA, thank you very much.

I don't see the logic of not going on a great trip because some people might not agree with what you are wearing or the way you wear it. However, it's your choice.

If you change your mind, hope to see you there. I'm planning to be at Halkirk in late July 2015 for the games. Probably kilted. I'll do my best to not look like a tourist thanks to some great fashion advice from this forum's members. I will be enjoying my time in Caithness whatever I wear.

[Ron Abbott]

And what a big fee to the hire companies for the kilts this lot doesn't own -- according to some on here.

In my age group (that would be Jock's, too) I know very few Highland or Lowland Scots males who don't own a kilt or two.

A special occasion, they're hardly doing the school run or work run on Monday to Friday!

[MacThomas]

So as foreigners to Scotland it seems that we have a responsibility that most scots don't wear it (except for specific reasons) and this upsets me! At the same time some scots maybe proud when properly worn by foreigners at least that is my own experience.

[MacThomas]

So as foreigners to Scotland it seems that we have a responsibility that most scots don't wear it (except for specific reasons) and this upsets me! At the same time some scots maybe proud when properly worn by foreigners at least that is my own experience.

I went to Scotland at least 9 times and plan to get back next year!

[S Mitchell]

Last edited by mac mhór ón Abb; Yesterday at 06:06 PM. Reason: I called him "Steve". I know a Steve Mitchel...I don't think this is him.LOL.

You can call me Steve; although, I doubt I'm the one you know. I've discovered there's no shortage of Steve Mitchells. Or would it be Steves Mitchell?

[Jock Scot]

Thank you for all your thoughts and comments here, some have been very helpful. Not so much in answering the question as a whole to my satisfaction, but they have lead my mind and enquiries in directions that I had not previously considered.

Alright in truth, I still do not understand where my thoughts are going to end up, but I can, I think, see trends in Scotland that I have not seen before. I quite accept that these germs of observations of mine may well have been there for years and I was unaware of them, I have an open mind on that, but I don't think so. So what am I thinking.

I think Scotland, perhaps due to the national discussion going on at the moment, but I think it goes back more towards the time of Scotland getting it own Parliament and that allowed Scotland as a whole, to review its place in the world and without doubt there is a National confidence growing and I think the tourist industry and "world Scottishness" are going to have to have a rethink, possibly a major rethink.

The tourist industry is a major and important industry in Scotland, of that there is no doubt -----it is not the only income generator in Scotland though-----however, the "romantic, Clan, short bread, tartan clad everything, rose tinted specticled, Laird filled, bagpipe, kilted" country that has been painted by the tourist industry for the last 150 years needs a rethink. In truth, it has realistically never existed, but it has, very successfully, been marketed by a fairly cynical tourist industry to, lets be frank, generations of willing customers. Its been done, overdone for years and I do detect an accellerating tiring of tolerance of all this, by the younger generation that I have to confess, I had not seen in any sort of scale before. Let me say straight away that this is not "anti tourist", it is more of an "anti-romantic, lets get real" type of thing. Many of those of the older generation have quietly let it all happen around them, whilst having quiet and genuine misgivings, but there has been I think, a major change of emphisis from the younger generation that "Sally and Harry" unwittingly brought to my attention. Where all this will lead who knows? Will it be sustainable? I know not. My research goes on.

This is not a political post and I would appreciate it, if politics are kept out of this thread. Mods should this go political, then please close this thread forthwith.

[Calgacus]

I would agree with Jock that recent events in Scotland have led to a growing national confidence and awareness of ourselves and our place in the world. I'd also agree that there is an element of "anti-romantic, let's get real" as he puts it. A belief that somehow you can't be a modern country and still hold on to these things that I think has been around for a decade or more now. I also think however that there's another view forming that "it's OK to be Scottish" that I have noticed only in the last year or two which is more embracing of our cultural uniqueness.

I agree with Jock that these things can be discussed apolitically. It is not necessary to discuss the reasons behind the changes in order to discuss the changes themselves.

It is not at all clear which way things will go in the future, all one can say for sure is that change is afoot.

It's also worth remembering that the tourist industry does what it does with the sole aim of increasing revenue. It cares little for any real culture that it might trample on in the process.

[Jock Scot]

So as foreigners to Scotland it seems that we have a responsibility that most scots don't wear it (except for specific reasons) and this upsets me! At the same time some scots maybe proud when properly worn by foreigners at least that is my own experience.

Please excuse me if your style of English gives me the wrong impression here. But no, I am not at all proud if I see a properly worn civilian kilt being worn by a foreigner. I do enjoy seeing the kilt being worn properly by anyone, that is for sure and I get upset if I see a Scot wearing the kilt poorly.

[creagdhubh]

The point is, if you, Americans, visit Scotland, you will be a tourist, no matter if you wear a kilt or not. I thought the lion dancers towards the end of that video were very telling: the first group of lion dancers looked chinese and wore kilts, the second group's leader wore the lion dancer costume, but did not look very chinese.

A tradition "done for tourists" both communicates that tradition and offers a demarcation line. And that's where "non scots" who are knowledgeable and comfortable wearing kilts "cross the line"

I wrote my thesis about Bali as a tourist destination in the 1920s. Back then, Bali became incredibly popular as a tourist destination to fashionable Europeans and Americans, and most of its appeal as a "peaceful hindu island of artists" was consciously manufactured by a small group of artists and civil servants. In reality, Balinese society is actually pretty violent and in time "traditions" were invented that have shaped Bali's image. Such as the "kecak" monkey dance for instance, that was choreographed by Walter Spies at the request of a village leader who wanted to attract more visitors to his village. At present, Kecak is thought of by tourists as deeply traditional Balinese culture and is marketed by tour companies as the quintessence of Balinese "magic".
On the other hand, having a tradition for tourist also creates a demarcation line behind which every day Balinese culture can hide. And in that sense the line mustn't be crossed, because that allows "real" Balinese culture to be further exploited and eroded for tourists.

Likewise with Scotland and the kilt: there's the tradition invented for tourists (including going regimental, I might add, and the bit of being forbidden to wear clan tartans if you're not of the clan). You can lament that all these things are there, but the tourist tradition also serves as a demarcation line behind which the native tradition can feel safe. It functions like that in the kilt run example: no "traditionally" worn kilt in sight: all the kilt wearing is for a charity event. I bet none of these runners wear a kilt in daily life and if you look at the spectators, none of them wears a kilt.

I wore a kilt to the Vierdaagse marches in the past week, because the two relatives with whom I walked did, and because we walked for a family related charity, that family is part Scottish and we wanted to draw attention to the charity.

If I am in Scotland I bring a kilt if I plan to attend a ceilidh, when it's nice to wear one, and I wear one if I attend Highland games, or at family occasions. And if I go hill walking I find it more comfortable than trekking trousers. And that's it. I like to be well turned out in a casual way. I take my cue from certain older relatives I used to know and from gentlemen I've seen around who wore a kilt in a way I found appealing. At no time do I think I'm "not a tourist". Nor is it my ambition not to be thought a tourist.

Kecak in Uluwatu for tourists: look at the guys at the start of the videos wearing the purple kains (male sarong): this is done out of "traditional" considerations, to cover their legs if they wear shorts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0HY0oD84OM

I'm no "tourist" in Badenoch, nor do my Macpherson relatives think that I am. My family is well-rooted in that part of Scotland; and just because I am American born, live in America, and visit Scotland (specifically the central Highlands) as often as I can, doesn't make me a "tourist." Forgive me, but I'm not "touring" anything. I am coming home. Now, that may certainly sound like a "touristy, romantic" notion spurred on by the insatiable allure of tartan, kilts, clans, etc, but I assure you, it's not. You could take all the Highland Dress, fancy Heraldic banners, cromachs, bagpipes, etc, away and our Macpherson heritage, traditions, customs, and Highland culture will still remain. Perhaps us Macphersons and our worldwide association are unique in that way, I don't know. But what I do know is that when I am in Badenoch during our annual gathering and rally in the summertime, or at any other time for that matter given the appropriate context, I wear the kilt. And so do my fellow Macphersons. None of us diaspora Macphersons, whether we hail from America or Australia, have considered ourselves "tourists" whilst in Scotland. Foreigners? Technically, yes. However, the whole "tourist" mindset doesn't quite agree with the essential reasons why we (Macphersons) all return from whence we came.